Influential Women in IP 2026

Welcome to the WIPR Influential Women in IP 2026.

This year’s list celebrates an outstanding group of women whose expertise, leadership and achievements are shaping the future of intellectual property across the globe. Representing private practice, in-house legal teams, academia and public institutions, these women are driving innovation, influencing policy, protecting intellectual property rights and making a lasting impact on the profession.

Celebrating excellence in IP

The WIPR Influential Women in IP recognises women who have made a significant impact across intellectual property, including through:

  • Leadership in IP strategy, prosecution, enforcement and brand protection
  • Work in IP commercialisation, licensing and policy development
  • Research, innovation, education and thought leadership in IP
  • Advancing inclusion and supporting women in the profession

It highlights women whose expertise, leadership and influence are shaping the global IP landscape. Being recognised places each honouree among an exceptional group of leading women shaping the global intellectual property profession.

The exceptional standard of entries made the selection process both inspiring and highly competitive, reflecting the remarkable depth of talent and leadership across the IP profession.

Congratulations to all those recognised: your achievements continue to inspire colleagues and strengthen the global intellectual property community.

Honourees are selected through an in-depth process that combines nominations, independent research and assessment by WIPR's editorial team.

WIPR’s editorial team extends its gratitude to the global legal community for an exceptional standard of entries this year. The final 2026 list stands as an inspiring testament to the depth of female leadership strengthening the intellectual property system worldwide.

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Total results: 127
Gemma Kirkland
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Partner   D Young & Co  
Mabel Klimt
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Managing Partner and Head of the Media & Entertainment Department   Elzaburu  
Lisa Kobialka
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Managing Partner, Disputes (US)   Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer  
Anna Mae Koo
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Partner   Vivien Chan & Co  
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Partner   Squire Patton Boggs  
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Partner   Appleyard Lees  
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Partner   Edwin Coe  
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Partner and Group Vice President   AWA  
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Founding Partner   Litvin Marzorati Legales  
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Director   Sterne Kessler Goldstein & Fox  
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Vice President, Chief Intellectual Property and Litigation Officer   Lenovo  
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Member and Co-Chair of the AI Practice Group   Rothwell Figg  
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Founding Partner   Mansur Murad Advogados  
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Founder, Head of Practice and Lead IP Counsel   BMatanga IP Attorneys  
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Global Co-head, IP & Technology Transactions   Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP  
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Founder and Principal   Minx Law  
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Director of Global IP Enforcement   Alibaba International Digital & Commerce  
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Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa   International Federation of the Phonographic Industry  
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Chair of Patent Litigation Group   Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP  
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Partner   Jackson Etti & Edu