JUVE Comment

This Munich-based patent attorney outfit emerged from the merger of Lederer & Keller and Kraus & Weisert. Since early 2024, it combines in-depth expertise in patent litigation for clients from the pharmaceutical, biotech and chemical sectors with comprehensive prosecution work across a broad technical spectrum, including electronics, mobile communications and mechanical engineering. The firm also maintains close relationships with Asian clients such as CATL and Oppo.

But it is best known for its regular litigation work for generic drug companies such as Teva/ratiopharm and Sandoz/Hexal. Following instructions from core client Hexal against Biogen over MS drug Tecfidera and against Bayer over thrombosis drug Xarelto, the patent attorneys also represented Teva in an important EPO opposition against Novo Nordisk’s weight-loss drug semaglutide.

European set-up

The patent attorneys regularly represent clients in EPO oppositions and the team also has extensive experience in patent infringement proceedings, particularly in life sciences and in a pan-European context. Examples include the firm’s work for Teva and Hexal in Germany, and EPO proceedings in various cross-border disputes over blockbuster patents such as Bayer’s thrombosis drug rivaroxaban.

The late 2023 merger has brought Kraus & Lederer a size and technical breadth that will stand it in good stead for UPC cases. The patent attorney firm is also likely to be an attractive cooperation partner for law firms at the UPC, especially those without their own patent attorneys. However, this had not yet led to any involvement in UPC proceedings by summer 2025. Pharmaceutical originators had so far been too hesitant to sue Kraus & Lederer’s core clientele of generic drug manufacturers at the UPC.

Strengths

Pharma litigation for generics manufacturers.

Recommended individuals

Michael Best (“great litigator in life sciences”, competitor), Stephan Teipel (all patent attorneys)

Team

25 patent attorneys

Clients

Litigation: Hexal against Biogen over MS drug Tecfidera; Hexal against Bayer over thrombosis drug rivaroxaban/Xarelto; Rhodia/Solvay against Neo in revocation suit over catalytic converters; Teva/Ratiopharm against Acorda over fampridine/Fampyra. EPO oppositions: Teva against Novo Nordisk regarding weight-loss drug semaglutide/Ozempic; Hexal against BMS over apixaban/Elequis (all public knowledge).