JUVE Comment

The patent attorneys at this German IP litigation boutique have an outstanding reputation for complex mobile communications proceedings. Huawei is among its premium clients with multiple national cases. The litigation against HMD is only one example. BDPE litigates more frequently now over wi-fi, video, and audio codecs. In such litigation the patent attorneys always cooprate with external law firms such as Bird & Bird, Clifford Chance, or Preu Bohlig.

However, the past year was marked by significant personnel upheaval, including the departure of name partner Karl-Ulrich Braun-Dullaeus and his main client Deutsche Telekom. Braun-Dullaeus is now active as of counsel at Karo IP, another Düsseldorf patent attorney firm.

Also based at the Düsseldorf office, firm co-founder Heinrich Pannen and partner Markus Kreuzberg have opted for an unusual arrangement as patent attorneys. In addition to BDPE, they will also work for Düsseldorf-based patent attorneys Kreuels Henrichs in future, even though the two firms are not currently cooperating closely. The former partner specialises primarily in soft IP, whilst the latter partner focuses mainly on patent prosecution. It remains to be seen how the collaboration with BDPE will develop in the long term.

These developments have decisively shifted the firm’s focus to the Munich office and the litigation practice around Friedrich Emmerling, reducing the Düsseldorf office to an outpost and further diminishing the role of patent prosecution for the firm.

The practice’s strong focus on its main client Huawei has become even more pronounced over the past twelve months. To reduce this heavy reliance on one client, the firm is actively working to broaden its litigation practice by attracting more US clients and expanding into technical fields such as green energy and automotive. The recent addition of three experienced patent attorneys from other patent firms as non-equity partners is rejuvenating the partnership and forms the basis for a stronger focus on innovation, including the use of proprietary AI applications in litigation. BDPE has already been able to deploy its own applications.

Strengths

Litigation, mainly concerning mobile communications and electronics patents, and for Asian clients.

Recommended individuals

Friedrich Emmerling (patent attorneys)

Team

7 patent attorneys, 1 dual-qualified

Partner moves

Karl-Ulrich Braun-Dullaeus (to Karo IP)

Clients

Litigation: Huawei against HMD over 4G and 5G patents (public knowledge); Huawei against TOT Power Control over CDMA-based mobile communications system. EPO oppositions: Adidas against Salomon over sneakers.