Meet our most diverse MIP 50 ever

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

Meet our most diverse MIP 50 ever

Is the IP world becoming more diverse? This is the 13th year we have compiled a list of the most influential people in IP, and there are a greater range of figures included than ever before

MIP July-August cover

As regular readers will know, our MIP 50 list includes business leaders, regulators, judges and others who are influencing IP strategies, businesses and policy, but does not include lawyers in private practice.

You can read the full list of people included this year here, along with links to interviews and other material related to them (note you will need to log in or take out a free trial to access the list).

One of the striking features of this year’s list is that 17 of the MIP 50 are women. That is admittedly fewer than half, but it’s more than a third, and I believe it is the most women ever included. We fully expect that number to increase in future lists, judging by the warm response to our Women in IP Network, and the number of women in prominent positions in IP today, including the head of the USPTO (pictured below, and interviewed last month by Peter Leung), the chief judge at the Federal Circuit and the EU Commissioner with responsibility for patents and trade marks.

MIchelle Lee, USPTO

Geographically, this year’s list is also varied. While just over half of those included are from North America and Europe, and there is the usual strong representation from China, India and Australia, there are also important figures from Mexico, Mozambique and Myanmar, among other emerging markets.

As you would expect, there are familiar names from WIPO, the EPO and OHIM and from influential courts. But there are also representatives of the pharmaceutical, telecoms and computer industries, two MEPs, some people who are known for promoting IP rights, others who are known for opposing them, and some who are best known for their role in creating IP rather than talking about it. The latter category includes two pop stars.

The MIP 50 list has been compiled by our editorial team both to celebrate the achievements of the individuals included and to inform readers about those achievements. But we see it as the start of a debate rather than the final word and in that spirit we welcome your comments, including your views on those people included, and suggestions for figures you think have been overlooked.

So please do submit comments below, or on LinkedIn or Twitter using the hashtag #MIP50. We look forward to hearing what you have to say.

Hsu Wei Fu, Media Tek

The MIP 50 list is also published in full in our July/August issue. Many subscribers will already have received their paper copies but you can also read it in full online. Other features in this issue include:

An interview with Michelle Lee, in which she talks about her vision for the USPTO and international cooperation

Judge Mayer’s quest for Section 101 reform – US case law since Alice

South Africa considers pharma patent changes – the Draft IP Policy explained

A peek into the health tech boom – the IP and legal issues that companies need to know

When trade mark use is not infringement – a survey of seven countries

UPC concerns for telecoms and IT companies – the latest article in our series on the UPC

The history and future of induced infringement liability - Commil v Cisco analysed

A new approach to combating counterfeits in Turkey (the world’s second largest counterfeit economy)

Protecting trade secrets in the global age: an interview with Hsu Wei-Fu of MediaTek (pictured)

IP Clinic: three contributions to the question “My company is interested in open innovation, but how can we protect our rights?”

Plus there is our selection of sponsored country updates, and our regular light-hearted take on the IP world, Utynam’s Heirs, which this month reports from our recent IP in Asia forums.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

A settlement between Philips and Transsion and a loss for AstraZeneca in the UK were also among the top talking points
Working with Harvey and Microsoft, the firm has been at the forefront of developing AI tools for its lawyers, and is now exploring new projects and business models
The Emotional Perception AI case, which centres on the patentability of an artificial neural network, will be heard next week
Developments included a court order related to InterDigital’s anti-anti-suit injunction against Disney, and clarification on recoverable costs
Partners at Foley Hoag examine how recent CJEU jurisprudence may serve as a catalyst for recalibrating US judicial reluctance to entertain foreign patent claims
International law firms have high hopes for their IP practices in Saudi Arabia, with many opening offices, but recruiting and retaining talent in the Kingdom presents unique challenges
Patrick Ogola joins us for our ‘Five minutes with’ series to discuss helping African entrepreneurs on the global stage, and explains why young lawyers should speak up
Heli Pihlajamaa, the EPO’s principal director for patent law and procedures, joins us to take stock of the unitary patent following its second anniversary
Kelly Thompson, chair of South African firm Adams & Adams, discusses self-belief, self-doubt, and the importance of saying yes
The renowned food brands were represented by a host of lawyers, including members of the firms’ IP teams
Gift this article