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
“Reed Smith is an excellent outfit with a top tier patent practice. It is a reassuring partner to have onside in stressful situations. It was great to know that it has an international presence and handles work in the United Kingdom, too. Its fantastic team of lawyers are responsive, supportive and provide cost-effective, pragmatic, business-focused legal advice." Peter Chassman and Robert Riddle form the cornerstones of the litigation offering and each earn effusive praise from the market. “Peter is appreciated for his willingness to listen, pragmatism, sensitivity towards costs and continuous communications throughout cases. He always delivers a thorough work product on time – even when faced with the opposition continuously pursuing opportunities to delay – and performs brilliantly in cases that include many claims and complex technical references. Peter inspires confidence in his service users and has the ability to lead a case to a successful end.” “Robert brings a savvy and commercial sensibility to very complicated and technical concepts and is able to explain complicated areas of patent law in a clear and succinct manner to a layperson. He can identify issues that have been overlooked by others and provides insightful, thoughtful advice that proves to be spot-on in order to solve problems. Robert is a great counsellor and an invaluable partner to those seeking to execute a profitable trade.”
Bronze - Firms: litigation
The Paris office of the multinational Reed Smith boasts some of the country’s most recognised patent litigators. Serving up technically sophisticated and legally precise counsel, the firm is an excellent choice for patent work on both the contentious and non-contentious sides. Practice head Marianne Schaffner is an incredibly renowned disputer, especially for life sciences and standard essential patent battles in the telecoms sector. Alongside her capability as a cross-border litigation coordinator, Schaffner is also in demand for her detailed and thoughtful advice on licensing agreements and other IP-rich transactions. She is joined by the dual-qualified patent attorney/attorney at law Thierry Lautier. “Thierry is a very high-quality lawyer. Skilled and creative, he can understand very technical subjects easily and is an excellent counsellor in legal issues pertaining to patents. He and his team are among the best in Paris.” He is sought out both for prosecution work, as well as for his skill in the courtroom. One prosecution client is Leko Labs, for whom Lautier manages the portfolio in construction and wood-building technologies. On the contentious side, he is acting for Bell Sports, a US-based manufacturer of sports and leisure equipment, including helmets, in patent infringement fights against competitors Lazer Sport and Shimano.
Silver - Firms: transactions
Bronze - Firms: litigation
The UK patent offering at the multinational American outfit Reed Smith boasts a well-respected transactional offering, building on the firm’s strengths in corporate law, and also takes on some contentious IP work. Given its extensive worldwide network, the team is especially well equipped to handle global patent strategy, whether in multi-jurisdictional commercial deals or in cross-border litigations. Jonathan Radcliffe takes in both sides of the practice, while also offering leadership to the London patent team as a whole. Over his career of 30-plus years in the IP profession, Radcliffe has taken patent disputes all the way to the UK Supreme Court, making him a smart choice for any company dealing with a tricky litigation. Philip Thomas is an expert on the non-contentious side. Across more than two decades in practice, Thomas has advised clients in transport and logistics, telecoms and life sciences. He is particularly well acquainted with maritime and subsea technology and is a known authority when it comes to navigating the intersection of data protection and intellectual property.
Bronze - Firms: litigation
New to the IAM Patent 1000 this year, Reed Smith has offices across the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and brings an expansive global reach and international outlook to its practice. In California its team of collaboratively minded litigators work tirelessly to help clients achieve their goals. Jonah Mitchell, Michael Tomasulo and Christine Morgan are the key contacts for the address book. Mitchell has recently been defending Dell in a patent infringement action brought by UNM Rainforest Innovations relating to Dell’s WiFi-enabled products. Tomasulo has recently joined the team from Winston & Strawn and stands out as an impressive problem solver who is widely recognised for his innovative, forward-thinking approach. Morgan comes highly praised as a “truly fantastic litigator who is deeply experienced and strategic. She handles matters very professionally, is incredibly responsive and gets great results”.
Jurisdiction