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.

Reset all filters
Jurisdiction
Organisation
Refine search
Total results: 127
Kateryna Oliinyk
profile
Partner and Co-Head of IP, Technology, and Defence   Arzinger  
Riikka Palmos
profile
Deputy Managing Director, Senior Partner and Head of the Trademark Department   Papula-Nevinpat  
Naomi Pearce
Community & Inclusion
Principal   Pearce IP  
Penny Gilbert
profile
Founding Partner   Powell Gilbert  
profile
Partner   Morgan Lewis & Bockius  
profile
Senior Counsel (Knowledge)   Winston Taylor  
profile
Partner and Head of IP Disputes   Osborne Clarke  
profile
Partner and Head of IP   Harrison Drury  
profile
Principal and Co-founder   Crown  
profile
Senior Counsel, IP and Litigation   Empower Annuity Insurance Company  
Community & Inclusion
Partner   Licks Attorneys  
Community & Inclusion
Full Professor of Intellectual Property Law (Stockholm University), and Of Counsel (Bird & Bird)   Bird & Bird, Stockholm University  
profile
Partner   Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP  
profile
Partner, Head of IP and Data Protection   Galadari Advocates & Legal Consultants  
profile
Managing Partner   Foley Hoag  
profile
Partner   Mewburn Ellis  
Community & Inclusion
Director and Legal Counsel for Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I)   The Coca-Cola Company  
profile
Partner and Co-Head of Intellectual Property   Gowling WLG  
profile
Partner   William Fry  
profile
Managing Partner of the Taipei Office and Head of the IP and Technology Practice Groups   Baker McKenzie