Of course, sourcing such partners takes considerable time and effort, which is where the WTR 1000 comes in. The publication is designed to serve as a user-friendly, one-stop source of reference for anyone seeking trademark legal services across the globe. To achieve this, WTR embarked on an exhaustive qualitative research project, conducted over a four-month period. Our team of highly qualified, full-time analysts conducted more than 1,000 interviews with trademark specialists, both private practice and in-house, in more than 50 key jurisdictions. Interviewees’ opinions were specifically sought on the firms and practitioners that are leading the field in terms of their work, their skills and their levels of client service. Work examples submitted by firms and the views of foreign practitioners referring work to firms in other countries were also taken into account.

All of the individuals identified in this publication have been included because we received substantial positive feedback about them. In addition, when identifying the leading firms, factors such as depth of expertise, market presence and the level of work on which they are typically instructed were all taken into account. A full methodology detailing how the research was conducted can be found on here.

Armed with these findings, we wanted to ensure that the results were as user friendly as possible. To achieve this, the publication focuses on more than 50 key jurisdictions, analysing the local markets and identifying the leading practitioners and firms in both contentious and noncontentious work.

Alongside the editorial, you will find profiles of some of the firms and individuals recommended in the WTR 1000. All those who were selected for listing in the WTR 1000 were offered the opportunity to publish a profile for a fee – some decided that they wished to do so, while others declined. It is important to stress that inclusion in the editorial is not linked to this – the research was conducted entirely independently of any commercial considerations.

The WTR 1000 is the only standalone directory to focus exclusively on trademark practices and practitioners, and the research is a continual process. If you have any feedback on this year’s findings or wish to participate in the research for the 2013 publication, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Trevor Little
Managing editor