The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global IP Lawyers

We are delighted to introduce the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global IP Lawyers.

This has been a hot year in IP. From trademark wars in the fashion industry involving "dupes" and resale platforms, to patent challenges in biotech over safe harbor boundaries and prior art disclosure in gene-editing. 

And of course, AI – everywhere, in everything, all at once. 

These are the lawyers protecting innovation, defending brand integrity and leveraging the assets at the heart of their clients' businesses.

Matt Gaudet of Duane Morris has a highly active patent practice, having secured over $100M for patent holders on the plaintiff side – and successfully defending against nearly $4B billion in infringement claims. Two recent notable victories involved a rare pre-trial win for longtime client Cisco in a $600M claim by Tel Aviv University, and a stunning $2.7B retrial verdict for the tech titan over cybersecurity patent claims brought by Centripetal. 

With a Ph.D. in biochemistry, molecular and cell biology from Cornell, Dr. Eldora Ellison at Sterne Kessler is one of the most sought-after names in biotech IP. She is the lead patent strategist for the University of California on its revolutionary CRISPR gene-editing technology. She is also one of the most accomplished post-grant practitioners in the U.S., with a track record of over 80 inter partes review and post-grant review proceedings with the USPTO's Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

Miriam Gundt of Hogan Lovells has been a fixture of the The Unified Patent Court since its inception in 2023. She serves as the firm's global head of IP, overseeing one of the busiest and most successful patent disputes practices in Europe. Based in Düsseldorf, Gundt also works with pharmaceutical companies and other clients on international IP challenges that arose from the implementation of the U.S.'s Inflation Reduction Act. 

This is our second year publishing this guide, which, like all our guides, was developed through a combination of robust editorial research and nominations. We are so grateful for the many thoughtful nominations across this bustling and competitive field! Those marked with an askterix are members of our esteemed Hall of Fame.