Bird & Bird - The Who's Who Legal 100 2012

What is the Who's Who Legal 100?

Many of the firm’s attorneys are recommended for their expertise in more than one chapter. Life sciences is Bird & Bird’s strongest sector, with 21 lawyers from 11 offices featured for their proficiency in this area. Life sciences provides the backdrop to much of the IP work undertaken by these lawyers, and 14 of them are listed in additional chapters. Grace Chen, a partner in Beijing, is recognised for her internet and e-commerce practice and focuses her “premier” practice on helping companies in the IT, media, life sciences and clean-tech industries with their corporate and commercial transactions. Jean-Christophe Troussel is a “leading” IP lawyer and is especially skilled in trademarks, earning recognition in the corresponding chapter.

Seven practitioners are listed in both the life sciences and patents chapters. Neil Jenkins and Gerald Kamstra, both of the London office, are “experts” in contentious IP work in the life sciences sector, while Düsseldorf partner Felix Rödiger is “renowned” for handling technically complex matters. Giovanni Galimberti co-manages the Milan IP department and is considered by peers to be “a first-class litigator”. Commended as “responsive to clients’ needs”, Bruno Vandermeulen ranks among the top IP lawyers in Belgium, while Marc van Wijngaarden has “impressive record” in litigation before the European Court of Justice. Alison Wong is “very well-reputed” for the conduct of multi-jurisdictional patent litigation in Asia.

Five lawyers stand out as true “stars” at the firm, and are each listed in the life sciences, patents and trademark chapters. Trevor Cook has “talent beyond measure” and is “always first choice” for many clients. His standing in the IP community is highlighted by his many leading committee positions – he is president of the UK Group of the the International Association for the Protection of Industrial Property, secretary to the British Copyright Council Standing Committee on Copyright and Technology, and a member of the Council of the Intellectual Property Institute. He is the author of seven IP books and, according to one source, “one of the best lawyers I’ve ever worked with”. He is named patents lawyer of the year by this publication. Matthew Laight is the managing partner of Bird & Bird’s China offices and represents some of the world’s leading companies in the electronics and life sciences sectors. Peers commend his “dedication to clients and incredible breadth of knowledge”. Morag Macdonald is joint head of the international intellectual property group and “a hugely skilled lawyer”. Reported UK IP trials in which she has been involved include Mentor v Hollister, Associated Newspapers v Express Newspapers, Sir Robert McAlpine v Alfred McAlpine and Allergan v Merz Pharma. Sources describe her work as “consistently excellent”. Massimiliano Mostardini is the founding partner of the Milan office and “a leading light” in the IP sector. Commentators praise his “meticulous attention to detail” and “responsive, clear advice”. Düsseldorf-based lawyer Wolfgang von Meibom is of counsel to the firm and “the godfather” of German IP work. During his “distinguished” career he has won a number of high-profile cases, many of which have set precedents in Germany.

Eight Bird & Bird lawyers are included in the regulatory communications chapter, including Feyo Sickinghe, whose current practice concentrates on building strategic alliances and advising on regulatory matters with a focus on the Benelux region. Sven-Erik Heun practises from the Frankfurt office and “dazzles” respondents to our survey with his broad experience in telecommunications, IT, e-commerce and internet law in the regulatory as well as in the commercial and transactional fields. Colin Long is named our Regulatory Communications Lawyer of the Year. He has over 30 years’ experience in advising governments, company boards and regulators and is lauded as a “class act” in the telecoms sector. Frédérique Dupuis-Toubol is a partner in the Paris office and garnered votes for her “savvy advice”.

Bird & Bird lawyers earn multiple listings in six additional chapters, attesting to its position among the elite of global law firms.