This latest annual listing of Europe’s leading patent law firms is based on recommendations by clients and peers, as compiled by the FT’s research partner Statista.

A total of 167 recommended firms offering the services of patent attorneys feature in the overall list, sorted in alphabetical order in the main table below (use the toggle to sort by country).

Firms that were especially recommended for their services in six areas of industrial expertise have been included in sector lists. They were ranked in three classes: gold (very frequently recommended), silver (frequently recommended) and bronze (recommended). These are displayed in separate tables below the main listing.

Sectors

Biotechnology & Food

Chemistry & Pharmaceuticals

Electrical Engineering

IT & Software

Materials & Nanotechnology

Mechanical Engineering

The final table shows top firms ranked by the number of their awards and also provide a breakdown of the numbers of leading patent law firms by country.

Scroll below the tables for full methodology.

Europe’s Leading Patent Law Firms
Patent law firmCountry of origin
2SPLGermany
AA ThorntonUK
Abel + ImrayUK
Abello IP France
ABG Intellectual PropertySpain
AeraDenmark
Allen & OveryUK
Andrejewski HonkeGermany
AOMB PolskaPoland
Appleyard LeesUK
Arnold & SiedsmaNetherlands
August DebouzyFrance
AWASweden
BalderSpain
Bandpay & GreuterFrance
Bardehle PagenbergGermany
Barker BrettellUK
Bauer | Vorberg | KayserGermany
Beau de LoménieFrance
Becker & AssociésFrance
BerggrenFinland
BestpatentGermany
Betten & ReschGermany
Bianchetti & Minoja (B&M)Italy
Bird & BirdUK
Boehmert & BoehmertGermany
Botti & FerrariItaly
Boult Wade TennantUK
BrannSweden
Braun-Dullaeus Pannen EmmerlingGermany
BrinkhofNetherlands
Budde SchouDenmark
BugnionItaly
Buzzi, Notaro & Antonielli d’OulxItaly
Carpmaels & RansfordUK
CasalongaFrance
ClarkeModetSpain
CMSUK
Cohausz & FlorackGermany
COPADenmark
Curell SuñolSpain
D Young & CoUK
De Clercq & PartnersBelgium
De Vries & MetmanNetherlands
DehnsUK
DF-MPGermany
Dilg Haeusler SchindelmannGermany
DompatentGermany
Dr. Bakuri LanchavaGermany
DREISS PatentanwälteGermany
DTSGermany
EIPUK
Eisenführ SpeiserGermany
Elkington + FifeUK
ElzaburuSpain
EP&CNetherlands
Epping Hermann Fischer (EHF)Germany
Eupatent.plPoland
ForrestersUK
FRKellyIreland
Germain MaureauFrance
GJEUK
Glawe Delfs MollGermany
GLPItaly
Gramm, Lins & PartnerGermany
Greaves BrewsterUK
Grund IP GroupGermany
GrüneckerGermany
Guardian IP ConsultingDenmark
Gulde & PartnerGermany
H&ASpain
Hamm & WittkoppGermany
Håmsø PatentbyråNorway
HansepatentGermany
Haseltine Lake KempnerUK
Herzog IPGermany
HGFUK
Hoefer & PartnerGermany
Hoffmann EitleGermany
HøibergDenmark
Horn Kleimann WaitzhoferGermany
Hoyng Rokh MonegierNetherlands
Hynell Intellectual PropertySweden
InspicosDenmark
IsarpatentGermany
Isenbruck Bösl HörschlerGermany
J A KempUK
Jacobacci & PartnersItaly
K2UK
Karo IPGermany
Kehl, Ascherl, Liebhoff & EttmayrGermany
Keil & SchaafhausenGermany
KeltieUK
Kilburn & StrodeUK
Kohler Schmid MöbusGermany
König Szynka Tilmann von RenesseGermany
Kransell & WennborgSweden
Kraus & WeisertGermany
Kroher StrobelGermany
Kutzenberger, Wolff & PartnerGermany
Laine IP OyFinland
LavoixFrance
Lederer & KellerGermany
LLR Intellectual PropertyFrance
Lorenz Seidler GosselGermany
Maikowski & NinnemannGermany
MaiwaldGermany
Manitz FinsterwaldGermany
Marietti, Gislon e TrupianoItaly
Marks & ClerkUK
Mathys & SquireUK
Meissner BolteGermany
Mewburn EllisUK
Michalski · Hüttermann & PartnerGermany
MitscherlichGermany
Modiano & PartnersItaly
Müller Schupfner & PartnerGermany
Müller-BoréGermany
MurgitroydUK
NLONetherlands
Olbricht PatentanwälteGermany
Oxon IPNetherlands
Papula-NevinpatFinland
PatentreePortugal
PaterisGermany
Paustian & PartnerGermany
Plasseraud IPFrance
Plougmann VingtoftDenmark
Potter ClarksonUK
Prinz & PartnerGermany
Prüfer & PartnerGermany
Reddie & GroseUK
RegimbeauFrance
Reitstötter KinzebachGermany
Rott, Růžička & GuttmannCzech Rep.
Sagittarius IPUK
Samson & PartnerGermany
Santarelli GroupFrance
SBMPSwitzerland
Schiweck Weinzierl KochGermany
Schoppe, Zimmermann, Stöckeler, Zinkler, Schenk & PartnerGermany
Società Italiana Brevetti (SIB)Italy
Ström & GullikssonSweden
Studio TortaItaly
TBKGermany
Ter Meer Steinmeister & PartnerGermany
Uexküll & StolbergGermany
V.O. Patents & TrademarksNetherlands
ValeaSweden
Venner ShipleyUK
Viering, Jentschura & PartnerGermany
VossiusGermany
Vriesendorp & GaadeNetherlands
Wallinger Ricker Schlotter TostmannGermany
Weickmann & WeickmannGermany
Westphal, Mussgnug & PartnerGermany
Wilson GunnUK
Withers & RogersUK
WitteWellerGermany
WP ThompsonUK
WTS Patent AttorneysPoland
Wuesthoff & WuesthoffGermany
Wynne-Jones IPUK
ZaccoDenmark
ZBM Patents & TrademarksSpain
Zimmermann & PartnerGermany
ZSP PatentanwälteGermany
Biotechnology & Food
Patent law firmCountry of originRating
ABG Intellectual PropertySpainGold
Carpmaels & RansfordUKGold
CMSUKGold
EIPUKGold
Haseltine Lake KempnerUKGold
HGFUKGold
Hoffmann EitleGermanyGold
J A KempUKGold
KeltieUKGold
PatentreePortugalGold
Potter ClarksonUKGold
Sagittarius IPUKGold
VossiusGermanyGold
ZBM Patents & TrademarksSpainGold
GJEUKSilver
Kilburn & StrodeUKSilver
MaiwaldGermanySilver
Mewburn EllisUKSilver
MurgitroydUKSilver
Plasseraud IPFranceSilver
AWASwedenBronze
BalderSpainBronze
Becker & AssociésFranceBronze
Boehmert & BoehmertGermanyBronze
Boult Wade TennantUKBronze
Buzzi, Notaro & Antonielli d’OulxItalyBronze
D Young & CoUKBronze
De Clercq & PartnersBelgiumBronze
DF-MPGermanyBronze
Elkington + FifeUKBronze
ForrestersUKBronze
Germain MaureauFranceBronze
GLPItalyBronze
Greaves BrewsterUKBronze
GrüneckerGermanyBronze
H&ASpainBronze
Håmsø PatentbyråNorwayBronze
HansepatentGermanyBronze
Herzog IPGermanyBronze
HøibergDenmarkBronze
Hoyng Rokh MonegierNetherlandsBronze
König Szynka Tilmann von RenesseGermanyBronze
Kroher StrobelGermanyBronze
Mathys & SquireUKBronze
NLONetherlandsBronze
Prinz & PartnerGermanyBronze
RegimbeauFranceBronze
Withers & RogersUKBronze
WTS Patent AttorneysPolandBronze
Wynne-Jones IPUKBronze
ZSP PatentanwälteGermanyBronze
Chemistry & Pharmaceuticals
Patent law firmCountry of originRating
ABG Intellectual PropertySpainGold
Carpmaels & RansfordUKGold
GJEUKGold
Haseltine Lake KempnerUKGold
HGFUKGold
Hoffmann EitleGermanyGold
J A KempUKGold
Kilburn & StrodeUKGold
MaiwaldGermanyGold
MurgitroydUKGold
PatentreePortugalGold
Potter ClarksonUKGold
Sagittarius IPUKGold
VossiusGermanyGold
ZBM Patents & TrademarksSpainGold
AWASwedenSilver
Bird & BirdUKSilver
CMSUKSilver
Cohausz & FlorackGermanySilver
EIPUKSilver
Reitstötter KinzebachGermanySilver
AeraDenmarkBronze
Appleyard LeesUKBronze
BalderSpainBronze
Becker & AssociésFranceBronze
Bianchetti & Minoja (B&M)ItalyBronze
Boehmert & BoehmertGermanyBronze
Botti & FerrariItalyBronze
Buzzi, Notaro & Antonielli d’OulxItalyBronze
D Young & CoUKBronze
De Clercq & PartnersBelgiumBronze
DehnsUKBronze
DF-MPGermanyBronze
Eisenführ SpeiserGermanyBronze
Elkington + FifeUKBronze
ForrestersUKBronze
Germain MaureauFranceBronze
GLPItalyBronze
GrüneckerGermanyBronze
H&ASpainBronze
Hamm & WittkoppGermanyBronze
Håmsø PatentbyråNorwayBronze
Herzog IPGermanyBronze
HøibergDenmarkBronze
Hoyng Rokh MonegierNetherlandsBronze
InspicosDenmarkBronze
Isenbruck Bösl HörschlerGermanyBronze
KeltieUKBronze
König Szynka Tilmann von RenesseGermanyBronze
Lederer & KellerGermanyBronze
Marks & ClerkUKBronze
Mathys & SquireUKBronze
Mewburn EllisUKBronze
Müller-BoréGermanyBronze
NLONetherlandsBronze
Oxon IPNetherlandsBronze
Plasseraud IPFranceBronze
Prinz & PartnerGermanyBronze
RegimbeauFranceBronze
Ter Meer Steinmeister & PartnerGermanyBronze
Uexküll & StolbergGermanyBronze
V.O. Patents & TrademarksNetherlandsBronze
Venner ShipleyUKBronze
Wallinger Ricker Schlotter TostmannGermanyBronze
Withers & RogersUKBronze
WTS Patent AttorneysPolandBronze
Wynne-Jones IPUKBronze
Electrical Engineering
Patent law firmCountry of originRating
2SPLGermanyGold
Bardehle PagenbergGermanyGold
Buzzi, Notaro & Antonielli d’OulxItalyGold
Dr. Bakuri LanchavaGermanyGold
EIPUKGold
GJEUKGold
Haseltine Lake KempnerUKGold
KeltieUKGold
MurgitroydUKGold
PatentreePortugalGold
Potter ClarksonUKGold
Withers & RogersUKGold
ZBM Patents & TrademarksSpainGold
ABG Intellectual PropertySpainSilver
AWASwedenSilver
Cohausz & FlorackGermanySilver
ForrestersUKSilver
Germain MaureauFranceSilver
HGFUKSilver
Hoffmann EitleGermanySilver
RegimbeauFranceSilver
Samson & PartnerGermanySilver
Ström & GullikssonSwedenSilver
Westphal, Mussgnug & PartnerGermanySilver
ZaccoDenmarkSilver
Zimmermann & PartnerGermanySilver
Abel + ImrayUKBronze
AOMB PolskaPolandBronze
BalderSpainBronze
Boehmert & BoehmertGermanyBronze
Botti & FerrariItalyBronze
Boult Wade TennantUKBronze
Braun-Dullaeus Pannen EmmerlingGermanyBronze
CMSUKBronze
D Young & CoUKBronze
DF-MPGermanyBronze
Dilg Haeusler SchindelmannGermanyBronze
Eisenführ SpeiserGermanyBronze
Epping Hermann Fischer (EHF)GermanyBronze
GLPItalyBronze
GrüneckerGermanyBronze
Guardian IP ConsultingDenmarkBronze
Gulde & PartnerGermanyBronze
H&ASpainBronze
Håmsø PatentbyråNorwayBronze
Hoyng Rokh MonegierNetherlandsBronze
InspicosDenmarkBronze
J A KempUKBronze
Kehl, Ascherl, Liebhoff & EttmayrGermanyBronze
Kilburn & StrodeUKBronze
Kransell & WennborgSwedenBronze
Kroher StrobelGermanyBronze
LLR Intellectual PropertyFranceBronze
Maikowski & NinnemannGermanyBronze
MaiwaldGermanyBronze
Marks & ClerkUKBronze
Mathys & SquireUKBronze
Meissner BolteGermanyBronze
Mewburn EllisUKBronze
Müller-BoréGermanyBronze
Plasseraud IPFranceBronze
Prinz & PartnerGermanyBronze
Reddie & GroseUKBronze
Rott, Růžička & GuttmannCzech Rep.Bronze
Schoppe, Zimmermann, Stöckeler, Zinkler, Schenk & PartnerGermanyBronze
Studio TortaItalyBronze
Venner ShipleyUKBronze
Viering, Jentschura & PartnerGermanyBronze
Wynne-Jones IPUKBronze
IT & Software
Patent Law FirmCountry of OriginRating
Bardehle PagenbergGermanyGold
EIPUKGold
GJEUKGold
Haseltine Lake KempnerUKGold
KeltieUKGold
PatentreePortugalGold
Potter ClarksonUKGold
ZBM Patents & TrademarksSpainGold
2SPLGermanySilver
Buzzi, Notaro & Antonielli d’OulxItalySilver
CMSUKSilver
Dr. Bakuri LanchavaGermanySilver
HGFUKSilver
Hoffmann EitleGermanySilver
Withers & RogersUKSilver
ABG Intellectual PropertySpainBronze
AWASwedenBronze
BalderSpainBronze
Barker BrettellUKBronze
Boehmert & BoehmertGermanyBronze
Braun-Dullaeus Pannen EmmerlingGermanyBronze
Cohausz & FlorackGermanyBronze
Eupatent.plPolandBronze
Germain MaureauFranceBronze
H&ASpainBronze
Håmsø PatentbyråNorwayBronze
InspicosDenmarkBronze
Kilburn & StrodeUKBronze
Kransell & WennborgSwedenBronze
MaiwaldGermanyBronze
Mathys & SquireUKBronze
Meissner BolteGermanyBronze
Müller-BoréGermanyBronze
MurgitroydUKBronze
Plasseraud IPFranceBronze
RegimbeauFranceBronze
Samson & PartnerGermanyBronze
Ström & GullikssonSwedenBronze
Wynne-Jones IPUKBronze
ZaccoDenmarkBronze
Zimmermann & PartnerGermanyBronze
Materials & Nanotechnology
Patent law firmCountry of originRating
GJEUKGold
Haseltine Lake KempnerUKGold
PatentreePortugalGold
ZBM Patents & TrademarksSpainGold
ABG Intellectual PropertySpainSilver
Dr. Bakuri LanchavaGermanySilver
EIPUKSilver
Håmsø PatentbyråNorwaySilver
HGFUKSilver
J A KempUKSilver
KeltieUKSilver
MurgitroydUKSilver
Potter ClarksonUKSilver
AeraDenmarkBronze
AWASwedenBronze
Bardehle PagenbergGermanyBronze
Botti & FerrariItalyBronze
Boult Wade TennantUKBronze
Buzzi, Notaro & Antonielli d’OulxItalyBronze
Eisenführ SpeiserGermanyBronze
ForrestersUKBronze
Germain MaureauFranceBronze
Hoffmann EitleGermanyBronze
InspicosDenmarkBronze
Kroher StrobelGermanyBronze
LLR Intellectual PropertyFranceBronze
MaiwaldGermanyBronze
Marks & ClerkUKBronze
Mathys & SquireUKBronze
Prinz & PartnerGermanyBronze
Rott, Růžička & GuttmannCzech Rep.Bronze
Wynne-Jones IPUKBronze
Mechanical Engineering
Patent law firmCountry of originRating
Bardehle PagenbergGermanyGold
EIPUKGold
GJEUKGold
Haseltine Lake KempnerUKGold
HGFUKGold
Hoffmann EitleGermanyGold
KeltieUKGold
MurgitroydUKGold
PatentreePortugalGold
Potter ClarksonUKGold
ZBM Patents & TrademarksSpainGold
ABG Intellectual PropertySpainSilver
BalderSpainSilver
Buzzi, Notaro & Antonielli d’OulxItalySilver
Dr. Bakuri LanchavaGermanySilver
Eisenführ SpeiserGermanySilver
ForrestersUKSilver
Germain MaureauFranceSilver
GrüneckerGermanySilver
Håmsø PatentbyråNorwaySilver
InspicosDenmarkSilver
Kilburn & StrodeUKSilver
Kroher StrobelGermanySilver
Meissner BolteGermanySilver
Müller-BoréGermanySilver
Plasseraud IPFranceSilver
Prinz & PartnerGermanySilver
RegimbeauFranceSilver
Withers & RogersUKSilver
ZaccoDenmarkSilver
Zimmermann & PartnerGermanySilver
2SPLGermanyBronze
Abel + ImrayUKBronze
Andrejewski HonkeGermanyBronze
AOMB PolskaPolandBronze
AWASwedenBronze
Boehmert & BoehmertGermanyBronze
Carpmaels & RansfordUKBronze
CMSUKBronze
DehnsUKBronze
DF-MPGermanyBronze
DREISS PatentanwälteGermanyBronze
GLPItalyBronze
Gramm, Lins & PartnerGermanyBronze
H&ASpainBronze
Horn Kleimann WaitzhoferGermanyBronze
Hoyng Rokh MonegierNetherlandsBronze
Hynell Intellectual PropertySwedenBronze
J A KempUKBronze
Jacobacci & PartnersItalyBronze
K2UKBronze
Karo IPGermanyBronze
LavoixFranceBronze
LLR Intellectual PropertyFranceBronze
Lorenz Seidler GosselGermanyBronze
Maikowski & NinnemannGermanyBronze
MaiwaldGermanyBronze
Manitz FinsterwaldGermanyBronze
Marietti, Gislon e TrupianoItalyBronze
Marks & ClerkUKBronze
Mathys & SquireUKBronze
Mewburn EllisUKBronze
Prüfer & PartnerGermanyBronze
Ström & GullikssonSwedenBronze
Studio TortaItalyBronze
Vriesendorp & GaadeNetherlandsBronze
Wynne-Jones IPUKBronze
Top firms by medals
Law firm# Awards# Gold# Silver# Bronze
Haseltine Lake Kempner6600
Patentree6600
ZBM Patents & Trademarks6600
GJE6510
Potter Clarkson6510
EIP6420
Keltie6411
HGF6330
Hoffmann Eitle6321
Murgitroyd6321
ABG Intellectual Property6231
Buzzi, Notaro & Antonielli d’Oulx6123
Maiwald6114
AWA6024
Germain Maureau6024
Håmsø Patentbyrå6024
Mathys & Squire6006
Wynne-Jones IP6006
J A Kemp5212
CMS5122
Kilburn & Strode5122
Withers & Rogers5122
Forresters5023
Plasseraud IP5023
Regimbeau5023
Balder5014
Inspicos5014
Prinz & Partner5014
Boehmert & Boehmert5005
H&A5005

Methodology

The list is composed of the most recommended patent law firms for services around patent prosecution and patent strategy consultation in Europe. It is based on an online survey of patent attorneys working in patent law firms and as experts in the patent departments of companies (peer-to-peer survey); and clients who have consulted with or commissioned a patent law firm.

Survey and sample

More than 10,000 patent attorneys and clients were invited to take part in the survey. The sample was collected via research conducted by Statista on company websites, in publications, and from the Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office, the professional body representing European patent attorneys. Patent attorneys and clients could also participate via a link on FT.com.

Participants could recommend patent law firms in general, as well as for six selected sectors: Chemistry & Pharmaceuticals; Electrical Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Biotechnology & Food; Materials & Nanotechnology; IT & Software.

The survey was conducted February 8-March 27 2022. The recommendations of more than 3,200 clients and peers were considered. Self-recommendations and attempts to participate multiple times were prohibited and not taken into consideration.

Top lists

Firms are selected based on the number of recommendations. In total, 167 firms made it into the overall top list.

Firms that were highly recommended for their services in one of the six selected sectors were ranked in three classes: gold (very frequently recommended), silver (frequently recommended), and bronze (recommended).

All lists were created through a complex process. However, the quality of firms that are not included is not disputed.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2024. All rights reserved.
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