JUVE Comment

This patent attorney firm combines an active prosecution practice across a broad technical spectrum with a busy patent litigation practice. In addition to numerous opposition proceedings for regular clients such as Flender, Kickert, Wilo, and TK Elevators, the firm is frequently involved in infringement and nullity proceedings before national courts. Quantificare’s case concerning a 3D imaging system exemplifies this well. The firm’s patent attorneys typically represent medium-sized clients in litigation, collaborating with external lawyers. Recently, Quantificare even extended its dispute with Canfield to the UPC.

Unlike its Düsseldorf-based competitor Cohausz & Florak, however, Michalski Hüttermann rarely features in major mobile communications and pharmaceutical disputes. Nevertheless, Ulrich Storz maintains a very active presence in opposition proceedings for biotech companies such as Immatics.

Beyond its German SME and corporate clients like Thyssenkrupp and Siemens, the firm has cultivated close relationships with Asian clients including Hitachi Energy and Samsung SDI. A relatively new China desk, staffed by a Chinese lawyer, aims to expand this client base further. Thanks to its broad positioning across automotive, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and chemicals sectors, coupled with its substantial headcount, Michalski Hüttermann stands as one of three heavyweight patent attorney firms in western Germany, alongside Dompatent and Cohausz & Florack.

European set-up

Without a significant presence in major international pharmaceutical and mobile communications cases, Michalski Hüttermann has never been among the most prominent patent attorney firms in cross-border matters, unlike Cohausz & Florak, for instance. Nevertheless, the firm maintains a comparably strong presence at the UPC for its medium-sized clientele, similar to Lorenz Seidler Gossel. For its regular client Quantificare, the patent attorneys have intensified pressure on the opposing party Canfield with additional UPC lawsuits, building on previous national litigation.

As with national litigation, the firm consistently collaborates with external lawyers such as Lang & Rahmann, Fieldfisher or Clifford Chance at the UPC. Working alongside the latter, it represents Acelsi and Troy Chemie against AdvanSix Resins & Chemicals in a case concerning chemical coating technology. With its litigation experience and team size, the firm is well-positioned to take on more cases at the new court and could prove particularly appealing to its strong Asian client base.

Strengths

Litigation regarding biotech and electronics patents.

Recommended individuals

Uwe Albersmeyer, Aloys Hüttermann, Wasilis Koukounis (“outstanding technical exertise, industrial experience and the ability to explain complex matters to laymen”, competitor), Guido Quiram (“excellent in EPO oppositions”, client), Dirk Schulz, Ulrich Storz (all patent attorneys)

Team

27 patent attorneys

Clients

Litigation: Quantificare against Canfield over 3D imaging systems; TP Vision against Seoul Semiconductor over LED technology; Kiekert against Brose over door locks; MuseCY SM against competitor over digital musical scores; Panthera against Resmed over medical products for sleep-related breathing difficulties; frequent litigation for Classen. EPO oppositions for Immatics, Flender, Hitachi Energy, Kiekert, TK Elevator, ThyssenKrupp, Wilo; Syngenta against UPL over a method for controlling rust (some public knowledge).