WIPR debuts Global In-House Elite 2026
LSIPR sister title launches vetted list celebrating leading in-house counsel who demonstrate exceptional ability in managing their organisation's IP portfolio, legal team, and IP culture.
Counsel from some of the world’s biggest companies—including Novo Nordisk, MSD, Teva Pharmaceuticals—have been recognised in WIPR’s (LSIPR's sister publication) inaugural Global In-House Elite 2026.
Launched today, the listing identifies the leading corporate intellectual property professionals from around the world who demonstrate exceptional ability in managing their company’s IP portfolio, legal team, and culture of IP.
Also included are those who champion the in-house IP profession, and positively influence—or demonstrate a commitment to—the client/law firm relationship.
Private practice lawyers from across the globe nominated the clients that they felt were deserving of a place on the list.
The explanations and evidence for these suggestions were carefully reviewed by the WIPR editorial and rankings teams, along with a number of self-nominations from in-house counsel.
The Global In-House Elite also includes professionals chosen by the WIPR team for their stand-out careers and contributions to the IP industry.
The results reveal the professionals who are among the most highly respected in the market by the law firms they work with.
Profiles of the lawyers in this year’s Global In-House Elite, along with comments from their peers detailing their reasons for inclusion, can be found here.
Specialist expertise
The listing identifies the in-house lawyers handling IP matters for some of the world’s top pharma and biotech companies such as Moderna, Novartis, Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, and CureVac.
Private practice lawyers also showed appreciation for the high level of technical expertise required to work in-house at leading tech and life sciences companies.
Leading law firms across Asia and Europe highlight Shohta Ueno, assistant GC and head of IP litigation EMEA & APAC at Regeneron, for his “amazing sense of team selection and decision-making”, noting that they “achieved favourable decisions on litigation thanks to his excellent instruction”.
Head of IP & DNS at Meta, Mia Brickhouse leads a team that brings “unparalleled specialist knowledge in the field of domain name enforcement”, according to the private practice lawyer who put her forward.
Adidas brand protection manager Amanda Luz is nominated by an industry counterpart for her “outstanding achievement in brand protection and global market impact” which includes leading IP matters for the sportswear giant in connection with the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Sandra Georges, group IP director at luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, who is described by a peer as having “a rare ability to translate complex, cross-border trademark issues into clear, business-ready guidance”.
Helen Li, managing patent counsel at Intel, is credited with shaping artificial intelligence (AI) portfolios at the company, and described as having “strong technical and legal understanding” that enables her to give “high-value feedback on patent strategy”.
This year’s top in-house IP professionals are also singled out for their strategic balancing of risk vs reward in high-stakes disputes; a partner at a leading law firm says Clemens Heusch, Nokia’s head of global litigation and disputes, runs “the best in-house litigation team in the industry”.
Soft skills essential
Many lawyers who nominated their peers for the Global In-House Elite focused on their stand-out communication skills and other personable attributes, which help foster strong, collaborative relationships.
A private practice client of Eli Gilsohn, vice president IP at Resolution Therapeutics, is particularly impressed by his “timely and clear” instructions, and for involving scientists in discussions with outside counsel—leading to the grant of a key patent.
Despite her “enormous workload” and responsibility for a “huge range of global brands”, Nic Robinson, lead counsel IP and marketing at Carlsberg Britvic, is said to be “efficient, clear and a pleasure to work with”.
Susanne Teixeira, VP legal affairs and IP at Spin Master, is praised for her “exemplary responsiveness” and openness in encouraging outside counsel to ask questions and fully understand the business needs behind each matter.
Russ Jacobs, director and managing corporate counsel—IP at Starbucks, is said to have “top notch” communication skills and responsiveness, with comments from peers including that he “defines the expected deliverable, and is quick to update our team if priorities shift or the task changes”.
In its first iteration, the Global In-House Elite is an non-exhaustive list and is anticipated to expand.
Queries and requests for inclusion can be directed to rankings editor Baron Armah-Kwantreng at: barmah-kwantreng@worldipreview.com
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