What is IP STARS? Rankings, deadlines and how firms get in
IP STARS is the intellectual property ranking published by Managing IP — and one of the few where taking part costs nothing and a paid profile demonstrably does not influence the result. This page explains how the research works, which deadlines apply, how many case studies are expected, and why losing a case does not hurt your rating.
Managing IP describes IP STARS as “an exclusive annual publication based on a six-month research project, starting from September each year”. The research covers “more than 70 jurisdictions”.
The three things that matter most
- 1Taking part is free — and money cannot buy a ranking“There is no cost or fee to pay to participate in our research.” And: “No firm or individual can pay to be ranked or to influence the results.” A paid profile in the handbook or on the website is possible, but according to Managing IP it “does not influence the rankings whatsoever”.
- 2The portal opens on 1 September, the deadline is 31 October“Any deadline that falls on a Saturday or Sunday is automatically extended to Monday.” For the current round that means: 31 October 2026 is a Saturday, so the deadline moves to Monday 2 November.
- 3Losing a case does not hurt you“It does not matter if your client lost or won the dispute. Losing a case does not affect your firm’s ratings score.” What counts instead: how active the firm is, the quality of its services, and the level and breadth of the work.
Where the rating comes from
The rankings rest on a weighted review of three sources: what firms submit, publicly available information, and market feedback. Unlike rankings that read little beyond the submission form, the analyst team also researches independently.
| Source | What Managing IP says about it |
|---|---|
| Firm submissions | The research form with case studies, team details and client referees |
| Market feedback | “Managing IP’s research analysts in London, New York and Hong Kong obtain information from thousands of firms, IP practitioners and their clients through interviews, emails and online surveys.” |
| Independent research | “an analysis of publicly available information (such as court or IP office data) and the existing data we hold on firms” |
The timetable
| When | What happens | What your firm should do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 September | The submission portal opens and the six-month research begins | Sort out access, review the year’s case studies, approach client referees |
| 31 October | Submission deadline. If it falls on a weekend, the following Monday applies | File the form for each jurisdiction, brief referees beforehand |
| After that | Interviews and market surveys continue | Stay reachable; late submissions “may not be considered” |
What belongs in the submission
- Case studies from the past nine to twelve months. Managing IP expects “case studies or work done within nine to 12 months preceding the start of our research”.
- New matters where possible. “you aim to submit case studies that you have not previously submitted, unless there have been new developments”.
- Fifteen case studies per practice area as a guide. Not mandatory, but: “it is reasonable to expect unranked firms and firms that would like to improve their ranking in a practice area to provide at least 15 case studies in that area”.
- One form per jurisdiction. The case studies must be “work handled or at least led by practitioners based in that country”.
- Client referees who have been asked in advance and are willing to respond.
The practice areas
Eleven areas are researched, not all of them in every jurisdiction. Each is defined more broadly than its name suggests.
| Area | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Prosecution (patent, trade mark) | Protection and registration, portfolio strategy, office proceedings such as oppositions and appeals. “Especially in Europe, we also consider work done at the regional IP Offices such as the EPO.” |
| Disputes (patent, trade mark) | All disputes and enforcement work — regardless of whether it reached trial. Office proceedings are normally not counted here. Regional courts such as the CJEU are considered |
| Copyright & related rights | Copyright plus database, performers’ and broadcasting rights, and design work where relevant |
| Life sciences IP | IP and related regulatory work in pharma and life sciences, such as patent term extension and market exclusivity |
| ITC litigation / PTAB litigation | Proceedings before the US International Trade Commission, and USPTO trials, particularly Inter Partes Review |
| IP transactions | Sale and licensing of IP rights, research collaborations, technology transfer |
| Trade secrets · Design · Domain name disputes | Trade secrets, registered and unregistered design, domain name work |
| Intellectual property | The combined table covering all of a firm’s IP work |
IP STARS compared with Chambers and The Legal 500
| IP STARS | Chambers / The Legal 500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | Weighted review of submission, market feedback and independent research | Submission plus client referees |
| Case studies | Fifteen per practice area as a guide, from the past nine to twelve months | Varies by ranking and practice area |
| Deadline | 31 October; the following Monday if it falls on a weekend | One deadline per practice area and jurisdiction |
| Reach | More than 70 jurisdictions, IP only | All practice areas, split by country |
| Requirement | An office and an IP team in the jurisdiction | An office in the jurisdiction |
In detail on the others: Chambers and Partners explained, Legal 500 explained and JUVE rankings explained.
Frequently asked questions about IP STARS
What does taking part in IP STARS cost?
Nothing. Managing IP states plainly: “There is no cost or fee to pay to participate in our research.” A paid profile is available but, by their own account, does not influence the rankings in any way.
When is the deadline?
31 October. If that falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the deadline automatically moves to the Monday. The portal opens on 1 September each year.
How many case studies do we need?
No number is mandatory. Managing IP considers at least 15 per practice area reasonable for firms that are not yet ranked or want to improve.
From which period may the matters come?
From the nine to twelve months before the research starts in September. Previously submitted matters should only be repeated if there have been new developments.
Does losing a case hurt us?
No. “Losing a case does not affect your firm’s ratings score.” What is assessed is activity, quality and breadth of work.
Can we reuse our Chambers or Legal 500 form?
Managing IP advises against it. If you do, the fields and pages have to match their own form and the time period has to fit.
Can sole practitioners take part?
Yes. “Our research is open to all law firms and IP practitioners” — regardless of size.
Can we be ranked in a country where we have no office?
No. “We cannot rank your firm in a jurisdiction where you do not have an office and IP team.”
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