Managing IP hosted its annual research webinar on 30 September to highlight changes and answer questions about the 2027 edition of its rankings (IP STARS) and awards.
The webinar was presented by Chris Adams, who now leads Managing IP’s research team. I say more about Chris later in this piece.
Chris highlighted two structural changes — website migration and a regional rankings release — as well as three updates to the research questionnaire. There are no changes to the client referees spreadsheet and the awards programme.
Key dates: when is the 2027 submission deadline?
Aside from the change to how and when the main rankings are released (see below), other research and publication timelines remain broadly similar to previous years. You can keep track of all the main windows on our IP submissions calendar.
For example, one of the shortlists for the Managing IP Awards programme (most likely the EMEA Awards) will be released before the first regional rankings are published.
The deadline for firms to submit their research forms is 2 November, as the usual 31 October deadline falls on a Saturday. The in-house awards submission process will be launched at a later date this year.
Below, I highlight and explain the relevant changes, address an interesting question from the webinar, and conclude with my top five submission tips for firms.
What structural changes were announced?
IP STARS content migrated
The IP STARS rankings and related content previously on ipstars.com have migrated to Managing IP’s website, managingip.com. At the time of writing, the content is publicly accessible and not behind a paywall.
Regional rankings release
All firm rankings, the IP Stars list, and the Rising Stars list will now be published simultaneously by region, rather than spread across five months. The Corporate IP Stars list and Top 250 Women in IP list will continue to be published separately.
While the exact publication schedule for the 2027 edition is not yet confirmed, it is expected to mirror the 2026 timeline.
What has changed in Managing IP’s research form?
Compared to the 2026 edition, there are three notable changes to the 2027 questionnaire:
- New question for financial and headcount data: A new section 1(f) requests detailed information regarding financial performance, headcount, and business strategy. Requesting financial data is a significant update; however, as Chris noted, firms will not be penalised if they choose not to complete all questions in this section.
- Trade secrets section added: A dedicated case study section for trade secrets has been added. Firms should select their entries carefully: my advice is to focus on cases that are already part of the public court record.
- Domain name and IP tax sections removed: The standalone case study sections for domain names and IP tax have been removed due to low response rates and the absence of standalone rankings for these areas.
However, firms can still submit this work in the following ways:
- Place domain name case studies in the trade mark section.
- Place IP tax case studies in the IP transactions section.
- Alternatively, copy and adapt a practice area section from the form to create a standalone submission. Firms will not be penalised for doing so.
Research staff changes
Following my departure in January 2026, Chris Adams took over as Head of Research. He will lead the research teams in the US, the UK and Hong Kong.
Chris will be supported by Charlie Wong (Asia-Pacific) and Liam McDaid (EMEA) — both exceptional senior research analysts whom I trusted during my tenure. I was proud of how they learned the trade and developed over the years.
Any further team updates will be communicated directly to relevant firms.
Does nominating rival firms help your submission?
One notable webinar question was whether researchers view a firm’s submission “more favourably” if the firm nominates a rival for awards. In short, the answer: no.
I believe that question came from my plea to firms over the years encouraging them to be transparent and generous with information because it is incredibly helpful for the research team.
Firms receive no extra points or preferential treatment for nominating other firms for awards, nor are they penalised for abstaining. However, as Chris noted, researchers do view providing helpful market information or nominating rivals as a sign that a firm is cooperative and trustworthy.
The way I often explained this to firms is this: being in a researcher’s shoes, imagine the difference between reading a submission that says nothing about other firms versus one that also provides valuable information about other firms.
Conclusion and my top five submission tips
In summary, there have been a few changes since my departure but no changes to the research methodology I put in place when I was there.
Chris’s overview aligns closely with the updates shared during IP Marketing Alliance’s webinar on 1 September. As he noted, firms can learn more about Managing IP’s rankings and awards by listening to the previous webinars, i.e. the 2026 edition webinar here and the 2025 edition webinar here.
A firm’s approach or strategy toward submissions varies depending on the publisher and the firm’s specific goals. There is no magic formula, and no one size fits all.
Having said that, below are my top five submission tips for firms:
- Treat section 1(f) as optional: Complete what you can, but rest assured that omitting sensitive business information will not negatively influence the decision on your rankings or awards.
- Balance confidentiality with transparency: Mark confidential details clearly, but avoid over-redacting information to the point where your submission lacks substance or trust.
- Provide helpful context and information: Share clear evidence of your workload and recent accomplishments. Where appropriate, provide objective market observations, including information about other firms, to assist the researchers.
- Submit on time: Aim to submit before or on 2 November. The research team prioritises processing client referees that are submitted before or on the official deadline day.
- Get consent from clients: Always obtain explicit consent from client referees before submitting their contact details, and confirm that clients are happy for their matters to be used in submissions. This is particularly important for sensitive or confidential matters. Read my piece about using client matters for marketing here.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Managing IP submission deadline for the 2027 edition?
The deadline for research form submissions is 2 November 2026, as the usual 31 October deadline falls on a Saturday. The in-house awards submission process launches later.
Are the IP STARS rankings free to access?
Yes. The IP STARS rankings and related content have migrated to Managing IP’s primary website and, at the time of writing, are publicly accessible and not behind a paywall.
Is the new financial and headcount data section mandatory?
No. Section 1(f) is effectively optional — firms will not be penalised for leaving questions in this section incomplete.
Do firms get preferential treatment for nominating rival firms?
No. There are no extra points for nominating rivals and no penalty for abstaining — though researchers do see helpful market information as a sign a firm is cooperative and trustworthy.
About the author: Kingsley Egbuonu is the founder of KE. Research & Consulting, a specialist legal directory, rankings and awards consultancy for the IP industry. He is the former Head of Research at Managing IP, where he developed the research methodology behind the IP STARS rankings and the Managing IP Awards. Book a free 30-minute call.