JUVE Comment

The IP team of this Vienna firm is among those challenging the market leaders in trademarks and unfair competition as well as patents. Highly regarded name partner Georg Schönherr has built up a team of well-known lawyers in all age groups and is strongly represented in litigation. Another pillar of the practice is action against product piracy for numerous well-known fashion brands including Armani, Dior and Gucci. Moose Knuckles and Puma are among the new clients entrusting the team with their cases. This work has grown overall as the rise in online orders during the pandemic has resulted in hundreds of small-volume customs seizures handled by the team.

In trademarks, major corporations like pharma company Novartis and its subsidiaries Sandoz and Hexal frequently rely on the team in both trademark administration and disputes. Just how solid the team’s relationships are with informal partner firms in neighbouring European countries, especially Germany, is demonstrated by work for Stada. The pharma company hired Schwarz Schönherr for litigation on the recommendation of its German advisors. In patents, too, economically high-stakes proceedings for pharma companies are among the highlights of the practice. The team around the well-established Thomas Adocker litigated for Sandoz in the Austrian part of international litigation against Genentech and Roche over cancer drug Rituximab. It also worked for Sandoz against MSD regarding the SPC for ezetimib/simvastatin. Well-established lawyer Michaela Petsche used to be involved in pharmaceuticals proceedings as a lawyer in cooperation, but she has now joined competitor Baker McKenzie.

Strengths

Patent litigation.

Recommended individuals

Georg Schönherr (“first rate expertise, plus economic mindset”, competitor), Thomas Adocker (“strong IP team”, competitor on all)

Team

5 partners, 1 associate

Specialties

Trademarks, design law and fair trading. Patent law: infringement litigation, employee invention law and licences. IP due diligence in M&A transactions. Focus on the pharma and fashion sectors.

Clients

Litigation: Sandoz (defendant) against Genentech and Roche over cancer drug Rituximab; Sandoz (defendant) against MSD on an SPC over ezetimib/simvastatin; Schöck Bauteile (claimant) against Jordahl H-Bau Österreich over thermal insulation elements; AF TEC (claimant) against KP-TEC over window technology, Green Creations (defendant) against Vario Sims over windowsills.