IP Services: Solicitors

Solicitors form another branch of the legal profession. They differ from barristers in two important respects. In the first place, their professional rules allow them to practise in partnership or through limited companies. Secondly, they manage their clients' legal business on an ongoing basis.

Services that solicitors offer to business clients include company formation, drawing up partnership agreements, leases, contracts of employment and other agreements and conducting litigation. Services they offer to individuals include conveyancing, drawing up wills, probate and conducting matrimonial, criminal and some civil litigation.

Law firms vary considerably in size and specialization. Large trans-national practices offer a range of commercial services ranging from banking to tax. Smaller London and large provincial firms offer some of those services but many of them also have very wealthy private clients. High street and country practices tend to serve everyone else.

Although all large London and many provincial firms have recognized intellectual property and technology law specialists, there are several small and medium size practices that are regarded as leaders in those fields.

Most firms with expertise in intellectual property and technology belong to the Intellectual Property Lawyers Association. That having been said, not every type of intellectual property matter requires a specialist. Standard form agreements, software, licences, franchises and assignments can be drawn up satisfactorily by most commercial practitioners. Straightforward copyrights, passing off and breach of confidence claims can be managed by most competent litigators.


IP Services: Solicitors Solicitors form another branch of the legal profession. They differ from barristers in two important respects. In the first place, their professional rules allow them to practise in partnership or through limited companies. Secondly, they manage their clients' legal business on an ongoing basis. Services that solicitors offer to business clients include company formation, drawing up partnership agreements, leases, contracts of employment and other agreements and conducting litigation. Services they offer to individuals include conveyancing, drawing up wills, probate and conducting matrimonial, criminal and some civil litigation. Law firms vary considerably in size and specialization. Large trans-national practices offer a range of commercial services ranging from banking to tax. Smaller London and large provincial firms offer some of those services but many of them also have very wealthy private clients. High street and country practices tend to serve everyone else. Although all large London and many provincial firms have recognized intellectual property and technology law specialists, there are several small and medium size practices that are regarded as leaders in those fields. Most firms with expertise in intellectual property and technology belong to the Intellectual Property Lawyers Association. That having been said, not every type of intellectual property matter requires a specialist. Standard form agreements, software, licences, franchises and assignments can be drawn up satisfactorily by most commercial practitioners. Straightforward copyrights, passing off and breach of confidence claims can be managed by most competent litigators.