JUVE Comment

Alongside its well-positioned prosecution practice, this leading firm in patents now boasts a visible litigation team around Wuttke, which conducts a multitude of proceedings for Mittelstand companies. The firm also gained corporates such as Deutsche Telekom and a German chemicals manufacturer as new clients. On the downside, the team has not yet had a chance to step up to the plate and litigate for Facebook in a suit by NPE Marathon, although the patent attorneys handle the European prosecution. But the continuous expansion of the litigation team was the actual achievement of the past four years, as this fueled the now complete integration of all nine German offices. The patent attorneys are working increasingly with the firm’s own litigation team on an interoffice basis. These developments are crucial for MB&P to prove its merit in the UPC system.

Strengths

Patent prosecution with technical expertise in chemicals and engineering. Litigation.

Recommended individuals

Dr. Tobias Wuttke (“great for cross-border proceedings”, competitor); patent attorneys: Dr. Eugen Popp, Kay Rupprecht.

Team

53 patent attorneys, 9 lawyers

Practice

All-round IP activity, predominantly for Mittelstand companies. Around 50% of work is in patents with a clear focus on patent prosecution: filing with broad technical expertise. Nullity and opposition suits and patent infringement proceedings. Employee invention law. The other 50% of work is accounted for by trademarks and unfair competition.

Clients

Deutsche Telekom regarding mobile communications patents; Cybex regarding child seats; Greif concerning industrial seals; German chemicals corporate in infringement dispute. Public knowledge: filing for Facebook, Electrolux, ITW, Johnson Controls, Mammut Sports, Pioneer, Villeroy & Boch.