JUVE Comment

This patent attorney firm combines an active prosecution practice across a broad technical spectrum with an increasing patent litigation practice. In addition to numerous opposition proceedings for regular clients such as Flender and Kickert, the firm is frequently involved in infringement and nullity proceedings before national courts. Quantificare’s case concerning a 3D imaging system recently kept a team around Dirk Schulz very busy – not only before German courts but also at the UPC. For years, Kickert has relied heavily on partner Guido Quiram, not only in EPO oppositions but also in national court proceedings against competitors over car parts. The start-up Brightpick has also recently instructed the firm for a dispute against market leader Ocado over warehouse technology. The firm’s patent attorneys typically represent medium-sized clients in litigation, collaborating with external lawyers.

Initially, Michalski Hüttermann was not among the patent attorney firms active in UPC proceedings. Recently, however, medical technology companies have been increasingly turned to the firm. Following Quantificare, Angelalign, a manufacturer of orthodontic aligners, has now also engaged the firm for UPC proceedings. In parallel, the firm is also representing the Chinese company in EPO proceedings. Thus the relatively new China desk, staffed by a Chinese lawyer, aims to further expand the firm’s client base in China.

A speed bump in the firm’s recent development was the departure of partner Wasilis Koukounis, who set up his own firm. With him went expertise in mechanics, process and mechanical engineering, as well as valuable contacts to German corporate giant ThyssenKrupp. However, this did not affect the development of the firm’s core practice areas.

Strengths

Litigation regarding medical technology, biotech and electronics patents.

Recommended individuals

Uwe Albersmeyer, Rolf Claessen (“excellent research results”, client), Aloys Hüttermann, Guido Quiram, Dirk Schulz, Ulrich Storz (all patent attorneys)

Team

20 patent attorneys, 1 lawyer

Partner moves

Wasilis Koukounis (to own firm Aurodion)

Clients

Litigation: Quantificare against Canfield over 3D imaging systems; Kiekert against various competitors over door locks; Brightpick against Ocado over warehouse technology; Yingling Innovations against Spherie over drones; frequent litigation for Classen. EPO oppositions: Apollo Tyres, Bayer, Deutsche Post/DHL, Immatics, Flender, Hitachi Energy, Kiekert, KWS Saat, Regeneron, Samsung SDI, Syngenta, Wilo; Angelalign against Align over orthodontic aligners.