WIPR UK Patents 2026: Announcing the Definitive Rankings for Contentious and Non-Contentious Practice

Top law firms and individuals recognised in WIPR’s UK Patents Rankings 2026

WIPR has published its UK Patents Rankings 2026, a guide to this year’s stand-out law firms and practitioners across both contentious and non-contentious practice areas.

In a year defined by the rapid maturation of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) and standard-essential patents (SEP) litigation, this year’s tables showcase the elite legal talents and firms shaping the patents landscape across the UK and beyond.

Through extensive feedback from peers, direct client referees, and a thorough evaluation of high-stakes dockets, the WIPR rankings team has identified the leading patents practices and professionals handling the most significant matters both inside and outside of the courtroom.

They are ranked in four tiers, from Notable through Recommended and Highly Recommended up to Outstanding, in the separate categories of Non-Contentious and Contentious to recognise the different specialisms within patents practice.

‘Commercially-focused advice’

Non-contentious patents practice—encompassing the drafting, filing, and prosecution of applications before the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) and the European Patent Office (EPO), alongside strategic portfolio management and freedom-to-operate advice—remains the bedrock of commercial protection.

Five firms reached the Outstanding tier in this area for 2026: Boult Wade Tennant, Carpmaels & Ransford, D Young & Co, Forresters, and J A Kemp. These firms have demonstrated an unparalleled ability to manage complex, international patents portfolios, secure protection for cutting-edge innovations, and provide top-quality commercial advice.

Market feedback on this year’s top-tier honourees included that Carpmaels is a “benchmark firm” with an “enviable client list”, while elsewhere a client recommended J A Kemp’s “outstanding patents attorneys”.

In terms of the individual rankings, only two professionals secured the coveted Outstanding designation this year: J A Kemp’s Amanda Simons—recommended by a peer for “patents prosecution and opposition proceedings in the chemical and life sciences arts”, as well as her “strong attention to detail, knowledge of EPO procedure, and strategic advice”—and Bobby Smithson of Appleyard Lees, described as “excellent at building and maintaining strong client relationships”.

A stellar list of firms made the Highly Recommended tier, including Appleyard Lees, Arnold & Porter, Keltie, Marks & Clerk, and Wiggin, among others.

Within this highly competitive bracket, standout individuals include Wiggin’s Sara Ashby; a peer says she has a “razor-sharp legal brain, but is still very commercial and client focused”. In the same tier, Rohan Setna of Boult Wade Tennant is praised as a “particularly savvy and client-centric practitioner”.

DLA Piper, Greaves Brewster and Mathys & Squire are among the firms recognised in the Recommended tier for 2026.

“They display expertise and focus across the board,” says a peer of DLA Piper’s patents team, who “fight hard for the commercial interests of their clients”.

The individuals recognised for the calibre of their non-contentious patents practice in this year’s Recommended tier include Greaves Brewster lawyers Jakob Bumke, Lee Chapman, Meeta Mistry, and David Spinner.

Alongside them are Andrew Pitts, Isobel Stone and Andrew Williams of Mewburn Ellis, as well as other industry counterparts from top patents teams.

These include Dan Pearce from Temple Bright, who comes highly recommended by a peer for his “pragmatic, commercially-focused advice”.

Temple Bright, which operates a partner-only structure with no delegation to junior lawyers, is acknowledged in the Notable tier for 2026, in both the Non-Contentious and Contentious tables.

The litigation arena

On the contentious side—which includes representing clients before the Patents Court, the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC), and the Unified Patent Court—competition for patents mandates remains fierce.

Four firms recognised for their dominance in patents disputes are acclaimed as Outstanding this year: Bird & Bird, Bristows, Kirkland & Ellis, and Powell Gilbert.

Bird & Bird, described by a peer as “the leading European firm for patents litigation”, is known for its expertise in telecoms, alongside its prominent life sciences practice.

Indicating its capability in high-stakes contentious patents matters, Powell Gilbert represents Tesla in a landmark UK Supreme Court FRAND dispute against InterDigital and Avanci, as well as handling multi-jurisdictional disputes for BioNTech and Edwards Lifesciences.

Nicola Dagg (Kirkland & Ellis), Penny Gilbert (Powell Gilbert) and Brian Cordery (Bristows) are among the highly respected litigators to meet the bar for Outstanding recognition this year.

Ranking firms such as Mishcon de Reya, Freshfields, and Fieldfisher in the second-highest tier as Highly Recommended signals the quality of the UK patents legal market.

A client says the team at Mishcon are “excellent litigation strategists, capable of developing clear case theories, anticipating opponent arguments, and adapting strategy as matters evolve”.

Mishcon’s David Rose, in the Highly Recommended individuals tier, is described by a client as a “standout practitioner whose sharp mind and masterly approach” to patents and other IP disputes “set him apart from the ordinary”.

Rafi Allos (A&O Shearman), Rob Burrows (Bristows), and Jason Raeburn (Paul Hastings) are among the practitioners alongside Rose in that category this year.

This year’s Recommended firms for contentious work include Appleyard Lees, Beck Greener, Dehns, DLA Piper, Paul Hastings, and Venner Shipley.

Also in the category is Potter Clarkson, historically known as a patents attorney firm but now an integrated IP practice with growing contentious capabilities. The firm’s oppositions work before the UKIPO and EPO is singled out by a peer.

James Tumbridge of Keystone Law is among the individuals in the Recommended tier for 2026; a client says they appreciate his “great advice in clear simple language even though the topic was very complex”.

Others include Beatriz San Martin (Arnold & Porter), described as a “very well-rounded litigator” with deep expertise in life sciences law; and Tess Waldron (Powell Gilbert) who provides “very pragmatic and actionable advice”.

Further talent in the UK patents market, identified in the Notable tier for 2026, includes Kristjan Bloudoff (Morgan Lewis), James Gray (Hogan Lovells Cadwalader), Ashley Grant (Kirkland & Ellis), and Nick Hardingham (Dehns).