JUVE Comment

This Cologne-based IP firm stands out as one of the most prominent prosecution practices in the Rhine-Ruhr region, boasting an excellent reputation for chemical and pharmaceutical patents. It has also established a strong presence in the IT and electronics sectors. The firm’s patent attorneys support clients across a broad technical spectrum in EPO oppositions and nullity proceedings. They frequently collaborate with external lawyers in infringement cases, such as representing Glenmark in the fingolimod dispute and concerning Xarelto. The firm often partners with Taylor Wessing in these matters.

Beyond its extensive client portfolio in life sciences and chemicals the patent attorney team remains active in mobile communications for smaller equipment manufacturers like TCL and Xiaomi. However, its involvement in mobile devices litigation has noticeably decreased compared to a few years ago.

European set-up

With its substantial size and extensive litigation experience, Dompatent is well positioned to regularly represent its large German client base and Asian clients at the UPC. But although the patent attorneys swiftly translated their extensive litigation experience into active representation at the UPC soon after its launch, with two cases to date, Dompatent’s involvement in UPC proceedings is significantly less than some other German patent attorney firms, such as Cohausz & Florack or Thum IP.

In partnership with Taylor Wessing lawyers, Dompatent is representing Hanshow in UPC proceedings against VusionGroup. The patent attorneys are also leading the parallel revocation action. Dompatent was also instructed alongside Rospatt to represent ILME against Phoenix Contact in a dispute over electronic connectors, which was recently settled.

The firm’s intensive filing work for numerous companies such as Xiaomi, Hyundai and Tokyo Gas underscores its excellent relationships with Asian clients. These connections could prove crucial for securing more UPC work, as demonstrated by its representation of Hanshow, the Chinese provider of IoT solutions for the retail sector, in both EPO oppositions and at the UPC.

Strengths

Litigation related to pharmaceuticals, biotech and chemicals.

Recommended individuals

Jörg Helbing, Andreas Gagidis (“very good advocacy in EPO oppositions regarding electronics”, competitor), Anke Krebs, Christoph Schreiber (“outstanding for biotech patents, excellent international network”, competitor), Alexander Schuld

Team

21 patent attorneys

Clients

Litigation: Opel against MU Ionic over lithium-ion batteries (settled 2025); Glenmark against Biogen over multiple sclerosis drug Tecfidera; Glenmark against Bayer over thrombosis drug Xarelto; Landgard (as intervener of Aldi Nord) against inventor over stack securing device for transport trucks. EPO oppositions: Hanshow against VusionGroup over electronic price tags; Kingfa against Novamont over biodegradable polyester; Tesa against certoplast over tape for cable harnesses in cars (all public knowledge).