JUVE Comment

This German patent attorney firm is a popular choice for SMEs. The team has a strong reputation for patents in mechanical engineering and electronics. Clients also turn to the patent attorneys for EPO oppositions, nullity actions and the technical part of infringement suits. The team regularly handles the latter in conjunction with lawyers from external German litigation boutiques. The work for AutoStore against Ocado together with the Düsseldorf IP boutique Arnold Ruess was a highlight.

The prosecution practice in chemicals and life sciences has been less visible so far. The small team would need to grow to advance this area. The firm has recently shown that it is an attractive destination for new talent with the addition of a five-member team of patent attorneys from Habbel & Partner. They brought with them client contacts to regional SMEs, thus expanding the firm’s client base. The additional location in Münster also fits well with the firm’s strategy. With an office in Memmingen and its headquarters in Frankfurt, the firm is close to clients where there are few other medium-sized, renowned patent attorney firms. Its office in Hamburg means it is also present at one of Germany’s four most important patent centres, where a UPC local division is located.

European set-up

The firm’s patent attorneys experienced in litigation, such as Robin Keulertz, can be a first port of call for their medium-sized regular clients at the UPC, when these are attacked or want to sue competitors quickly across a large swathe of Europe. To handle such lawsuits, the practice maintains well-established ties to different, experienced external litigation firms.

Strengths

Litigation concerning mechanics and mechanical engineering patents.

Recommended individuals

Robin Keulertz (“responsive and solution-oriented”, competitor), Sabine Kossak (“wealth of experience and diligence”, competitor; both patent attorneys)

Team

21 patent attorneys

Clients

Litigation: AutoStore against Ocado over robot technology for warehouse logistics (settled 2023); Norma against Caillau over joining technology; Urban against Graf concerning plastics welding machine. Oppositions for Danfoss, Fanuc, Panther Packaging, PSA Technology (all public knowledge).