JUVE Comment

This IP boutique around veteran Lothar Wiltschek is still top of the Austrian market in patent litigation. Nevertheless, its presence in the big cross-border cases is not quite on the same level as Gassauer-Fleissner, which has a significantly larger team and more junior partners. Furthermore, the firm is still strongly associated with Wiltschek. David Plasser, however, has now carved out a good reputation for his work in patent litigation and is on the cusp of following in Wiltschek’s footsteps. The firm’s traditional strength is its long-standing ties to clients; for example, it boasts good contacts to generic drug manufacturers, which it often advises on patents and the law on advertising medicinal products. An important pillar is Wiltsckek Plasser’s outstanding contacts to Austrian and international patent attorneys, which give rise to a regular stream of litigation work. Like all top boutiques with a dominant figurehead such as Wiltschek, the firm also faces the challenge of passing the baton to the next generation in good time. With only two partners, the firm is too small to keep pace in the long term with larger teams such as Gassauer-Fleissner and Schwarz Schönherr in increasingly complex patent litigation.

Strengths

Patent litigation, especially regarding pharmaceuticals.

Recommended individuals

Lothar Wiltschek (“a ray of light in IP”, competitor), David Plasser (“up-and-comer in Austrian patent law”, competitor)

Team

2 equity partners

Specialties

Strong focus on litigation in trademarks, design law, fair trading and patent law. Focus on the healthcare, pharma (esp. generic drugs manufacturers) and food sectors.

Clients

Litigation: Plant manufacturer on patent infringement in China; Asian biosimilar manufacturer over cancer treatment compound.