The large IP team at Brodies LLP acts for prominent UK and multinational clients in a broad range of sectors, including higher education, retail, consumer, media, entertainment, tech and life sciences players. The group is adept at handling the full range of IP matters, from regulatory IP issues and commercialisation strategies to infringement and validity disputes. The practice is jointly led by IP disputes expert Iain Rutherford and Alison Bryce, who has experience in handling complex collaboration agreements. Supporting the duo is Martin Sloan, who is active in the tech and software space; Grant Strachan, who has a solid track record in advising on commercial and regulatory IP matters in the life sciences and food and beverage industries; and Andy Nolan, who handles brand protection issues. Monica Connolly, Ross Campbell, Ally Burr, and Rebecca Taylor are practitioners to note.

Under the joint leadership of Colin Hulme and Colin Miller, who focus on contentious and non-contentious IP matters respectively, the intellectual property practice at Burness Paull LLP offers a comprehensive service to a broad range of clients, ranging from running enforcement campaigns for broadcasters and global brands and handling music licensing disputes, to navigating multijurisdictional trade mark matters for prominent Scottish brands. Megan Briggs is well-versed in multijurisdictional brand protection and copyright enforcement issues, while Fraser MacKinven acts for sport and entertainment clients in IP matters. David Goodbrand is a key name for non-contentious IP and technology matters, and handles sponsorship and media rights work. Rebecca Ablett and Andrew McDonald are active in IP disputes.

Under the leadership of Carina Healy, who specialises in acting for academic institutions, investors, life sciences and tech companies in IP matters, CMS‘ practice handles the full range of IP work. Alan Nelson handles instructions at the intersection of IP and IT, and Duncan Turner supports clients with a wide array of non-contentious IP cases. Neeraj Thomas stands out for his expertise in IP disputes, and David Dennis advises on IP issues in the life sciences, health care, and energy sectors. The group is equally strong in handling matters for oil and gas clients and advising on sponsorship agreements. Kimberley Cross and Cara McGlynn are names to note.

Jim Cormack KC and George Campbell co-head the practice at Pinsent Masons LLP, which is instructed by a broad roster of blue-chip companies across the full gamut of IP work, ranging from transactional matters and distribution and sponsorship agreements, to commercialisation issues and complex IP disputes. Gillian Anderson has an excellent reputation for advising on IP litigation, and David Woods' workload includes soft IP disputes. Chris Martin handles tech, IP, and data work for clients in the energy and higher education industries.

Under the leadership of Steph Innes, the IP team at Dentons has been kept busy handling transactional IP matters and licensing issues for clients in the life sciences sector. The group is equally adept at advising domestic and international companies on trade mark filing work and handling IP portfolios. Matthew Gilhooly acts as IP counsel to clients in the fintech, retail and financial services sectors, and Ryan Kellingray brings expertise in trade mark matters. Ian Barrie and Erin Mackenzie left the firm in 2024, and Michael Livingston-Rahal departed in March 2025.

Harper Macleod LLP‘s IP team is very experienced in handling multijurisdictional instructions, often for clients in the media and entertainment and food and beverage sectors, and is equally strong in advising on contentious and non-contentious mandates. The ‘pragmatic‘ Jamie Watt heads up the practice; other key practitioners include E-Ming Fong, who focuses on IP litigation; Anne Cornelius, who handles trade mark, patent and design disputes; and Scott Kerr, who routinely acts for food and beverage companies in IP rights matters.

Under the leadership of Euan Duncan, Morton Fraser MacRoberts‘ intellectual property team ‘stands out for its ability to deliver technically excellent, commercially astute advice‘ on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious matters. The group routinely acts for clients in the technology, media, health care, manufacturing, renewable energy and beauty industries on patent disputes, tech transfer agreements and multijurisdictional trade mark portfolio management mandates, to name a few areas. Other key practitioners include Susan O’Farrell, who handles transactional and commercial IP-related work; Valerie Armstrong-Surgenor, who focuses on data issues; and David Gourlay, who garners praise for his ‘profound knowledge of intellectual property law‘.

Liam McMonagle heads up the practice at Thorntons Law LLP, which continues to handle a broad spectrum of domestic and international intellectual property matters. McMonagle is ably supported by trade mark law specialist Kirsty Stewart; Katy Dow, who is very experienced in assisting life sciences companies with IP issues; and Victoria Wright, who acts for clients in the higher education sector.

At Anderson Strathern, the practice is perhaps best known for assisting clients in the education and public sectors with a broad range of IP matters. Douglas McLachlan is 'a trusted advisor in every sense of the word—responsive, insightful, and always ahead of the curve', with particular strength in handling IP litigation. Simon Brown regularly acts for companies in the entertainment sector, and Katrina Lumsdaine brings experience in IP disputes; the three lawyers co-head the department.

John McKinlay leads the team at DLA Piper, which advises on a wide range of IP matters across multiple sectors. McKinlay is well known for advising on IP-related cross-border transactions, tech licensing issues and collaboration agreements, and Laura Maclennan handles outsourcing and technology transactions. Linzi Penman and Jamie O’Neill are names to note.

The IP team at Addleshaw Goddard routinely acts for clients in the retail, consumer, hospitality, healthcare, life sciences, arts and public sectors. Practice head Ross Nicol brings extensive experience in handling the commercialisation of IP, trade mark and software licensing, research and development agreements and compliance matters. He is ably supported by Alan Sinclair, who is well versed in advising on IP litigation; Lauren Steele, who focuses on IP work in the technology and life sciences sectors; and the 'excellent' Calum Fisher.

The intellectual property team at BTO Solicitors LLP has a solid track record in representing clients in the media and entertainment industries in a wide spectrum of contentious and non-contentious IP matters. The practice is jointly led by Paul Motion and Lynn Richmond, who provides ‘commercially relevant and pragmatic advice‘. Lauren McFarlane is ‘knowledgeable and personable‘, and has extensive expertise in copyright law.