Top tier Legal 500 UK 2026 ranking for D Young & Co :"outstanding expertise and client service"
We are delighted to report that we have once again been ranked as top tier for UK patent and trade mark services by the Legal 500.
Client testimonials published in this edition of The Legal 500 include the following comments:
- The practice stands out for its deep understanding of both UK and EU trade mark law, and its ability to manage complex, international portfolios with precision and strategic insight. The team is responsive, commercially-minded, and consistently delivers clear, practical advice tailored to clients’ business goals.
- Excellent knowledge of the full patenting process, superb attention-to-detail, great to work with.
- D Young & Co combines legal excellence with a forward-thinking approach - embracing technology for efficient portfolio management. Their collaborative, diverse team brings both technical skill and strong industry knowledge, making them a trusted partner for brand owners worldwide.
- The individuals we have worked with at D Young & Co LLP consistently demonstrate outstanding professionalism, precision, and deep knowledge of trade mark law. What sets them apart is their ability to combine technical expertise with a practical, business-oriented mindset.
- Succession planning seems to be working well, with many younger attorneys becoming more established. Always provide quality advice and able to tackle work with short notice deadlines.
- The team is very collaborative and has an excellent energy and enthusiasm for trade mark work. They demonstrate a deft balance of commercial objectives and legal expertise. They are clearly expert at their work (that goes without saying) and they are also very enjoyable to work with. They have their own brand and spark, which is everything that want in the experts managing your trade mark work.
- We highly recommend the trade mark team at D Young & Co LLP for their outstanding expertise and client service.
We would like to thank our clients and peers for their participation in the Legal 500’s research.
The Legal 500 UK editorial comments for each practice area ranking are shown below.
Legal 500 2024 PATMA Patent attorneys – tier 1
The group at D Young & Co LLP is well-regarded for its abilities handling the remit of complex patents work, from UK and European patent filing and prosecution matters to portfolio management. Additionally, the team has experience acting for its well-known, broad ranging list of clients in EPO opposition matters, which is a key focus area of Rachel Bateman, as well as in litigious contexts. Engineering, aerospace and medical devices specialist Anthony Albutt heads up the team alongside Simon O’Brien, who is particularly experienced in the remit of biology and chemistry-related matters. Chemistry is also the area of sector expertise of both Zöe Clyde-Watson, who is noted for her ‘superb knowledge’, and David Alcock. Life sciences expert Charles Harding is a name to note. The team’s offices are located in London and Southampton.
LEGAL 500 2025 PATMA Trade mark attorneys – tier 1
Noted for its ‘outstanding expertise and client service’, D Young & Co LLP’s team is experienced acting for such well-known names as Adele and Metrobank in the gamut of trade mark cases. The team’s workload features managing significant international portfolios, clearance, filing and opposition matters. Additionally, it is well-equipped to represent its clientele through disputes regarding infringement, unfair competition and licensing issues, amongst others, predominantly before the UK, German and European courts. Tamsin Holman helms the group and harnesses 25 years’ experience handling contentious IP matters. Gemma Kirkland is a name to note for filing, strategy and portfolio management work, in particular; Holman and Kirkland are described as ‘serious experts at the top of their game’ by clients. Anna Reid’s practice includes assisting with domain name, copyright, design and registered rights-related issues, while Matthew Dick’s workload spans the breadth of advisory and litigious brand work. Charlotte Duly, who has prosecution expertise, joined the team from Charles Russell Speechlys LLP in June 2025. The team is based between Southampton and London, with presence in Munich also.
LEGAL 500 UK 2025: Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design – tier 4
Highly experienced IP specialist Tamsin Holman heads the team at D Young & Co LLP, which is a go-to source of legal guidance for a diverse client roster, ranging from innovative start-ups and life sciences players, to social media companies, celebrities, and entertainment venues. Holman is supported by litigator Anna Reid and Matthew Dick, who is focused on trade mark disputes. Jackie Johnson is a key contact for global trade mark portfolio management and defence, handling matters before the UK and EU Intellectual Property Offices for household high street names. Gemma Kirkland and Richard Burton assist clients from the Southampton office.