Potter Clarkson has once again received high recognition in the latest The Legal 500 2024 rankings. This respected guide is considered the clients' foremost resource for identifying the top law firms, attorneys, and solicitors in the UK.
In this year's rankings, we are proud to have achieved the following distinctions in various practice areas:
Intellectual Property:
- Firm: Tier 1
- Leading Individuals: Nick McDonald, Richard Roberts
- Rising Stars: Georgia Carr
The guide states: Potter Clarkson LLP’s litigation and licensing team has continued to build on its strong and growing reputation in high-profile, high-value intellectual property disputes and negotiating and drafting IP-centric, agreements across a range of cutting-edge technologies. Working alongside its trade mark and patent attorneys, the team offers full-service capabilities for clients in the life sciences, automotive and FMCG. Litigation and licensing specialist Oliver Laing has built up a following advising investor clients and VC funds on the acquisition of technology-rich businesses, as well as in multi-territorial collaboration and licence agreements. Patent litigators "super-intelligent and commercially savvy" Richard Roberts and Nick McDonald , a "great strategist, fantastic on technical detail" are its key figures. Dave Holt and associate Georgia Carr are also highly recommended.
Testimonials:
"Potter Clarkson are an excellent team, with particular strength and expertise in patent litigation. Uniquely, they form an incredibly cohesive team between solicitors and patent attorneys to provide a service that is second to none. They have expertise across the board of patent litigation. Their friendly and down-to-earth approach is refreshing and they offer a brilliant service to their clients. The team is a real joy to work with."
"Nick McDonald – great strategist, fantastic on technical detail and brilliant with clients."
"Dave Holt – charming, bright and fantastic at getting the job done."
PATMA: Trade Mark Attorneys:
- Firm: Tier 1
The guide states: Potter Clarkson LLP provides clients with a strategic and cross-disciplinary approach to their trade mark matters, including advising on due diligence, filing, and opposition mandates. Its client base include innovative start-ups and fast-developing SMEs, as well as international corporates from the life sciences, chemistry and biotech, food and agri-tech, engineering, electronics and computing, energy and cleantech, and the creative sectors. Sanjay Kapur heads the practice from Nottingham and London-based Sarah Talland supports clients with clearance searches, global filing matters, and handling objections and contentious mandates. Emmy Hunt, also in London, is another key name for handling brand protection matters and global trade mark portfolios.
PATMA: Patent Attorneys:
- Firm: Tier 2
- Leading Individuals: Fiona Law
The guide states: Potter Clarkson LLP supports its clients with a full-service IP offering that encompasses cross-disciplinary teams in the life sciences, industrial chemistry and biotech, and food and agri-tech sectors, as well as the engineering, electronics and computing, energy and clean-tech industries. It is well-placed to provide advice to start-ups, SMEs, and international corporates on patent drafting and prosecutions. In Nottingham, Caroline Marshall leads the technology, engineering and designs group, while Tony Proctor heads up the chemistry department and Jane Wainwright spearheads the biotechnology group. Managing partner Stephen Smith specialises in the protection of biotechnology inventions for multinational companies, early-stage and established biotech companies, and government-funded research institutes and universities. Craig Brownlie is also notable for assisting clients with patents in the nanotechnology sector, and Fiona Law handles major matters in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and biotechnology fields. In January 2023, Richard Bassett retired from the partnership and remains on as a consultant.
Intellectual Property and Media (Sweden):
- Firm: Tier 4
The guide states: Potter Clarkson's team is particularly strong in handling IP matters for clients in the life sciences sector, particularly in the pharmaceuticals and biotechnology space. The practice benefits from the firm's international network of offices, which assists with the provision of cross-border support to clients. The practice is jointly led by the triumvirate of patents specialist Christopher Cadman, trade mark expert Cameron Malone-Brown, and Jesper Sellin, who has experience in handling IP litigation and licensing matters.
Patents (Contentious and Non-Contentious):
- Firm: Tier 5
The guide states: Potter Clarkson LLP has boasted its practice with the addition of large pharma clients to its roster, as well as an increasingly involved in complex litigation concerning issues of mechanical patents, amongst others. The practice includes lawyers based in both London and Nottingham. Practice heads Mark Kramer, Nick McDonald and Richard Roberts all have extensive experience in the litigation sphere. Oliver Laing’s strengths are prominent in the non-contentious side of the practice.
