Feature By Nicholas Richardson, Mary Hawkins and Simon Messenger WTR 1000 preview: the global legal powerhouses The next edition of the World Trademark Review 1000, owners when selecting legal counsel close to home, as well as in often released in January 2014, comprehensively unfamiliar and challenging jurisdictions. With many brand owners focusing on key regional markets, the identifies the world’s leading trademark firms listings for the 2014 guide have been grouped on a regional basis. In and practitioners. In this preview, exclusive to advance of publication of the 2014 edition, the tables in this article WTR subscribers, we identify the firms which have reveal those firms which have achieved a listing in more than one achieved a listing in more than one region, as well region, as well as those which are home to the largest number of as those which are home to the largest numbers of independently recommended practitioners. The variety of firms included reflects the health of the trademark independently recommended practitioners marketplace and the diverse needs of clients and those law firms referring work onwards. The WTR 1000 is thus an essential guide in strong brand is vital to success in today’s intensely today’s brand-focused economy. competitive and increasingly globalised market. Trademarks are key tools through which businesses Adams & Adams can protect the goodwill and reputation inherent in Recommended in regions: 1 A their brands, and build and maintain demand for Recommended individuals: 8 their products and services. External advisers play a crucial role in developing and implementing brand strategies for both local and South African IP titan Adams & Adams has eight individuals international markets, and in protecting these vital assets in the face recommended in the WTR 1000 2014 – one of the highest numbers of infringement. It is thus imperative to choose the best legal counsel for any non-US law firm ranked in a single jurisdiction. With multiple on offer. offices in South Africa and sites across the continent, it can serve as The WTR 1000 identifies the leading trademark practices at firms a one-stop shop for clients with pan-African trademark protection around the world and the practitioners behind their success. It is the and enforcement needs. Kelly Thompson spearheads the trademark only standalone publication dedicated exclusively to the trademark litigation practice, while Simon Brown leads on the prosecution field, covering both sides of the contentious/non-contentious divide. front. In the fight against fakes, few can best Steven Yeates and Lucy The purpose of the guide is to shed light on the market for clients Signorelli. Pulling in the IP practice of its corporate competitor seeking advice on any and all aspects of protection and enforcement, Bowman Gilfillan in 2012 only served to strengthen the firm’s top- as well as for firms seeking to refer work into jurisdictions where table position on this market. they lack a presence. Building on the success of previous editions, the dedicated Attorneys at Law BORENIUS research team conducted exhaustive research over a four-month Recommended in regions: 1 period, involving more than 1,500 interviews with leading trademark Recommended individuals: 7 practitioners and their clients – many of which were conducted face to face at the International Trademark Association’s annual meeting. From bases in Helsinki, Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn, Borenius dispenses Opinions were sought on which firms and practitioners deliver a some of Northern Europe’s most refined trademark services. world-class service in terms of quality, skill and client care. When this Its commercial nous is its calling card, and this valued acumen feedback was assessed alongside work examples submitted by firms, allows the group to serve as a trusted business adviser to clients. a clear picture emerged of those operating at the elite level. Internationally revered brand owners Nestlé and Pernod Ricard The credibility of the WTR 1000 is guaranteed by the unique make use of the team’s ability to broker smart deals, maintain strict depth of qualitative research undertaken. This is reflected in the anti-counterfeiting programmes and conduct incisive and effective detailed editorial that accompanies each firm and individual listing, litigation. Asa Krook and Ben Rapinoja are two stars of the Finnish identifying the particular focus areas, strengths and abilities of contingent, while Viive Kauer in Estonia, Liga Fjodorova in Latvia and those who have made the podium. With its coverage of 60-plus Stasys Drazdauskas in Lithuania uphold the firm’s stellar reputation jurisdictions, the guide is designed as an invaluable tool for brand across the region. 32 World Trademark Review February/March 2014 www.WorldTrademarkReview.com Baker Botts LLP heads the trademark group and is a key contact for clients with large Recommended in regions: 2 portfolios to manage. The litigation practice has gone from strength Recommended individuals: 2 to strength since the firm’s 2012 merger with Cameron MacKendrick LLP, which saw the arrival of Donald Cameron and Scott MacKendrick. Baker Botts offers premium-grade trademark capabilities from its Founding partner and luminary Daniel Bereskin continues to lend Texas headquarters, as well as in Russia. Its commercial prowess his wisdom to the group. With his vast experience, he remains a go-to makes it a particularly popular choice for brands with complex source of insight and analysis when it comes to strategic IP planning. licensing needs. Dallas partner Priscilla Dunckel has a fine reputation across the spectrum of trademark assignments, while Moscow-based Bird & Bird colleague Ekaterina Tilling impresses on both transactional and Recommended in regions: 2 contentious issues. Recommended individuals: 29 Baker & McKenzie Measured by the number of top-ranked individuals in the WTR Recommended in regions: 4 1000, few can rival globally influential IP specialist Bird & Bird. Its Recommended individuals: 50 London HQ is “quite simply on another level”; household-name multinationals such as Mattel and Phillip Morris flock here for advice As the only firm to secure multiple listings in each of the four on all aspects of brand protection and enforcement. Peter Brownlow regions covered in the WTR 1000, Baker & McKenzie is in pole and Allan Poulter are two of the division’s brightest stars. Thanks to position to service the needs of multinationals. It achieves gold its formidable European presence, the firm is recommended in 12 key status in many jurisdictions: the Colombia and Venezuela teams jurisdictions on the continent. It is a similar story in Asia, where Bird keep it at the sharp end of the Latin American scene, while the & Bird has a long history of advising prestigious clients: Hong Kong Poland, Russia and Ukraine contingents uphold its uniquely strong was its first regional post, opened in 1995, but the firm has since position in Eastern Europe. In Asia, it likewise tops the tables for expanded into China and Singapore. Ai-Leen Lim directs the China Hong Kong, Taiwan and Vietnam. Standout individuals include and Hong Kong IP portfolio management practice. Paul Rawlinson, the current managing partner of the London office and former global IP head; Moscow’s Eugene Arievich, a recognised Borden Ladner Gervais LLP thought leader on trademark practice in the Commonwealth of Recommended in regions: 1 Independent States; and Loke-Khoon Tan, who helms the Asia-Pacific Recommended individuals: 11 IP practice from the Hong Kong office. Canadian firm Borden Ladner Gervais has a tremendously Bereskin & Parr deep team and boasts the equal highest number of individuals Recommended in regions: 1 recommended in the WTR 1000 Canada section, with 11 Recommended individuals: 8 practitioners making the cut. Clients are effusive in their praise of the group, which consistently delivers sterling advice across Bereskin & Parr is a perennial leader on the Canadian trademark all trademark practice areas. Theresa Corneau and Justine Wiebe market and boasts top-tier operations on both sides of the are perhaps two of its best-known names. The “extraordinarily contentious/non-contentious divide. Cynthia Rowden is regarded by intelligent” Corneau is deemed a “huge contributor to the many of her peers as a mentor, thanks to the generous way in which Canadian and international IP scene” and one of the most she shares her deep knowledge with the wider IP community. She dedicated lawyers anywhere. Wiebe – the regional leader of the Toronto IP contingent – has a diverse practice encompassing everything from the clearance, registration and licensing of Table 1. Top law firms by offices ranked marks to enforcement, and is esteemed as a thought leader on non-traditional trademarks. Firm Region count Dannemann Baker & McKenzie 4 Recommended in regions: 1 DLA Piper 3 Recommended individuals: 8 Hogan Lovells 3 Jones Day 3 Dannemann Siemsen is hailed as the best of the best across Norton Rose Fulbright 3 the whole of Latin America. Though the Brazilian legal market Baker Botts 2 has become increasingly diversified and competitive, the firm Bird & Bird 2 effortlessly holds onto its number one spot thanks to its ability Edwards Wildman 2 to attract – and retain – some of the brightest talent around. Its Gowling LaFleur Henderson LLP 2 incredibly deep team includes superstars in all areas of trademark Herbert Smith Freehills LLP 2 practice. With counterfeiting a perennial concern for brand owners, K&L Gates