JUVE Comment

This IP practice can be found at the top of the market for trademarks and unfair competition and enjoys a good position in patents. In soft IP, the team uses a broad, professional trademark administration practice as the starting point for lucrative litigation work. The international setup with a strong foothold in Eastern Europe also plays an important role. Key clients include top tennis player Dominic Thiem and cosmetics company Mysuperbrand.

Patents and know-how protection activity does not feature as heavily, but is now being pushed forward by visible young partner Michael Woller. The firm addressed the generation change in the IP practice earlier than some competitors. Former practice head Guido Kucsko, who is especially well regarded as a preeminent expert for copyright law, left the equity partnership but will remain with the team to represent some artists and cultural institutions and in his role as an academic lecturer. As part of the generation change, Michael Woller moved up to the equity partnership. He is driving the growth in patents work and has earned recognition in the market.

The well-established Christian Schumacher is the face of litigation in trademarks. Following in Guido Kucsko’s footsteps in copyright law is up-and-coming counsel Dominik Hofmarcher, who is increasingly on the radar of competitors and also litigates in unfair competition and trademarks. Although this generation change strategy still has to prove itself, it is geared towards broadening specialties and work, is broadly based in terms of personnel and is therefore promising.

Strengths

Outstanding expertise in trademarks, unfair competition and copyrights, academic expertise.

Recommended individuals

Guido Kucsko, Michael Woller (“up-and-coming lawyer in patents”, competitor)

Team

3 partners, 1 counsel, 5 trainee lawyers

Specialties

Trademarks, design law, fair practices and copyright on the one hand, patent law (infringement suits) and employee invention law on the other hand. Project-related involvement in the firm’s M&A and banking practices. Focus on the healthcare, pharma (exclusively originator drug manufacturers), food, consumer goods, banking and insurance sectors, incl. Austrian and foreign clients.

Clients

Litigation: Pharma company in patent infringement proceedings and licence negotiations; financial services provider against IT company over TAN authorisation systems; tobacco company on inventor remuneration; medical product manufacturer against former employee over inventor remuneration.