Largest ever MIP survey reveals the world’s leading patent firms

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Gardens, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Largest ever MIP survey reveals the world’s leading patent firms

survey2013-45.png

The patent rankings of the 2013 IP Survey have been released, with mergers, splits and hires leading to changes in the Europe and Asia tables

MIP survey 2013

Managing IP’s annual research into the leading IP firms worldwide is now into its 20th year. The patent rankings have been released in the February issue of the magazine, to be followed by trade marks in March and copyright in April.

Among the changes this year are several splits in Asia, with Ella Cheong Spruson & Ferguson ending their partnership in Singapore for example. The mergers with Australian firms have also led to some changes, with Freehills Patent Attorneys being the stand-out case – despite splitting from the litigation side of the firm, which merged with Herbert Smith, its work saw it promoted to the top tier.

In the UK law firm Powell Gilbert was promoted to tier 1, finally on a par with Bristows – the firm it split from in 2007. Withers & Rogers was promoted in patent prosecution. Meanwhile in Germany Quinn Emmanuel’s strong work for Samsung, under the new team lead by Marcus Grosch, led to it climbing the rankings for the second year in a row.

The full rankings can be seen by Managing IP subscribers here. Readers can also take a free trial to gain access for a limited period.

This was the most in-depth research Managing IP has ever undertaken, with new elements including state-by-state analysis of firms across the United States and leading practitioners recommended for the first time.

This year the researchers behind the rankings have also written features around the issues they came across, from how the prosecution industry in Europe is changing to the way big US filers distribute their work.

The trade mark rankings in the March issue will also be accompanied by three features analysing China, the mergers in Australia and new IP courts in Europe.

Managing IP’s annual rankings of leading firms are based on extensive research by a dedicated team in London, New York and Hong Kong. Researchers contact all the listed firms, as well as other practitioners and clients, to rank the leading practices in tiers, according to market perceptions.

The tables do not necessarily rank the oldest or largest firms, and are not based on filing statistics.

No results are released before publication and no firm can pay to be included.

Read the full methodology here.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

A flurry of hiring activity among UK firms suggests they are confident of mounting a serious challenge at the UPC
With the submission deadline approaching, we sat down with our research team to provide top tips on how to make your firm stand out
EA, owner of video games including Madden and The Sims, will be sold to a consortium including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and a firm owned by Donald Trump’s son-in-law
New arrival marks Mewburn Ellis' second partner hire in ten days as firm looks to boost patent litigation and prosecution capabilities
In-house counsel and teams are invited to submit information for the 21st annual Managing IP Awards
The 2025 list of Rising Stars and Corporate Stars, produced by Managing IP’s accreditation title IP STARS, is now available
Eszter Szakács, partner at Danubia in Hungary, discusses women’s progression, workplace flexibility, and how to deal with imposter syndrome
Rob Fewery is a solicitor at Allwyn Entertainment in the UK
Piotr Rafalski is a patent attorney at Qemetica in Poland
Joanna Rodrigues is an IP lawyer at Dassault Systèmes in France
Gift this article