JUVE Comment

This strong litigation firm around Hosea Haag has been leading litigation series for NPEs for years, mainly concerning mobile communications or related fields. NPEs such as Onebutton, Unwired Planet, WSOU and Arigna are core clients on whose behalf Ampersand sues notable industry players such as Google, Sony, Microsoft and Tesla. The firm won new client Intent IQ for a suit against Amazon, Samsung and Roku concerning personalised ads.

The team often works for SMEs and research institutions. For example, Hirschvogel trusted it with its case against Schaeffler concerning engine technology.

After some teething difficulties building up the practice, the firm managed to establish partner Jonathan Konietz three years ago.

European set-up

The practice is relatively small when it comes to handling multiple parallel proceedings at the UPC, but it has extensive experience acting for NPEs in large-scale actions and is likely to file actions for these clients once they have gained confidence in the new court. Contrary to what many had assumed, these clients have held back in the initial phase of the UPC. Nevertheless, the firm’s well-established relationships with US and UK law firms could be of benefit here, as NPE actions often have a global dimension.

In a first UPC case, Haag’s team is representing the Siemens spinoff and transport management company Yunex Traffic against a competitor. This case demonstrates the firm’s ability to attract innovative companies beyond its NPE contacts. However, when it comes to representing these clients at the UPC the firm must compete with the companies’ go-to patent attorneys, who could also represent them at the court alone.

Strengths

Litigation for NPEs regarding mobile communications, including SEPs and FRAND.

Recommended individuals

Hosea Haag (“outstanding strategist”, competitor), Jonathan Konietz (“resilient and astoundingly productive”, competitor)

Team

5 lawyers

Clients

Litigation: Onebutton against LG, Google, Verizon over touchscreen; Unwired Planet against HTC over mobile communications; Wsou against Juniper, Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft over SEP; Pantech against Google and Sony over SEPs; Arigna against BMW and Tesla over semiconductors; Imberatek against Apple and Samsung over chip technology; Intent IQ against Amazon, Samsung and Roku over personalised ads; Hirschvogel against Schaeffler over balance shaft for engines; Wonderland against Cybex over children’s seats.