The Patent 1000 focuses exclusively on patent practice and has firmly established itself as the definitive 'go-to' resource for those seeking world-class legal patent expertise.
Bronze - Firms: litigation
Baker McKenzie has a global reputation for providing first-rate legal services across a variety of industry sectors, and its Canadian outpost definitely lives up to the hype. The firm’s international presence gives the Toronto squad an edge in complex, multi-jurisdictional briefs, and its ability to tap into the outfit’s wider resources is a major boon to the multinational corporations it assists. Robust leadership is supplied by Kamleh Nicola, who has developed strong and long-lasting relationships with her customers and thrives in complex cross-border contentious situations. She has an entrepreneurial spirit and is a go-to for commercially insightful advice.
Silver - Firms: litigation and transactions
Baker McKenzie’s Hungarian branch maintains a strong transactional practice and plays an important role on major deals in Central and Eastern Europe, including many that help reshape the technology and life sciences landscape. Engaged in this in a due diligence capacity, the firm’s IP specialists cover a lot of other ground, too, and are well equipped to handle freestanding licensing matters as well as enforcement. The practice pivots around Zsófia Lendvai, an impressive lawyer with a PhD in copyright law, in-house experience in the pharmaceutical industry and a background at the Hungarian Ministry of Justice with involvement in legislative activity.
Bronze - Firms: litigation and transactions
With an unrivalled geographical reach, the Austrian branch of global titan Baker McKenzie is in pole position to advise both domestic and international clients looking to protect and commercialise their inventions. The Vienna squad is especially appealing to patrons in the digital realm and routinely advises rights holders in the IT space, thanks to software developer and department lead Lukas Feiler, who has worked in the sector both locally and abroad. By his side, Martina Grama swiftly gets to grips with all areas of IP law and has assisted in the completion of countless important M&A deals and other transactions. Worthy of special mention is Michaela Petsche, who recently joined the firm and is hailed by peers as one of Austria’s most promising young litigators.
Recommended - Firms
Silver - Firms: litigation
Bronze - Firms: prosecution
An indispensable member of the Greater China Baker McKenzie network, the Taipei outfit fully displays a wide spectrum of patent capabilities in both a domestic and international context. Nothing is off limits in its patent offering – it handles litigation, licensing and prosecution briefs with alacrity, working in all technical fields and across the globe. Under the stewardship of IP captain Grace Shao, the IP technology team houses highly qualified attorneys and patent engineers with diverse technical backgrounds. An acclaimed IP litigator in Taiwan, Shao has maintained a busy domestic patent litigation practice and effortlessly traversed the terrain – she successfully defended the patent validity of one of her Taiwanese patrons before Chinese courts. Further, partner Da-Fa Feng specialises in biotech and chemistry-related patent infringement suits.
Bronze - Firms: litigation and transactions
“A true IP specialist, Baker McKenzie has a thorough understanding of its clients’ business environments and is flexible and adaptable to their changing needs and demands.” The Brussels team work closely with colleagues in offices around the world to ensure strategic litigation counsel is deployed seamlessly, and they sew up lucrative licensing deals with dexterity too. Two of the leading lights are Michaël De Vroey and Koen De Winter. “Michaël takes a comprehensive approach to his cases and maintains an up-to-date legal knowledge to ensure satisfying results. He always produces high-quality work and is aware of his clients’ business goals, as well as any budget constraints.” Having built long-term relationships with his patrons, some of which have lasted 30 years, “Koen is a trusted adviser and terrific lawyer. He has decades of experience and is a delight to work with.”
Silver - Firms
With a compact but well-qualified team, the long-established Vietnamese outpost of the Baker McKenzie network is unparalleled when it comes to protecting and enforcing IP rights. Its unwavering commitment to improving the customer experience extends to the structural level — the outfit employs its original Reinvent programme, which connects several office branches to deliver streamlined, cost-effective, next-generation solutions. Recognising the quality, the clientele come in droves: recent highlights include patent prosecution for local technology firms, a top US consumer goods corporation, and a Korean player in the electronics field, as well as a complex litigation case on behalf of a foreign food and biotechnology industry giant. Team leader Manh Hung Tran is the key driving force behind the practice’s success: his deep knowledge, well-rounded skillset and long track record of professional triumphs has earned the practice the patronage of numerous influential international clients. An IP pathfinder with an instinctive feel for market evolution, Tran boasts an excellent rapport with the Vietnamese government, having helped to review and revise the country’s IP laws. This close connection has helped Tran to conduct successful IP enforcement initiatives and obtain IP registry of highly contested innovations. Held in similarly high regard by the authorities, senior patent attorney Viet Hung Le was once at the forefront of negotiating the IP aspects of the Vietnamese ascension to the World Trade Organization. At present, Le draws on his well-honed skillset to assist several multinational pharmaceutical companies in tackling the issue of generic drugs manufacture and distribution.
Gold - Firms: litigation and transactions
Recommended - Firms: prosecution
Recommended - Firms: transactions
Bronze - Firms: infringement
Baker McKenzie’s German contingent more than lives up to the standard the law firm sets for intellectual property work across the globe – the group has appeared repeatedly before the courts over the past year in infringement proceedings, but is also one of the few German law outfits to act in validity proceedings before the European Patent Office (EPO). With three of its attorneys having a technical background, and two qualified as both patent attorneys and attorneys-at-law, the outfit is able to tackle cases head-on, no matter the technical complexity.
Recommended - Firms
A trusted name across the globe, Baker McKenzie has teamed up with FenXun Partners in China to safeguard IP rights across the country on behalf of Fortune 500 companies. Leveraging unique insight from a contingent of seasoned lawyers with experience as judges, CNIPA examiners and senior in-house counsels, the briefs offered by the Shanghai-based patent group are top-notch. Leading the charge is pharmaceutical maven Clement Ngai, who is a favourite among clientele in the chemical and healthcare industries.
Recommended - Firms: litigation
Recommended - Firms: transactions
Recommended - Firms: prosecution
The patent team at Baker McKenzie’s Hong Kong office provides a reassuringly holistic offering. Its lawyers have backgrounds in science and technology and its litigators possess rich practical experience in dealing with cross-border patent and dispute matters. Thanks to its well-established relationships with Chinese players and an excellent command of Chinese IP law, the Hong Kong-based Greater China team puts in polished performances in high-stakes, cross-border disputes. Leading the charge is head of the Asia-Pacific IP and technology group Isabella Liu. A biochemist by trade, she shines when providing advice to pharmaceuticals and life sciences companies.
Bronze - Firms
The Colombian branch of international juggernaut Baker McKenzie has been in operation for over 80 years, and the full-service IP team makes excellent use of the firm’s wider international network to secure crisp results for global heavyweights in the chemicals, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, and technology industries. For instance, the past 12 months also saw them assisting Unilever with important transactional work. Heading up the practice, Juan Pablo Concha Delgado has taken charge of patent litigation for more than 20 years and, alongside his extensive experience in enforcement, he also seamlessly handles and coordinates patent portfolios across Latin America. María Ximena Guavita leads the way on the technical side, drawing on her extensive expertise in chemical engineering to issue sage advice and assist with patent filings.
Recommended - Firms: prosecution
Bronze - Firms: litigation
Baker McKenzie’s patent group extends its coverage in the IAM Patent 1000 this year by earning recognition in Texas. In Dallas it has an impressive line-up of lawyers, headlined by Mackenzie Martin, who serves as co-leader of the global patent group. Reflective of the wider practice, she is exceptionally versatile and engages in complex litigation, licensing and portfolio development work, giving her an excellent strategic overview of her clients’ issues. The specifics of her recent client activities cannot be disclosed but include acting for a company with respect to international standard essential patents (SEPs), antitrust and litigation matters. Much of her work has a cross-border dimension, which she takes care of superbly by effective collaboration with Baker McKenzie lawyers elsewhere and judicious deployment of the outfit’s resources. Another valuable contact is John Flaim, who is a safe pair of hands for US and global patent litigation. Recently he has litigated a patent infringement suit at the US Court of Federal Claims – a forum that not too many patent litigators are familiar with.
Bronze - Firms: prosecution
The Mexican outpost of international powerhouse Baker McKenzie consistently attracts glowing reviews from all corners of the market. “The firm is highly recommended for its positive attitude, immense experience and ability to see through complex matters in a timely manner. Its team of experts provides serious, in-depth advice, and becomes deeply involved in each case with the sole focus of solving and clearing patrons’ concerns. To do so, they put together a multidisciplinary and collaborative workforce and support patrons throughout the process.” It should then come as no surprise that patent practice lead and A-star all-rounder Marina Hurtado Cruz garners similar waves of enthusiastic praise. “The service Marina provides is simply excellent; she is attentive, identifies protection strategies in a practical and efficient way, and her advice translates into benefits for her client’s business.” “She is a thoughtful professional, with deep knowledge of her field and the capacity to turn that into practical and commercially driven advice.”
Silver - Firms
As part of Baker McKenzie’s worldwide IP practice, it has a solid patent offering stationed in Kyiv, which serves the Ukrainian market but also works alongside the firm’s other offices to serve the surrounding region. Both local and international clients flock to the outfit, which deals with patent portfolio management as easily as infringement proceedings and IP-related transactions. Running the show is Ruslan Drobyazko, an IP all-rounder who handles everything from IT agreements to anti-counterfeiting actions with equal strength. He is joined by Oleksiy Stolyarenko, a creator of top-quality portfolio strategies and an experienced advocate in high-profile patent litigation, who similarly handles anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracycampaigns.
Bronze - Firms: litigation and transactions
Since 1992 Baker McKenzie has enjoyed a strong footing on the local IP scene and is one of the longest-running international firms on the Polish market. Its patrons have access to unparalleled worldwide resources, well-trained personnel and a comprehensive service. Recently promoted to equity partner, team lead Marcin Fijałkowski dispenses sound knowledge across the contentious/non-contentious divide and has experience in pan-European IP enforcement programmes. He frequently teams up with Katarzyna Tobiasz-Dumania, and the two recently represented Magellan Life Sciences in an EPO patent application for the revolutionary method of producing Brazzein, a natural sweet-tasting molecule 1,000 times sweeter than sugar. “Marcin and Katarzyna are adept at dealing with delicate and complex patent challenges, and they cooperate closely with their clients’ internal teams to guarantee significant results.” Also on deck, Marek Rosinski has been advising Polish start-up ATS Worldwide on a patent strategy for its new aeroplane towing system, which is intended to revolutionise airport traffic. He is working in tandem with his colleagues in Chicago and San Francisco to devise a globalstrategy.
Bronze - Firms: litigation
Recommended - Firms: transactions
Perhaps best known for its trademark capability, the Australian contingent at global juggernaut Baker McKenzie has lately packed a punch on the patent side and makes its debut in the IAM Patent 1000 this year. Most of its team members are scientifically adept and understand every nuance of the industries in which their patent clients operate, in addition to their legal qualifications. The ensemble received a boost in mid-2020 with the arrival of the “amazing” IP litigator Helen Macpherson, who has established a flourishing practice of high-value patent disputes involving complex technologies. She draws upon her technical training in biochemistry and her ability to up-skill swiftly in relation to diverse technologies. Working alongside her is Elisabeth White, who spearheads the APAC healthcare and life sciences group. Her enviable IP career spans over two decades and focuses upon IP enforcement and litigation, protection and regulatory advisory work. Meanwhile, for licensing and technology transfer issues, no IP-related agreement or transaction is beyond the capabilities of Melbourne-based Toby Patten.
Gold - Firms
Fortune 500 companies flock to the Thai outpost of Baker McKenzie, drawn by the international standards, impressive track record and considerable knowledge capital. Aside from a full array of patent services, the outfit also advises domestic and multinational players on conducting R&D as well as identifying, protecting and managing valuable intellectual property as well as IP rights acquisition. While marquee clientele make up the bulk of the roster, Baker McKenzie Thailand extends a helping hand to government agencies, small and medium-sized entities and individual inventors. For 16 years, principal Say Sujintaya co-headed the IP practice. She dishes out sage advice, especially with regard to the pharmaceutical industry, and successfully litigates cases for world-renowned brands. Especially known for her success in negotiations with the government on behalf of a pharma multinational, she prevented the first threat of compulsory licensing in the jurisdiction. In mid-2021, Sujintaya stepped down from her role and now serves as of counsel. Picking up the baton as the leader is partner Tanakrit Tangburanakij, an all-rounder who prosecuted the first successful computer-related patent in Thailand and dispensed top-notch pre-litigation advice for a household jewellery brand. Highly recommended by peers for her scientific qualifications – which include a doctorate in biotechnology and a background in petrochemistry – senior associate Radeemada Mungkarndee regularly advises research institutions on technical matters and litigates cases before the IP and IT court. Together with Sujintaya and Tangburanakij, she manages IT, pharma and automotive patent portfolios for multinationals, and has recently prosecuted a number of complex patents for European-developed covid-19 vaccines.
Recommended - Firms: transactions
Baker McKenzie is hard to beat in terms of global IP capability; it maintains strong patent and trademark practices in many jurisdictions and has all the best backend systems to ensure clients’ matters progress as seamlessly as possible. The firm maintains a robust US patent litigation practice and has an MVP in Jim Blank, whose accomplishments for prestigious companies such as Nintendo are many. As comfortable in the PTAB and at the Federal Circuit as he is in district courts, he knows how to develop persuasive narratives wherever a case takes him.
Bronze - Firms
The Chilean branch of international powerhouse Baker McKenzie dispenses a well-rounded patent offering, spanning from drafting and filing through to infringement counselling. In Santiago the department is headed by Valentina Venturelli, “a massively experienced and super responsible IP partner”. She leverages over a decade of experience to secure crisp results for her clients and devises strategies that enhance their portfolios.
Recommended - Firms: litigation and transactions
Established in Tokyo for 50 years, Baker McKenzie has one of the oldest – and, with 13 specialist attorneys, largest – foreign IP legal practices in Japan. While the battle-hardened litigators are not afraid to clash swords, they can also resolve complex and costly disputes in a settlement, should the situation call for it. One of such master negotiators is partner Kei Matsumoto who seamlessly handles cross-border litigation matters for foreign clients in Japan. “Kei is great at translating complex technical agreements from Japanese into English in a timely manner.” Another source gushes: “Kei is very good. Not only does he work on the contracts efficiently, but also stands at the forefront of negotiations. When it comes to negotiations, Kei establishes trust with the other parties immediately. His kind attitude and wise choice of words help the parties find common ground in many difficult points in a short amount of time.”
Bronze - Firms: prosecution
“Baker McKenzie undertakes excellent patent work and is superior to most other IP firms in Argentina. It demonstrates a high level of efficiency and accuracy, responds quickly, never misses deadlines and manages worldwide portfolios in a highly effective way.” Its patent team includes several consultants with technical backgrounds, enabling the confident handling of prosecution tasks; its professionals are also at ease in complex litigation scenarios. Pharmaceutical patent work is a strong suit of the group, which is headed by Bernard Malone.
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