WIPR Leaders
WIPR Leaders is a one-stop guide to the leading IP practitioners in the world. The handbook lists over 2,500 lawyers across patent, trademark, and copyright practices. Following an extensive nomination period, our research team vetted the nominated lawyers for suitability by exploring their work. This meant looking at practice history, industry expertise and notable cases, as well as any additional activities, such as writing and teaching responsibilities, which have allowed the lawyers to shape and influence other and future IP practitioners.
Featured Leaders
profile
Partner Rob Rodrigues manages high-stakes business and intellectual property disputes in Brazil. He assists FORTUNE 500 companies and startups in matters requiring complex technical ability with strategic approach. Rob is managing patent portfolios of the largest life sciences and telecommunications companies in the planet. His understanding of the Brazilian market makes him a “go-to” lawyer when dealing with enforcement measures. Rob is an experienced attorney and acts as lead counsel in several preliminary injunction proceedings and patent trials. In addition, Rob assists clients with the largest transactions involving IP assets. His litigation-oriented mindset adds value when managing cross border risks. His clients praise his technical skills, his ability to perform under pressure and his outstanding leadership in the local community. He has also published articles in technology law journals around the world and is currently an editor of the Kluwer Patent Blog. Licks Attorneys
profile
Partner Henry Gabathuler is a partner in the Patent and Litigation Practice Group at Leason Ellis, where he counsels clients ranging from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies on all aspects of patent prosecution, litigation, and intellectual property portfolio development and licensing. Henry is a registered patent attorney and has extensive experience securing patent protection in the U.S. and worldwide. He also handles patent, trademark, copyright, antitrust and general business litigation matters, at both the district court and appellate court levels and often in a leading role. He counsels clients in a variety of industries including computer hardware and software, oil and gas, consumer electronics, telecommunications and medical technologies. Leason Ellis LLP
profile
Partner/Attorney at Law/Trademark Agent As a partner and director of the international trademark department of Unitalen Attorneys at Law, Lei (Ray) Zhao has accumulated extensive practical experience in trademark prosecution and IP enforcement.
Zhao works as a legal consultant providing IP services for many listed companies, famous domestic companies, public figures and multinational clients in litigation and non-litigation cases regarding patents, trademarks, unfair competition, trade secrets, domain names and network infringements.
He also counsels clients on IP strategy and IP infringement issues. Unitalen Attorneys At Law
profile
Partner and Patent Attorney In his activity as patent attorney, Jan works in the fields of materials science and basic industry (metallurgy, metal processing, ceramics, glass, building materials, plastics processing, industrial furnace design),as well as the technical sector in General and inorganic chemistry. In legal matters Jan has a special interest in contract law, in particular licensing and legal purchase agreements. He also has extensive dealings in opposition, nullity and infringement proceedings.
As a German Patent attorney and as well as a European Patent Trade mark and Design Attorney of course another field of interest is trade mark and design/model law.
Jan has many years of experience in the field of industrial property protection (since 1996). He completed his training in a patent and legal attorneys’ office, in the German Patent and Trade mark Office and at the German Federal Patent Court. Afterwards Jan worked in a Munich attorneys’ office before becoming a co-founder of a Munich patent and legal attorneys’ office in 2002.
In 2013 Jan became founding Partner of Patronus IP in Munich. From March 1 he's Partner at HGF Europe LLP.
Prior to training as a patent attorney, Jan studied Material Sciences at the Technical University of Clausthal. In the course of the studies he gained experience in the glass industry, the cement and construction materials industry, and the refractory industry. HGF
profile
Chief International Marketing & Development Officer, Vice President Vice President, Licensing & Litigation Management
Chief International Development and Marketing Officer
Purplevine IP Group
China Purplevine IP Group
Women In IP
Partner Ashley has been practicing Chinese IP law since 2005 and was admitted to the PRC Bar in 2008. She is regularly involved in both contentious and non-contentious IP matters, specialising in trademark, copyright, domain name, Internet law and anti-unfair competition matters. Ashley has extensive experience before the China Trademark Office and the Trademark Review and Adjudication Board. Her client base includes international corporations from a wide range of industries. Ashley handles intellectual property transactions and licensing, as well as regulatory matters that affect a brand owner’s business operations in mainland China. She provides advice on domain name disputes, IP strategy and IPR enforcement with regards to online take-downs, AIC raid actions and litigation in China. AWA Asia Ltd
profile
Partner Simon Bradbury is a partner at Appleyard Lees, focusing on patents in the life sciences and biotechnology sectors. His broad expertise includes artificial intelligence and machine learning in drug discovery, medical devices, and microbiology. He has advised clients in matters relating to oppositions, appeals, infringement, revocations, and invalidity actions. His clients include large multinationals as well as startup companies. Appleyard Lees
profile
Partner Christian W. Appelt focuses on the counselling of SMEs in Germany and Europe in all aspects of intellectual property, especially patents and utility models, and on representing and advising large, internationally active companies, especially from Japan, China and the US. He has been a member of the Board of the German chapter of LES since 2010, acting as President from 2018 to 2020, and now being member of the Advisory Board of LES Germany. He represents his clients at the German patent authorities and courts, as well as at the European Patent Office (EPO) and at the UPC. Boehmert & Boehmert
Women In IP
Managing partner Laura Collada has more than 30 years’ experience in IP and is a managing partner at Dumont, where she has worked since 2000. She has taught copyright and industrial property law at various universities in Mexico City. She also worked as a director of the sub-office for the prevention of unfair competition at the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property.
Collada focuses her practice in the areas of fashion, media and telecommunications. She has written for World IP Review and is a member of INTA, Marques, AIPPI and ECTA. Dumont Bergman Bider & Co
Total results: 2402
profile
Partner & Trade Mark Attorney Nishan is a qualified attorney and trademark practitioner, who has been a partner of the firm since March 2012. Nishan has been the chairperson of the trade mark litigation department since 2019 and he currently serves as a member of the firm’s management committee, which is responsible for the day-to-day management of the firm. Nishan specialises in all trademark, copyright, company and domain name related disputes throughout Africa. He represents high profile South African and international clients in their trademark and copyright matters throughout Africa. Adams & Adams
Women In IP
Founder, Partner Manisha Singh is a leading lawyer in the IP arena in India. During her career, she has played an important and crucial role in advising Indian policy and lawmakers on global standards associated with IP administrative and enforcement systems.
Singh has acted on several milestone cases and leads most of the firm's large and complex cases. She represents clients in a broad range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, healthcare, fashion, media and entertainment, publishing, fast-moving consumer goods, electronics, automobile, and tech.
Singh is a prolific writer and speaker and has authored more than 500 articles and papers on contemporary IP and legal issues in India. Lex Orbis
profile
Partner Joginder is a registered Indian patent agent with a graduate degree in Computer Science and a diploma in electronics & telecommunication technology. Joginder has over 14 years of rich experience in patents-related work. He has substantial exposure to the handling of both contentious and non-contentious patent matters. LexOrbis
profile
President of the Board / Patent & Trademark Attorney Anna Stopinska Slefarska is a Polish patent and trademark attorney, European patent attorney and professional representative before the EU Intellectual Property Office. She has worked in POLSERVICE since 1977. She was in charge of the firm's Trademark Department for many years. In 2005 she became Member of the Board and in 2018 she was elected President of the Board.
Mrs. Stopinska Slefarska has over 30 years of experience in the IP field. She is specialized in trademark prosecution and litigation in Poland and she counsels clients on the strategic developments and establishment of IP portfolios. Polservice
profile
Partner Peter Sloane co-chairs the Trademark and Copyright Practice Group at Leason Ellis, where he and his team handle all aspects of trademark and copyright counseling, prosecution, and litigation. Together, they manage global trademark portfolios for some of the world’s largest corporations and enforce IP rights in courts and before tribunals internationally. Their work includes anti-counterfeiting, handling domain name disputes, conducting due diligence, and negotiating license agreements. Sloane has worked as a seconded attorney at Colgate-Palmolive, served as an expert witness and been appointed to provide pro bono representation through the Southern District of New York’s Office of Pro Se Litigation. Leason Ellis LLP
profile
Partner Bobby Smithson works closely with in-house patent departments of large companies, in the UK and overseas. He manages a diverse range of international patent portfolios. He assists their owners to identify new inventions, assess their patentability and draft and file resulting patent applications. Smithson has extensive experience of handling oppositions and appeals before the EPO, possessing the specialist knowledge and unique skills required to win favourable outcomes for our clients. He has particular experience in polymers, coatings and healthcare apparatuses. His practice includes patent work related to product inventions, novel polymers, compositions comprising existing polymers, and new operating processes. He has also drafted and successfully prosecuted patents for various complex mechanical inventions including engines and gearboxes. Appleyard Lees
profile
Trade Mark Director Lauren is a Chartered UK Trade Mark and Designs Attorney. She has expertise advising large multinationals through to small start ups, tailoring her strategic advice to suit client's needs.
Lauren is commercially aware across sectors ranging from cosmetics and clothing, food and pharmaceuticals, to software and professional services. She works with her clients to help achieve the desired outcome in a cost effective way - whether that be in relation to filing strategy, oppositions and appeals or in contentious matters.
Lauren is also a member of the European Communities Trade Mark Association (ECTA) and is the Vice Chair of its Internet Committee, recently leading a project on the effect on WHOIS data following the implementation of GDPR. HGF
profile
Partner and Patent Attorney Vanessa has over 25 years' experience in the patent field. She has a talent for building long-term trusted relationships with clients having IP portfolios at all stages of development, from start-up companies to global corporations with complex interrelated patent cases, universities and spin-outs, always providing commercially focussed and proactive advice.
Vanessa leads HGF's medical devices team and has substantial experience of drafting and prosecuting patents with medtech and healthcare subject matter, such as drug delivery devices, spinal and other orthopaedic instruments, dental, knee and hip implants, fracture fixators, ventilators, EEG systems, ophthalmic technology, cardiovascular stents and catheters. In addition to medical devices, her other areas of expertise include advanced manufacturing, food technology and energy technology including gas, water and electricity infrastructure.
With a keen interest in improving diversity and inclusion, Vanessa has been active in the UK profession-wide IP Inclusive initiative since its inception, leading its North of England network and was appointed to the IP Inclusive Advisory Board in 2021. Vanessa was elected to the Board of HGF in August 2020 and is HGF's Board Sponsor for DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion). HGF