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Proud to be different

An independent approach to help businesses and ideas flourish

Successful businesses see things differently.

We are a European headquartered hub for litigation, transactions and advice throughout the world and have remained fiercely independent since we first began in 1837. This means we are free to partner with the best people in any jurisdiction for each client need, or work with your existing relationships. We don’t work to billing targets. This ensures you get the right combination of experts working as one, who take the time to share their different perspectives and find the right answer, no matter how difficult or novel the question is. It’s a rare approach that defines the quality of our advice. And because we like to recruit inquisitive minds, many with science and technology backgrounds, we live and breathe your business, can talk the same language and have a keen eye on the future. We enjoy getting to the heart of the matter with advice that is simple to understand and easy to use.

Like any business we have evolved with time, but our focus and spirit have remained as resolute as the quality of our advice and as inimitable as the experience we deliver.

We are Bristows, seeing things differently for those shaping tomorrow.

300+
employees
14
top tier rankings and awards
A*
for peer support and partner approachability
1837

Robert Wilson founds the law firm known today as Bristows. Patent agreements are drafted for the first practical electrical telegraph, beginning our distinguished record in technology law.

“Bristows has an extremely experienced and very well-established IP team within a full-service firm – providing excellent support to all aspects of a case.”

Legal 500 2024

Our international focus remains strong. Over the last three years, approximately 60% of our income has come from overseas clients.

90%

of our partners are recommended by industry league tables such as Chambers, Legal 500 or IAM Patent 1000.

International

Bristows opened its first international office in Brussels in May 2018, followed by Dublin in September 2023 to support clients in matters relating to EU law. Bristows (Ireland) was set up to support clients in matters relating to the UPC.

Our culture

View our careers

Culture is a word that comes up a lot when talking about Bristows. It is our greatest strength and the foundation for all that we do.

 

Friendly

Curious

Brave

Ambitious