Taylor Wessing earns a triple top rating across the three Technology sectors for East Anglia covered by The Legal 500. It is number one on its own for Biotech. The firm shares IT & Telecoms top slot with Eversheds and Mills & Reeve and Intellectual Property with Taylor Vinters, Mills & Reeve and Eversheds.

Cambridge and the East of England boast Europe’s leading BioMedtech Cluster. The BioMed campus being developed at the Addenbrooke’s site is attracting global interest as it promotes an environment tailor-made for international researchers to develop expertise in areas such as oncology and personalised medicines.

The members organisation promoting East of England Biotech globally – One Nucleus – has created collaborations with kindred networks in the US and elsewhere that also hold huge growth potential for local biotechs.

The Legal 500 describes Taylor Wessing as “one of Europe’s leading life sciences firms, thanks in no small part to the Cambridge team of Malcolm Bates and Tim Worden.

“Bates is company secretary of One Nucleus, the UK’s largest biotechnology trade association. Oxford Biomedica is one of many prominent clients.”

It goes on: “Eversheds has Simon Crossley, whose biochemistry background and in-house pharmaceutical company experience make him a natural choice for biotechnology firms in Cambridge. The firm handles regulatory and contractual/commercial matters, for clients including Roche.”

Of the evergreen Mills & Reeve team, the guide reports: ‘Much more competitive than its City rivals’, Mills & Reeve’s life sciences team features Isabel Napper (‘a true gem’), Alasdair Poore and Zickie Lim, and stands out for its expertise in stem cell research and regenerative medicine. It assisted on 30 funding deals in 2010, totalling over £28m.”

On Taylor Vinters, the guide reports: “IP partner Patrick Farrant at Taylor Vinters continues to work with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and its sponsored research institutes, including on the establishment of the Genome Analysis Centre.”

In IT and Telecoms, The Legal 500 reports that “Eversheds’ advice is ‘thoughtful, thorough and practical’. Simon Crossley heads the firm’s national IP team and has been advising British Gas on its smart metering project and IT procurement documentation.

“Adrian Toutoungi’s advice to BAE Systems and Sepura also stands out. The team has a national focus but also advises emerging technology companies around Cambridge including Plastic Logic.”

The guide says that with one of the largest technology teams outside London, Mills & Reeve provides an ‘exemplary service focused on results, and has an impeccable level of knowledge’. Kevin Calder and the team handle public sector and national IT work, with recent examples including large funding deals around Cambridge and advice to the British Library. Calder is ‘always a joy to talk to, and exceptionally current on movements in the IT sector’.”

Taylor Wessing advises on issues including software licensing, services agreements, and supply and distribution arrangements for the likes of Red Gate Software, Granta Design and Telecom Italia. “The very popular Malcolm Bates heads a team that benefits from Susanna Stanfield’s expertise as special counsel,” says the guide.

It adds that Bill Thatcher’s technology group at Hewitsons ‘compares extremely well to others because of its leadership, pragmatism and friendly, caring attitude’. Its recent workload includes software licensing, risk management and disputes, including a settlement for a national car company for breach of a software development agreement.

Taylor Vinters comes highly recommended for its client-focused approach, says The Legal 500. Patrick Farrant, Matt Meyer, Tom McGuire, Guy Wheeler and a strong associate team advise Convergys, Apollo Media, and various US financial services firms buying technology.

The guide reports: “Locally, Greenwoods Solicitors is ‘the best firm in this field’. David Woods gives ‘invaluable, professional and timely advice from his wealth of experience’ in IT contracts, software licences and e-commerce.”

For Intellectual Property work, Adrian Toutoungi is now a partner in Simon Crossley’s ‘consistently cutting-edge’ national IP practice at Eversheds LLP, which advised BAE Systems on complex IP separation issues, the guide reports.

“The ‘exemplary’ team at Mills & Reeve ‘knows this area of law very well and applies its knowledge in a commercial and professional manner’. Alasdair Poore, Isabel Napper and Kevin Calder count AVEVA and Bupa as clients. The ‘incisive, prompt, and personable’ Richard Plaistowe is one to watch.”

Taylor Vinters is said to have ‘deep sector expertise, international reach and a proven track record’. Patrick Farrant, Matt Meyer, Tom McGuire, Guy Wheeler and David Rainford advise Animal Health Trust and easyJet, among others.

The guide says that Taylor Wessing “sets the standard for complex, global IP licensing. All the partners in the group have science degrees and in-house industry experience, and its client base spans the UK, Europe and beyond. Malcolm Bates is a key figure.

“Birketts has ‘a good, young team’ that is ‘excellent value for money’. Four lawyers, led by Matthew Atkins, handle everything from IP audits to portfolio management, with recent matters including IP due diligence for Elektron plc.

“At Hewitsons, Bill Thatcher ‘knows clients’ businesses inside out; his work is second to none’; and Niel Ackermann and Mark Elmslie (who ‘has the rare skill of boiling down issues to their core’) also stand out. The team advises many clothing brands on anti-counterfeiting.

“Marks & Clerk Solicitors ‘gives pragmatic and useable advice’. The ‘concise, practical’ Simon Portman advised Oakland Innovation on contracts, and Intergence Systems on IP rights.

“IP rights work for a US client is among David Woods’ recent caseload at Greenwoods Solicitors, where Julian Kirkpatrick’s defence work stands out.”
The TMT field for the whole of the South East is highly competitive and rankings are gold dust. Taylor Walton enjoys a third tier ranking in this elite company for IT and Telecoms work.

The guide says: “Known for its technology and outsourcing expertise, Taylor Walton advised Fujifilm UK on an IT supply agreement and is currently advising the client on a further software licensing matter. ‘Clearly very knowledgeable’, Sam De Silva is ‘commercially aware’ and acts for Domestic & General, Telephonetics, and British Friendly. Mike Pettit is recommended.”

• PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS: Malcolm Bates, Taylor Wessing