JUVE Comment

DLA Piper maintains an excellent position in infringement proceedings for clients in mobile communications, mechanical engineering and consumer goods. While established clients such as HP and Nike traditionally instruct the team for litigation, Amazon, Microsoft, Dyson and a prominent electric vehicle manufacturer have recently become key clients of the German practice.

The firm is also well positioned in SEP and network technology proceedings, representing Belkin, HP and car manufacturers Toyota and Ford in challenges to Neo Wireless patents concerning wireless communication systems. The Munich team around Constanze Krenz and the Cologne team around Philipp Cepl demonstrated the German practice’s close internal cooperation in their work for Belkin. The latter also focuses on life sciences disputes, currently representing a veterinary pharmaceutical manufacturer against a competitor.

This collaborative approach helped manage the generational transition following the unexpected retirement of long-standing senior partner Markus Gampp in spring 2024. His successors have increasingly leveraged the firm’s strong US connections to develop client relationships.

European set-up

Unaffected by Gampp’s departure, DLA’s European patent litigation team made a remarkable start at the UPC. The Munich team, led by Krenz, handles an impressive number of cases at the new court for clients including Belkin and Toyota. In early 2025, Dyson settled its fierce vacuum cleaner dispute with SharkNinja, but promptly launched a new campaign against Dreame, again led by Krenz.

With just 15 lawyers, DLA’s European patent litigation team is relatively small compared to international competitors such as Hogan Lovells or Taylor Wessing. The team will need to expand its capacity to handle multiple large cases simultaneously.

The firm’s UPC work extends beyond the German practice. The Milan office represents Alpinestars against Dainese in a case concerning protective motorcycle equipment. However, scope remains to enhance collaboration with teams in Amsterdam, Paris and London, particularly as the UK team’s UPC involvement has been limited to Dyson’s cases against SharkNinja. The potential of the firm’s US connections is demonstrated by its joint representation of Microsoft, alongside Morgan Lewis, in a new lawsuit brought by Eyesmatch concerning intelligent camera systems

Strengths

Mobile communications litigation for implementers, including FRAND. Revocation cases without external patent attorneys.

Recommended individuals

Constanze Krenz (“excellent written pleadings”, competitor; “very good”, client), Philipp Cepl

Team

9 lawyers

Clients

Litigation: Belkin against Philips over SEP for wireless chargers; Extreme Networks against Orckit IP over network technology (ended 2024); HP against Paimira over wi-fi patents (settled 2024); Ardagh Group against Bound2B over resealable opening for beverage cans (settled 2025); Harman in nullity suit against Broadcom/Avago over audio patents for car; Toyota against Neo Wireless over wireless communication system (ended 2024); regular litigation for Amazon, Dyson and Nike. EPO oppositions: Ford against Neo Wireless over over wireless communication system.