Home to the chairman of the UK's Intellectual Property Lawyers' Association, Philip Westmacott, the formidable Bristows deserves recognition for its leading contentious practices. In particular, its patent team wins positive comments from competitors, being lauded by one as "a good, traditional firm that's really strong". The firm continues to grow, this year promoting Paul Jordan to the partnership. Maria Isabel Manley and Sally Field are widely regarded as two of the industry's finest life sciences patent solicitors, while Westmacott is noted for his technology and software expertise. Client Novartis has placed its trust in partner Edward Nodder to lead its various pieces of patent and regulatory litigation in countries around the globe.