Browne Jacobson LLP advises household names in a range of industries, including fragrance, automotive, beverage and charity brands. Alongside its IP litigation practice, the firm also advises on research and development agreement negotiations and licensing arrangements. The firm has further expanded its expertise in the green tech practice; attracting a number of new clean tech companies. Mark Daniels leads the practice from Birmingham, specialising in patent, trademark, database and copyright matters. Nick Smee enhances the firm’s experience in grant-funded collaborations, patent licensing and IP litigation. Jess Zareh is another key name, working on both contentious and transactional IP matters. Selina Hinchcliffe left the practice in July 2023.

DLA Piper’s Birmingham team supports clients in contentious and non-contentious settings. The firm is well-versed in High Court proceedings, licensing arrangement and IP portfolio management. With the wider firm support, the team is also well-placed to assist with cross-jurisdictional issues. Its industry expertise includes the automotive, sport, food, hospitality, life sciences and financial sectors. Richard Taylor, who focuses on IP assistance in the life sciences sector, leads the group alongside Gareth Stokes, whose experience includes licensing, development and collaboration agreement support. Satnam Sahota is a long-standing core member of the team who now also undertakes management responsibilities.

The sizable team at Pinsent Masons LLP  advises tech, sport, news, energy and defence brands on the protection and exploitation of their IP rights. Based in Birmingham, the practice is also experienced in providing advice around AI, the internet of the things and autonomous vehicles. Cerys Wyn Davies leads the team, specialising in tech, manufacturing and life sciences advice. Tom Nener focuses on brand protection and creative rights support, with experience in IP litigation. Jo Alderson acts on high-value transactional matters for the firm. Katy Bourne assists in IP litigation matters for pharmaceutical, tech and social media companies.

Operating out of Birmingham, the Shoosmiths LLP team acts as a one-stop-shop for IP-related matters. It is well-versed in technology, life sciences and corporate transactions. The firm is in demand when it comes to disputes, advising retail, food, software, sports and manufacturing companies. Andrew Brennan, the head of practice, advises on contentious IP cases and also transactional matters.  Eloise di Pasqua compounds the IP litigation capabilities of the broader practice, acting for individuals and companies in the crypto, sport and automotive spaces.

Freeths LLP covers the gamut of IP advice, from patent, copyright and trademark infringement to licensing, auditing and IP commercialisation. The firm’s expertise includes contentious and non-contentious support. Its clientele includes retailers, automotive, hospitality and tech companies. 'Strategic thinker' Simon Barker spearheads the team and is experienced as counsel for claimants and defendants in IP litigation cases. The ‘efficient and effective lawyer’, Martin Noble, is experienced in dispute resolution matters in the soft IP space.

With further offices across the UK and Europe, the Birmingham team at HGF Law is able to draw on multi-jurisdictional expertise to assist clients in cross-border IP matters. The firm regularly advises clients in the life sciences, electronics and engineering sectors. Its expertise includes contentious and non-contentious work. The ‘highly skilled’ Marie McMorrow heads the team, advising on both IP litigation and transactional matters. Christie Batty bolsters the IP expertise within the team.

The Mills & Reeve LLP team advises clients across a range of industries, including manufacturing, education, automotive and retail. Its experience includes contentious and non-contentious matters. The firm is also well-versed in appeals to the CJEU over trademark claims. In Birmingham, Claire O’Brien leads the practice, specialising in contentious matters, from trademark and passing off disputes to copyright and patent litigation. Natalie Welch is another key name, experienced in protection, exploitation and enforcement matters.

Shakespeare Martineau LLP supports clients in contentious and non-contentious contexts. Its clientele includes manufacturing, telecoms, construction, retail, energy and life sciences companies. The firm is especially well-versed in advising universities on their IP matters. Nicholas Briggs leads the practice, with a speciality in patent litigation advice. The ‘hard working and creative’ Daniel Kelly supports clients in contentious matters, having experience before the IPEC and High Court. Selina Hinchcliffe joined the practice in August 2023 from Browne Jacobson LLP, with Matthew Sutton leaving at the same time. Andrew Hartshorn also left the practice in September 2023.

Based in Leamington Spa, Wright Hassall LLP supports brands across industries including manufacturing, automotive, tech, leisure and retail. The firm’s experience includes IP disputes such as passing off claims. Rhys Jarman, who spearheads the practice, specialises in protection and enforcement of IP rights in the digital and creative industries. Luke Moulton is a noted team member, specialising in IP disputes.