New Rankings Recognize Top US Patent Firms and Lawyers Across Major Directories

New rankings from two major legal directories have recognized top US patent firms and lawyers, spotlighting expertise across pharmaceutical litigation, technology patent disputes, and strategic portfolio management at a time of significant procedural change at the US Patent and Trademark Office.

WIPR has unveiled its latest USA Patents Rankings, a shortlist of firms and lawyers at the forefront of the US patent market. The rankings include client and peer recommendations, split into Non-Contentious and Contentious categories, highlighting achievements in everything from patent prosecution to bet-the-company litigation.

A central theme across the rankings is the impact of dramatic changes by the USPTO to how inter partes review proceedings are handled. The IPR institution rate dropped to around 4% in December 2025, down from historical averages above 60%. Within this context, firms with a strong Patent Trial and Appeal Board practice offer an even greater advantage to clients. Wilson Sonsini secured IPRs in all five petitions filed on behalf of Azurity Pharmaceuticals in November 2025, a notable victory in the new PTAB environment. With procedural denials at record-setting rates, defendants are increasingly turning to the USPTO for ex parte reexaminations, with requests reaching an all-time high last year and representing a 66% increase over the previous year, according to Unified Patents.

The stricter stance on IPRs has shifted patent disputes back towards the district courts. Counsel from Irell & Manella are on the team representing VLSI Technology in its long-fought battle over microprocessor technology with Intel, which is fighting to overturn damages awards that run into the billions. McKool Smith played a key role in the award of $191.4 million to Pictiva Displays in its patent dispute with Samsung, though the amount may be reduced after Samsung demonstrated to the PTAB in January 2026 that at least one of the patents underlying the verdict was invalid.

In the high-profile California tech dispute between Masimo and Apple, Sullivan & Cromwell, Knobbe Martens, and Morgan Lewis were among the team for Masimo, which secured a $634 million win, while WilmerHale and Haynes Boone were among the firms representing Apple.

The rise of non-practising entity campaigns targeting the life sciences sector, particularly medtech companies, has increased demand for specialized litigation support. Desmarais scored a stand-out win for Ravgen in its patent dispute with Labcorp over foetal DNA testing, securing a $373 million verdict. Paul Hastings won a $56 million award for Allergan in a dispute over patents protecting Botox, and Jones Day overturned a $125 million patent infringement judgment for Medtronic. Wilson Sonsini, whose team holds advanced degrees in biology, chemistry, biomedical sciences and related fields, was named Life Sciences IP Firm of the Year at the Life Sciences Patent Network Awards USA.

For non-contentious patent work, Sterne Kessler manages sophisticated portfolios for Bristol-Myers Squibb that include patents for Opdivo, now approved for over 19 cancer indications.

Meanwhile, the IAM Patent 1000: The World's Leading Patent Professionals 2026 has also recognized top patent practitioners. Katten received a bronze ranking for Litigation in New York, with the guide noting the firm's New York office has become a visible force in pharmaceutical patent litigation backed by a broader national platform and a client roster that includes many of the world's largest generic producers. The guide emphasized the team is repeatedly trusted on commercially significant launch and exclusivity questions, often in matters where patent, FDA, and market-entry issues must be handled together.

Katten's Chair of the global Intellectual Property department earned a silver ranking in New York for breadth of practice across ANDA litigation, enforcement and defense strategies, and patent disputes in the electronics sector. Patent Litigation Co-Chair Lance Soderstrom also earned a bronze ranking in New York for extensive experience in Hatch-Waxman litigation and long-running disputes involving diabetes and other therapeutic products. In Illinois, Patent Litigation Co-Chair Brian Sodikoff achieved a silver ranking for his experience representing leading pharmaceutical companies in complex patent disputes. Additionally, two IP partners were named recommended individuals in North Carolina, with one also recognized in the national category.