Clyde and Co tops patent rankings as Middle East IP team grows

This recognition comes from a survey conducted by the leading industry publication for intellectual property (IP) owners, 'Managing Intellectual Property' (MIP) magazine, under which Clyde & Co is the only firm in the UAE to achieve a top tier ranking for both 'patent prosecution' and 'patent contentious' work.

MIP's researchers undertook the 70 jurisdiction survey of IP clients and practitioners between September 2008 and January 2009. The first part of the results, which ranks the leading firms for their work in the area of 'patents', has just been released. The sections covering trade mark and copyright expertise will be released in March and April respectively.

Since 2007, MIP has documented Clyde & Co as being the only law firm in the UAE with recognition across all areas of intellectual property expertise.

Clyde & Co's intellectual property legal team has in the meantime continued to add to its regional expertise and depth with the addition of another two senior team members in recent weeks; a patent attorney and a specialist IP litigator.

- Andre Human is one of very few qualified patent attorneys in the Middle East. Patent attorneys are highly qualified with a combination of a specialist science qualification as well as a patent attorney qualification. Andre has a technical background in metallurgy and mechanical engineering and is joining a patent unit that already has expertise in chemistry and biology.

- Ahmed Bulbulia has also joined as a Senior Associate from a boutique IP law firm in Canada. Ahmed is a specialist IP litigator and is joining as a senior member of Clyde & Co's IP litigation and enforcement team.

"The arrival of Andre and Ahmed continues to expand the firm's existing capability. The Middle East market is continuing to mature at a rapid rate - and in the current economic environment companies are becoming even more aware of the need to protect and exploit their intellectual capital."

explained Rob Deans, Intellectual Property Partner in Dubai.

Clyde & Co's IP practice of 25+ specialists within the wider context of a full service corporate/commercial law firm is described by legal directories as a major player in the GCC. The 2008 edition of Legal 500 stated: "With its lavish portfolio of major Dubai institutional clients, Clyde & Co is at the forefront of IP innovation and development... The firm is particularly well known for dealing with for commercial exploitation, brand development, image rights and sponsorship."

Clyde & Co in the Middle East has over 150 specialist lawyers and paralegals operating as a single unit from offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE, and in Doha, Qatar. The firm was voted by the DCCG (Dubai Corporate Counsel Group) as the 'most innovative firm' in Dubai at the 2008 IFLR awards.