The seven disruptors that are changing IP practice

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

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2026

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

Cookies Settings

The seven disruptors that are changing IP practice

August 26 2015
cover.jpg

The IP legal market is changing. In-house counsel want more for less, technology is commoditising work processes and the partnership track is becoming less attractive to growing numbers of lawyers. Emma Barraclough considers the influences that are reshaping the market. Plus: those shaping the changes make their predictions for the future

Unlock this content.

The content you are trying to view is exclusive to our subscribers.

To unlock this content:

Request Access or Login

Topics

Features News
more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Patents
Office,Worker,Carrying,Personal,Belongings,In,A,Box,After,Being
Beyond the headlines: The true winners of the Pizzeys merger have yet to emerge
The Pizzeys-Griffith Hack integration was designed to create a stronger Australian IP platform but with several ex-Pizzeys principals now gone, the deal's success may depend on where clients place their trust
Sukanya Sarkar, September 07 2026
Patents
EPO, Munich
Description amendments? Depends on the type of consistency
Thomas Lonsdale and Hsu Min Chung of HGF explore the practical impact of the EPO’s Enlarged Board of Appeal’s decision in G1/25 and its interplay with G1/24
Hsu Min Chung, September 07 2026
Patents
Immerse,Yourself,In,The,Vanguard,Of,Technological,Advancement,With,Our
From chatbots to robots: Gibson Dunn eyes next AI talent war
The firm’s recent IP hire and launch of a new robotics industry group signal an effort to capture work emerging from AI entering the physical world
Sanjana Mishra, September 07 2026
Patents
Dallas.jpg
Finnegan joins growing wave of firms moving into Texas
Another firm sets up shop in Dallas, bringing its patent disputes capabilities to one of the US’s busiest litigation venues
Sanjana Mishra, September 04 2026
Patents
A,Close-up,Of,A,Jeweler’s,Loupe,Examining,A,Building,Labeled
Weekly take: Is 'boutique' becoming a meaningless label?
Entrepreneurial IP lawyers are still launching specialist firms, but increasingly with larger teams, broader coverage and greater infrastructure than the boutique model once implied
Max Walters, September 04 2026
Patents
Value.jpg
Bringing value to business: Shook Lin & Bok’s IP offering
Jevon Louis explains how Covid led to a focus on local clients, discusses why mediation is successful in Singapore and reflects on the growing demand for AI advice
James Nurton, September 03 2026
Photo merge template.png
From zero to 500: NTD’s 40-year journey
An increase in instructions from domestic companies and litigation for international clients are driving success for the Chinese IP firm, according to two lead partners
James Nurton, September 02 2026
Patents
Building blocks.jpg
Ex-Khaitan equity partner bets on scale with IP boutique launch
Ankur Sangal said he wants his team, nearly 30-strong already, to respond to a growing demand for specialist, commercially focused IP advice in a ‘rapidly evolving’ Indian market
Sukanya Sarkar, September 02 2026
Patents
AI ready.jpg
What AI really asks of IP leaders
As AI adoption accelerates across corporate IP departments, Simon Webster, president of IP at Clarivate, argues that success will depend less on technology alone and more on data quality, workflow design, and organisational readiness
Simon Webster, September 02 2026
Patents
Alan Albright color.png
US judge Albright returns to ‘big law’ with A&O Shearman move
After months of speculation over his next move, former Texas patent judge Alan Albright has found a new home at the firm’s Austin office
Sanjana Mishra, September 01 2026
Gift this article