Venner Shipley maintains Tier 1 ranking for PATMA: Patent Attorneys in the 2021 edition of Legal 500

Our partners Paul Derry, Allie Elend, Sian Gill, Ian Grey, Anton Hutter, Richard Kennedy, Pawel Piotrowicz, Tim Russell, Simon Taor and Jan Walaski also received individual recognition. Our patent practice is highlighted as having an “excellent work ethic, diligence, foresight and communication” and “also very friendly and nice to work with’’ as well being “very responsive and value[ing] personal interaction.”

The guide also endorses Jan Walaski, managing partner and head of our Electronics & Engineering team, as being “understanding and flexible”. Richard Kennedy, another partner and patent attorney in our Electronics & Engineering team, is noted for being at the “forefront of debates around AI and IP.” Allie Elend, a partner in our Chemical & Life Science team, is described as “the best patent attorney I have worked with” and Anton Hutter, a life science specialist, is noted for being a “very high-quality attorney” and also being “highly knowledgeable, a very good problem-solver, displaying a creative approach to dealing with complex issues.” Furthermore in the patent attorney category, Pawel Piotrowicz, who is representing the appellant in case G1/19 before the EBA of the EPO, is praised as having “specific, deep knowledge in areas important to our research, and a knack for being able to work closely with our variety of academics.” While Paul Derry, an Electronics & Engineering partner, is highlighted as being “both responsive and knowledgeable of client needs.”

We have also maintained our ranking for PATMA: Trade Marks, with trade mark attorneys David Birchall, Yoann Rousseau and Gloria Parmesan also receiving individual recognition, with the guide noting ‘‘the team are very responsive and provide an excellent level of support. Also, their international knowledge and global relationships with other agents make them a one-stop shop, particularly on the trade mark side’’, “they are all very knowledgeable and work well together” and “all the partners seem to be experts in their own fields. In addition to their great knowledge and guidance, they have a natural ability to understand and work with the client in a manner that both relaxes and gives the client confidence.”

The 2021 guide also endorsed our firm for the first time for Intellectual Property: Trade Marks, Copyright and Design, with the guide listing Paul Harris and James Tumbridge as being “well acquainted with TMT issues and a first-rate firm. The legal team has that technological support available at all times.” James Tumbridge is also commended for his “ability to think strategically and problem-solve, something which does not come naturally to many solicitors.”

For the full review please click here.