Managing IP has recognised Vikrant Rana, Managing Partner of S.S. Rana & Co., in its IP STARS 2026 rankings for India as a Trademark Star. The listing follows his recognition as a Trademark Star in the 2025 edition and reflects his contentious and non-contentious trademark work for Fortune 500 companies, multinational brand owners and grassroots innovators alike.
About IP STARS
IP STARS is the rankings publication of Managing IP, which forms part of Legal Benchmarking Limited in London. Managing IP published its first legal directory in 1994 and rebranded it as IP STARS in 2013, and its research now covers more than 70 jurisdictions. Its analysts in London, New York and Hong Kong gather information from firms, practitioners and their clients through interviews, emails and online surveys, and supplement it with their own research, including publicly available court and IP office data.
Managing IP states that there is no fee to participate, that no firm or individual can pay to be ranked, that taking part does not guarantee a ranking, that practitioners may be ranked on independent research alone, and that the rankings are not influenced by its awards programme. All rankings are subject to change each year.
The full methodology is published on the IP STARS Methodology and Resources page.
How Managing IP ranks practitioners
The research for each IP STARS edition begins in September. Managing IP publishes the following research timeline, which it notes may change from year to year:
| Stage | Timing | What happens |
| Submissions open | 1 September | Managing IP starts accepting firm submissions, begins its independent research and schedules market interviews. |
| Submission deadline | 2 November | Deadline for the firm questionnaire and the list of client referees. |
| Research interviews | November to December | Analysts conduct research interviews with firms and practitioners. |
| Client and peer feedback | December to March | Client referees are contacted and the senior practitioner (IP Star) survey runs; the survey is open from January to April. |
| Rising Stars survey | May | A separate survey for up-and-coming practitioners, run after the senior survey closes. |
| Research closes | July | End of research for the current edition. |
Managing IP normally begins publishing the rankings for the year in March, and publishes or updates its firm reviews from 30 September.
What analysts weigh – For firm rankings, Managing IP considers the experts in the firm, their track record, the sectors covered and the depth of resources; the size and sophistication of the workload; changes within the firm, such as hires, departures and client wins or losses; and feedback from competitors and clients. These factors are assessed together and no single one is decisive, so positive feedback on its own does not guarantee a ranking.
How individuals are ranked – Practitioner rankings are very selective, and not every IP practitioner is ranked. Analysts can rank a practitioner using their own independent research alone, and a ranking in a previous edition does not guarantee a ranking in the next.
How firms are listed – Firms are listed alphabetically within tiers, or as highly recommended or recommended. In most jurisdictions the rankings are split into prosecution work and disputes work, while in smaller jurisdictions the IP practice is assessed as a whole. Managing IP notes that a lower tier does not mean a firm offers low-quality service.
Independence – Firms and individuals can pay to publish a practice profile, but Managing IP states that the rankings are not influenced by any commercial relationship, including advertising, with Managing IP or IP STARS.
What is a Trademark Star?
Managing IP has three official practitioner rankings: IP Star, Rising Star and Corporate IP Star. An IP Star is a very experienced senior IP practitioner in private practice who has been recommended by peers or clients, or who is integral to the success of their firm. IP Stars are then tagged by their key practice area, and a Trademark Star is an IP Star whose key practice is trademarks.
What the 2026 recognition reflects
Vikrant Rana leads S.S. Rana & Co., a full-service law firm with more than three decades of practice, which he joined in 1996. His practice covers the full trademark life cycle in India: prosecution, opposition, enforcement and litigation. He advises Fortune 500 and multinational companies as well as grassroots innovators on contentious and non-contentious trademark matters.
A consistent record in independent rankings – He has been consistently recognised as a Highly Recommended Individual by WTR 1000, and has been ranked in India Business Law Journal’s A-List and, before this edition, as a Trademark Star by IP STARS.
Supporting start-ups and innovators – He is an IP facilitator under the Government of India’s Start-ups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) scheme, launched in 2016. Under the scheme he has helped more than 200 start-ups and grassroots innovators protect and enforce their IP in India and around the world.
Bridging industry and academia – Law College Dehradun, Uttaranchal University, has appointed him Professor of Practice to help bridge the gap between industry and academia. He is a regular speaker and guest faculty at academic institutions and at industry and trade forums, and has presented at numerous conferences, seminars, webinars and symposiums organised by government and non-government bodies, raising awareness among students and innovators of why IP protection matters. He has also authored book chapters, journal articles and research papers in collaboration with these organisations and institutions.
Domain name disputes – He has served as an arbitrator with the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI), adjudicating domain name disputes.
Beyond the law – He is an avid sportsman and an enthusiastic runner who has taken part in more than 12 half-marathons, and he is a certified yoga teacher.
He is an alumnus of Delhi University, works in English, Hindi and Punjabi, and is a member of INTA, ECTA, AIPPI, MARQUES, FICPI, APAA, IBA, IPBA, IPO, AIPLA, FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM. His directory profile is available on IP STARS.
Independent recognition across the firm in 2026
The IP STARS listing sits alongside other independent assessments of S.S. Rana & Co. in the same cycle:
| Directory | Recognition | Practitioner / firm |
| IP STARS 2026 (Managing IP) | Trademark Star | Vikrant Rana |
| IP STARS 2026 (Managing IP) | Notable Practitioner | Ananyaa Banerjee |
| WTR 1000 2026 | Gold Tier | S.S. Rana & Co.; Vikrant Rana |
| WTR 1000 2026 | Silver Tier | Lucy Rana; Rupin Chopra |
| WTR 1000 2026 | Bronze Tier | Arpit Kalra |
| Chambers Asia-Pacific 2026 | Ranked | S.S. Rana & Co.; Vikrant Rana |
| IAM Global Leaders 2026 | Listed | Vikrant Rana |
| India Business Law Journal A-List 2025-26 | Listed | Vikrant Rana |
Each recognition is recorded on our Awards page.
Reading IP rankings when choosing counsel in India
Directory rankings are most useful when read closely rather than counted. Five questions help separate a strong fit from a strong brand:
- Which practice area is ranked?
Trademark prosecution, trademark enforcement, patent prosecution and patent litigation are assessed separately, and firms often rank very differently across them. - Is the firm ranked, the individual, or both?
A firm-level ranking speaks to team depth; an individual listing speaks to the partner who will lead the matter. - Is the recognition consistent?
Repeated listings over several years, and across more than one independent directory, are a better signal than a single entry. - How was the research done?
Check whether the directory is free to enter and whether it relies on client feedback as well as firm submissions. - Does the ranked work match your matter?
High-volume portfolio management and urgent injunctive relief before Indian courts call for different capabilities.
We thank our clients, colleagues and peers for their continued trust.
View the official listing on IP STAR023.263S and our coverage on LinkedIn.
Frequently Asked Questions
ip-star-vikrant-rana-faqs
IP STARS is the annual intellectual property rankings publication of Managing IP, part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, London. It ranks firms and individual practitioners by jurisdiction and practice area in more than 70 jurisdictions, based on submissions, interviews with practitioners and clients, and independent research.
A Trademark Star is an IP Star tagged for trademark work. Managing IP describes an IP Star as a very experienced senior practitioner in private practice, recommended by peers or clients, or integral to the success of their firm.
Vikrant Rana, Managing Partner, is ranked as a Trademark Star, and Ananyaa Banerjee, Associate Partner, is listed as a Notable Practitioner. The complete India rankings are published on managingip.com.
No. Managing IP states that there is no fee to participate and that no firm or individual can pay to be ranked. Firms can pay to publish a practice profile, but Managing IP says this does not influence the rankings.
Its analysts combine information from firms, practitioners and clients with their own review of public data such as court and IP office records. Participation does not guarantee a listing, and a practitioner can be ranked on independent research alone.
Start with independent directories such as IP STARS, WTR 1000, IAM Patent 1000 and Chambers Asia-Pacific. Compare rankings in the specific practice area you need, look for consistency across years and directories, and confirm who will actually handle the work.
Yes. In 2026 the firm and its partners are recognised in WTR 1000, Chambers Asia-Pacific and IAM Global Leaders, among others. Each listing is recorded on our Awards page.
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