A constellation of IP stars at Bristows

05.09.2018

Eleven Bristows partners have been included in the Managing IP – IP Stars 2018/19 rankings:

  • Laura Anderson
  • Simon Clark
  • Liz Cohen (one of the Top 250 Women in IP as well as ranked in the Patent section)
  • Brian Cordery
  • Ian Gruselle
  • Myles Jelf (ranked in both the Patent and Trade Mark sections)
  • Alan Johnson
  • Fiona Nicolson (ranked in both the Patent and Transaction sections)
  • Edward Nodder
  • Paul Walsh
  • Matthew Warren

Six associates made the IP Stars’ Rising Star rankings:

  • Sarah Blair
  • Katie Cambrook
  • Lucie Fortune
  • Sean Ibbetson
  • Rachel Mumby
  • Annsley Merelle-Ward

Bristows is on Tier 1 in the Copyright, Patent contentious, Trade Mark contentious, and Trade mark prosecution categories.

The firm review says:

“Bristows has brilliant lawyers that understand the intricacies of patent disputes and transactions in the TMT and life sciences sectors. The boutique is also noted for its regulatory and competition law practice. One client also adds that the firm has an “unrivalled knowledge of IP policy work”. The firm is home to several recommended patent litigators including Richard Pinckney, Dominic Adair, Myles Jelf, Liz Cohen, Brian Cordery, Andrew Bowler, Robert Burrows and James Boon. Jelf is highly recommended for electronics and telecoms patent disputes while Cordery is respected in pharmaceutical patent disputes. Cohen is listed in Managing IP’s Top 250 Women in IP (2018).

“Myles Jeff is always very switched on,” a peer on the other side of a dispute admits, adding: “They take important points and are very reasonable and professional. Pleasant to have on the other side.” Boon has a “thorough” understanding of patent strategy in the telecoms sector which enables him to “manage cases effectively”. One client testifies that Boon and his team deliver high-quality service within “agreed costs and deadlines”. Johnson, an aficionado of the UPC system, is someone who is “willing to share his expertise” with the IP community as well as his clients. Pat Treacy and Sophie Lawrance are notable lawyers in the firm to go to when IP intersects with competition law. Fiona Nicolson, Matthew Warren and Laura Anderson are the IP transactions specialists. “Fiona combines technical expertise with really good business sense. I trust her judgement, and she is highly responsive to deadlines,” remarks a client. According to another client, Anderson is “a top-class negotiator who thinks through complex negotiations and always looks for a solution in a logical and calm manner”.

In 2017, Cohen and IP STARS (2017) rising star Gemma Barrett were promoted to joint managing partner and partner, respectively. Another newly-promoted partner, and one to watch, is Gregory Bacon. The partners are supported by a team of junior lawyers and paralegals. “I particularly like their friendly and down-to-earth approach,” a client adds. Katie Cambrook, Rachel Mumby and Annsley Merelle Ward are among the rising stars to watch. A client says that Ward is “a fount of knowledge” and “very engaging to work with”. The firm has been involved in recent telecoms patent disputes including acting for ZTE against Conversant Wireless Licensing and representing Koninklijke Philips in its infringement claim against ASUS and HTC. In the pharmaceutical field, the firm advises companies such as Novartis and recently acted for G D Searle and Janssen Sciences Ireland in their SPC dispute with Sandoz and Hexal, a case which was referred to the CJEU for guidance. Patent litigation luminaries Philip Westmacott and Sally Field have retired from the firm.

Bristows won Managing IP’s Firm of the Year (2018) award for trade mark and design work in the UK. There are several soft IP specialists in the firm, including Simon Clark, Ian Gruselle, Paul Walsh, Jeremy Blum and Paul Jordan. Clark is noted for his copyright expertise while Gruselle leads on trade mark portfolio management work. “Ian Gruselle understands our business very well and gives excellent commercial advice,” says a client. Another client describes Walsh as “one of the most commercial and technically brilliant IP lawyers”. Sarah Blair, Lucie Fortune and Sean Ibbetson are among the rising stars in the team.

The firm also has an active IP transactions practice, with experienced lawyers like Laura Anderson, Fiona Nicolson and Matthew Warren. They are supported by corporate lawyers such as Marek Petecki. “Exceptionally commercial and responsive service from this team at Bristows. I particularly like its friendly and down-to-earth approach,” says a client. Former head of the copyright and digital disputes practice Theo Savvides passed away in July 2017. In May 2018, the firm opened its first international office in Brussels.

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