Fenwick, Partners Earn High Rankings in 2026 WTR Copyright 1000
Fenwick and several partners earned high marks in the World Trademark Review (WTR) Copyright 1000, highlighting a preeminent practice at the very top of the copyright legal market across key national jurisdictions.
"Built alongside the technology industry itself, Fenwick & West has become the first port of call for companies pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence, software and digital media," WTR said. "Its lawyers don’t just react to technological change — they help define the legal framework that surrounds it, tackling some of the most closely watched copyright disputes in the AI era."
Fenwick was ranked nationally, and four partners also earned individual recognition for their strategic guidance and litigatory prowess in California: Eric Ball, David Hayes, Jennifer Stanley, and Jed Wakefield.
Eric Ball, head of Fenwick’s trademark litigation practice, brings "broad experience across copyright and trademark disputes for clients spanning technology, video games, entertainment and online services" and "his ability to bridge digital media and intellectual property litigation further reinforces Fenwick’s reputation as a powerhouse for innovation-driven copyright work," WTR said.
David Hayes "continues to shape the future of software and AI copyright" and "remains one of the technology sector’s most trusted copyright strategists" with "decades of experience in precedent-setting disputes," WTR said.
Jennifer Stanley, Fenwick's intellectual property practice chair, is a "trusted adviser to many of the world’s biggest technology and entertainment companies" who "excels at transforming complex copyright issues into commercially viable strategies," WTR said, highlighting her recent work advising Netflix on the expansion of Netflix Games, "steering the streaming giant through the intellectual property, publishing and distribution issues that accompany its fast-growing gaming business."
Jed Wakefield, Fenwick's litigation practice chair, operates at the center of "one of the industry’s defining legal battles" leading the defense of Databricks and MosaicML in a closely watched AI copyright dispute that is "expected to shape the future of fair use in the AI age," WTR said.
World Trademark Review Copyright 1000 — the World's Leading Copyright Professionals is a unique guide identifying the leading copyright practitioners across key jurisdictions worldwide. Focused exclusively on copyright law and practice, the Copyright 1000 is designed to serve as a trusted resource for businesses, creators, rights holders, and counsel seeking outstanding copyright expertise. The full rankings are available here. For more information on the methodology behind WTR 1000, see the World Trademark Review website.