About us
A unique benefit of Managing IP's IP Handbook is that it includes all the rankings from the 2011 World IP Survey, originally published in Managing IP and www.managingip.com in February, March and April (for patents, trade marks and copyright respectively).
The survey covers over 80 countries, and the rankings are based on extensive research among IP practitioners carried out over six months starting in October last year. A team of researchers in London, New York and Hong Kong sought responses from thousands of practitioners by phone, fax and email and in face-to-face meetings, making this the most comprehensive and authoritative survey of the IP legal market yet published.
The tables rank firms in tiers in each market, based on the feedback received. The total number of firms listed, as well as the number of tiers, varies from country to country. In most countries, there are separate rankings for patent and trade mark work and for prosecution and contentious work. The biggest markets also have separate rankings for copyright work. Other highlights of the survey include regional rankings in the US; tables for ITC and life sciences work in the US; and separate rankings for foreign firms in Japan and China. This year we have also added several new areas – copyright in Mexico, regional write-ups in China and city rankings in China.
The research is conducted rigorously and impartially. Firms cannot vote for their own inclusion or solicit votes from associates. Moreover, the tables are not an exhaustive list of every firm in each jurisdiction; to be included at all, a firm must have received a large number of recommendations from peers and clients. Managing IP does not endorse or recommend any particular firm and no firm has paid to be included in the tables.
For the biggest markets, we also provide a commentary with more information about many of the firms listed. This information – which includes specialisms, client details, leading individuals and significant cases – is based on information provided by firms. We have also included pertinent comments from rivals and clients. Within these commentaries, firms are profiled in alphabetical order. (In some markets, we discuss the firms ranked in the top two tiers first, and then the other firms listed.)
Everything included in the survey and commentaries is based on information available when the survey was concluded in January 2011. Any subsequent developments in the market will be reflected in the next edition, to be published in February 2012.