PONS IP, a global consulting firm specialising in intellectual property, new technologies and innovation, has been recognised by the Financial Times as a leading firm in Spain in its prestigious “Europe’s Leading Patent Law Firms” 2026 ranking, consolidating its position as a strategic partner in the protection of innovation in Europe.
This award, developed in collaboration with the consultancy firm Statista, annually recognises the intellectual property firms most highly rated by clients and industry professionals, following an independent process based on recommendations from over 3,000 patent agents and heads of IP departments at leading European companies.
PONS IP’s inclusion in the 2026 edition reinforces its position in the European market as a leading firm supporting companies and institutions with comprehensive patent strategies: from drafting and filing applications with the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (SPTO) and the European Patent Office (EPO) to defending global intellectual property portfolios linked to technological assets.
In this edition, the Patent Department at PONS IP, led by Ana Herrera , has also been singled out for special mention in three key technological areas for industrial competitiveness. In this edition, the Patents Department at PONS IP, led by Ana Herrera, has also been singled out for particular recognition in three key technological areas for industrial competitiveness: Electrical and Physical Engineering, led by Javier Hidalgo; Chemistry and Pharmaceuticals, headed by Catalina Lara; and Biotechnology, Healthcare and Food, led by Esther Martínez. This recognition highlights and underscores the strength of PONS IP’s technical and legal service model, as well as its ability to operate in highly complex scientific environments, where the protection of innovation is critical to creating value.
PONS IP consolidates its leading position in the protection of high-value, technologically complex intangible assets
This recognition comes at a time of particular momentum for the Patent Department of the intellectual property consulting firm, marked by the strengthening of its technical capabilities and the development of new areas of specialisation, such as the creation of a pioneering new unit specialising in the protection of innovations in software, artificial intelligence and quantum technologies.
Furthermore, PONS IP’s recognition in the Financial Times ranking is in line with its inclusion in the 2026 edition of IAM Patent 1000, one of the most rigorous international directories in the field of patents. This report also highlights the scientific and technical expertise of its teams and their ability to manage complex portfolios across a wide range of technologies, from advanced engineering to biotechnology and software.
These milestones underscore the strategic role of the patent team at PONS IP, which now comprises around 40 professionals, including engineers, chemists and biologists, amongst others, and is today an international leader in the protection, management and value enhancement of innovation, in an environment where intellectual property is now a strategic lever for business competitiveness.
Europe’s Leading Patent Law Firms, the benchmark ranking in the IP sector
The “Europe’s Leading Patent Law Firms” ranking has established itself as one of the key benchmarks in the field of intellectual property in Europe. Its methodology is based solely on an independent market assessment, through surveys of thousands of patent experts and clients, with no direct nominations accepted. This approach reinforces the objectivity of the analysis and positions these recognised firms as key players within the European innovation ecosystem.
The ranking analyses the performance of companies across six major technology sectors, ranging from engineering to biotechnology and software, reflecting the increasingly cross-cutting nature of intellectual property in today’s innovation models. PONS IP’s presence in a number of strategic areas highlights its ability to provide comprehensive advice on the protection of emerging technologies and complex developments.
From left to right: Javier Hidalgo, Head of the Engineering Department; Catalina Lara, Head of the Chemistry Department; Ana Herrera, Director of Patents, Technological Development and Innovation; Esther Martinez, Head of the Biotechnology Department; and Pablo Estebaranz, Head of ICT and Software Patents
