IP In-house Market Study
Executive summary
The IP landscape is evolving faster than ever. From AI-driven transformation to fragmented global enforcement and internal alignment challenges, in-house teams are under pressure to deliver more value across the business and with unprecedented urgency.
This market study draws upon insights from more than 200 senior in-house counsel IP professionals, across six sectors and 11 markets, bringing together three interconnected critical trends influencing the future of IP management.
Three trends we’ll explore:
- Navigating Global IP Enforcement Complexity: Companies are tackling cross-border enforcement challenges, managing fragmented regulatory landscapes, and developing agile strategies to succeed in multi-jurisdictional disputes.
- AI as a Transformative Force: Forward-thinking IP teams are harnessing AI for smarter operations, experimenting across patent drafting, prior art searches, and invention assessment, while balancing efficiency gains with risk management and ethical considerations.
- Strategic IP Fit for the Future: High-performing teams are shifting from a defensive posture to a strategic, innovation-driven approach—aligning closely with business priorities, leveraging technology, and optimizing operating models to create measurable business value.
While regulatory upheaval remains the top challenge for 49% of IP functions*—and 25% of respondents report mixed internal perceptions of their role—a new dynamic is taking shape.
Nearly half of IP functions are now recognized as strategic value creators, positioning their organizations to innovate and compete in an increasingly complex market—a shift that is redefining priorities.
Packed with exclusive benchmarks, client perspectives, and our Hogan Lovells point-of-view, this study empowers you to anticipate change and seize opportunity.
*Footnote
IP Function: The role IP plays in a business and team aligned to this function. Report data identifies three main categories; Operational (support function, cost center), Strategic (innovation enabler, revenue driver, core business asset), and Transitional (perceptions vary across Operational and Strategic qualities).
Methodology Summary
This market study was commissioned by Hogan Lovells and conducted jointly by Hogan Lovells and Meridian West using a mixed-method approach that combined quantitative survey data with qualitative in-depth interviews. This approach provided both breadth of perspective and depth of insight into how in-house IP functions are navigating complexity, adopting emerging technologies, and positioning themselves strategically within their organizations. This combined methodology enabled quantitative benchmarking and qualitative exploration, delivering a comprehensive view of how IP functions are positioned and evolving globally during a time of rapid change.
Respondent demographics
Senior in-house IP professionals completed the diagnostic survey
In-depth interviews conducted with senior IP leaders
Sectors
Markets
Research Sample Profile
- Total Sample: 202 respondents (182 survey responses + 20 interviews).
- Geographic Coverage: Austria, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States.
- Industry Representation: Six sectors: Automotive & Mobility, Consumer, Financial Institutions, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Manufacturing & Industrial, and Technology.
- Seniority Level: Senior in-house IP professionals including Chief IP Counsel, Heads of IP, Vice Presidents, Global Directors, Senior Counsel, and other leadership roles.
- Organizational Scale: Organizations ranged from mid-market to Fortune 100 companies, with most representing large multinationals operating across multiple jurisdictions.
Quantitative Research
- A diagnostic survey was completed by 182 senior in-house IP professionals from organizations headquartered in Austria, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, United Kingdom, and United States.
- Respondents held senior roles such as Head of IP and General Counsel IP, representing six broad sectors: Automotive & Mobility, Consumer, Financial Institutions, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Manufacturing & Industrial, and Technology.
- The survey was conducted May–October 2025.
Qualitative Research
- 20 in-depth interviews were conducted with senior IP leaders, including Chief IP Counsel, Heads of IP, Vice Presidents of IP Litigation, and other senior practitioners.
- Interviews spanned multiple sectors and were conducted across key markets: Austria, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States.
Job title
Industry sector groupings
Organization’s annual revenue in $USD
Company headquarters location
“
I often think the role of in-house IP counsel is to have a crystal ball into the future and see what is possible and ... have pathways to those possibilities.”
Chief IP Counsel at Ford Motor Company
Demographic data from the interviews
(Click the map to explore)
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