Simmons & Simmons

Firm overview:

International law firm Simmons & Simmons integrates a soft-IP litigation practice with brand-related transactional expertise, managing clients’ full trademark needs from clearance to portfolio management. With strong reach across the UK, Europe and Asia, the firm is highly regarded for its litigation talent, handling complex registry disputes and proceedings before the English courts.

Team overview:

A leading industry peer says partner Darren Meale has “done a great job in building the practice” at Simmons & Simmons. Meale’s experience spans IP litigation in the UK courts, registry disputes and prosecution. A deputy district judge in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, he has been recognised for his innovative solutions to legal problems, which include developing Simmons and Simmons’ artificial intelligence tool Rocketeer which predicts the outcome of a conflict between trademarks in seconds.

The addition of Joel Smith from Hogan Lovells in 2024 was a significant boost to the team. Smith has nearly 30 years of experience in IP practice in both contentious and non-contentious matters and has assisted clients with everything from High Court trials to M&A transactions and commercial IP arrangements.