Litigation: Lawyers – Germany 2016

JUVE Comment

This leading litigation practice for patents was seen yet again in numerous proceedings with mixed teams of lawyers and patent attorneys, where it displays a vast technical breadth going beyond strong expertise in pharmaceuticals and mobile communications cases. Mobile communications litigation for Nokia, Microsoft and Huawei had long predominated, but now Jüngst and Wolters-Höhne were more visible in high-profile pharmaceuticals cases, e.g. for Actavis against Eli Lilly regarding Alimta in connection with the precedent issue of equivalent pate...

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• Litigation: Patent Attorneys

JUVE Comment

Hogan Lovells underscored its position as one of Germany’s leading patent litigation practices with a strong presence in proceedings in a wide array of sectors. Von Falck’s team cemented its outstanding position in pharmaceuticals proceedings with cases like Eli Lilly regarding Alimta, where it won a precedent decision (together with König Szynka) involving equivalent patent infringement. On top of this, there were few high-profile mobile communications suits where Hogan Lovells was not involved. The team was active in central proceedings for r...

JUVE Comment

This leading German litigation firm is exceptionally influential in Düsseldorf, one of Europe’s main court venues, as it is among the firms conducting the most proceedings. This guarantees Krieger Mes a strong position across Europe. The firm conducted extensive litigation for regular clients like Classen, Benteler and the two industry-oriented NPEs France Brevets and MPEG-Pool. The firm is involved in extremely large mobile communications proceedings for these two clients, but rarely appears in the sector’s other battles for manufacturers. The...

JUVE Comment

The gold-rush atmosphere in the comparatively young German patents team of this US firm has past, although it is still among the leading German litigation practices. Following impressive startup years, consolidation at a high level has now set in. Now that the patent battles between the major mobile communications manufacturers, in which QE caused a stir on the side of Google, have come to an end, the team is now active for Google and Motorola in frequent NPE suits against Android applications on the defendant side or as intervener. QE is using...

JUVE Comment

ROP is among the leading German patent litigation practices and continued along its path following successful rejuvenation in recent years. The firm was active in two major NPE suits for LG. Young partners like Hilge used this to gain market profile. Rospatt and Musmann’s pharmaceuticals team put in its usual strong performance in many proceedings, incl. for Bayer and Biogen. ROP also saw an improvement in teamwork between its partners, like Hoyng ROKH Monegier has long enjoyed. Since the Brexit referendum, ROP can relax again with regard to th...

JUVE Comment

This firm, best known in patents for its strong visibility in litigation, is among the leading practices and held its position at the top of the market. Like last year, BP was seen in a multitude of proceedings, esp. mobile communications battles. Bardehle now has a reputation as a firm for NPE litigation; it represented Intellectual Ventures in some of the year’s largest proceedings. But this only tells half the story, as the litigation for BMW against NPE Synchronicity shows. Though Bardehle is often active for industry clients, it does not s...

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• Filing
• Litigation: Patent Attorneys

JUVE Comment

With its first major patent proceedings for Bristol-Myers-Squibb, this leading litigation practice for patents showed that it can land attractive clients in the pharmaceuticals sector on top of extensive litigation for regular client Novartis. In the mobile communications sector, the team represented its three major clients in large series of proceedings again, with several for Ericsson. For Hewlett-Packard, the German team coordinated a European series of proceedings involving printers. With three visible partners now, FBD has stepped up the s...

JUVE Comment

This leading litigation team in patents has stood out in pharmaceuticals patents from day one. This year saw TW make the breakthrough in mobile communications suits, e.g. for two auto manufacturers in the dispute against Synchronicity. The team boasts a technical breadth otherwise seen at Hogan Lovells and Bird & Bird. However, compared to its main competitors, TW lacks a regular involvement on the plaintiff side of high-profile proceedings. The team does, however, boast a large number of young, well-positioned litigators. Throughout Europe, TW...

JUVE Comment

This highly recommended litigation team once best known for its work in pharmaceuticals proceedings is branching out across sectors, incl. strong visibility in auto industry disputes. Litigation for a German auto manufacturer in some of the first proceedings by an NPE before the German courts stood out. At the same time, team management was transferred seamlessly from Bopp to Sonntag. The young partner is driving the diversification of sector expertise forward. GL achieved the associate level growth urgently needed to handle several major proce...

JUVE Comment

The international setup of this leading IP firm for patents offers little room for criticism. With its strong pharmaceuticals specialty, HE has long been visible with its London office. The firm bolstered Milan and Madrid with international lawyers, though these offices have yet to reach the level of London. With offices in Munich, Hamburg and Düsseldorf, HE is now visible before the important courts across Germany, though Munich dominates its reputation by far. Hamburg and Düsseldorf are making slow progress – possibly an understandable strate...

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• Filing
• Litigation: Patent Attorneys

JUVE Comment

This small, traditional boutique comes highly recommended in patent litigation and is not making a mark so much with high-end litigation work as with a large quantity of proceedings for a loyal client base. Klaka also boasts a sturdy partnership, encompassing an array of technical fields. Giebe’s activity in two proceedings for ZTE showcases Klaka’s prowess in mobile communications litigation, although it was not particularly visible in this sector of late. The Chinese company, however, also hires other firms in Germany, e.g. Hogan Lovells. The...

JUVE Comment

This firm recommended for litigation in patents switched up a gear. CMS’ continuous development is rooted in frequent litigation for innovative German Mittelstand companies, like Leifheit or Erbe. The German practice generated higher end work by stepping up interoffice cooperation and coordination with the other CMS network firms in preparation for the upcoming UPC. One example is the global advice to Cooper Standard on patent issues. CMS also litigates for Acon Laboratories and Elmos Semiconductors on a cross-border basis. The auto sector is d...

JUVE Comment

The recommended patent litigation team around the only partner Kellenter is active in mobile communications and pharmaceuticals proceedings and positioned on the side of NPEs with its two main clients IPCom and Sisvel. Otherwise, the team works for the industrial clients typical for Hengeler, incl. AstraZeneca in the pharmaceuticals sector. The team was also in action for Piaggio in a dispute over traditional engine technology, but compared to competitors in Düsseldorf, the expansion of activity stagnated. One reason for this was the lack of gr...

JUVE Comment

For pan-European patents matters, the leading patents practice of this US firm is appearing ever more frequently, with a well-positioned team of patent attorneys and a firmly established litigation team. JD plays a central role in pharmaceuticals disputes – opposition suits and infringement proceedings – involving new active agents. A prime example is work for Akebia involving erythropoietin and Celgene concerning a cancer drug. For Akebia, JD actively brought its US law expertise into play by pushing through a US inspection procedure. JD now d...

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• Filing
• Litigation: Patent Attorneys

JUVE Comment

Feldges’ tenacity in building up the small, yet respected patents practice of this international firm is paying off, as young litigator Cepl is increasingly visible from Düsseldorf. The key factor, however, was the team’s activity in a major pharmaceuticals battle for Pfizer regarding Lyrica, at the same time as work for a new mobile communications client in a series of proceedings. The hard-hitting German team is valuable for the European patents group, which strives to play a central role in the European patent system, incl. the UPC system, w...

JUVE Comment

In patents, lone fighter Haag is respected for his litigation work. He is currently visible in various ongoing series of proceedings, e.g. for Unwired Planet, thus focusing on litigation for NPEs. To score success in the long term, the partner-centric Munich boutique needs a suitable growth strategy. This would also make Ampersand an interesting partner for other European firms with Haag’s experience in major proceedings, for instance when the UPC system comes into effect.

JUVE Comment

The respected patents team of this international firm is developing steadily, despite the uncertainty surrounding the UPC. This was shown by the slight expansion at associate level, but moreover by the appointment of Herr, the firm’s most visible litigator, to equity partner. He is often praised for his technical/legal dual qualification. The team is highly visible in Munich because of the many proceedings conducted for the predominantly Mittelstand client base. B&M also advises a list of international corporates from the chemicals and pharmace...

JUVE Comment

The respected IP practice of Bartenbach in Cologne remains the authority for employee invention law, on which it advises many major international names. CBH is increasingly seen in proceedings (esp. rei vindicatio actions for auto manufacturers) before Düsseldorf Patent Court (Patentgericht) or called on for second opinions. Despite stepping up litigation work, CBH is not yet as visible as the strong Düsseldorf boutiques.

JUVE Comment

This respected Düsseldorf patent litigation team is connected to the firm’s healthcare practice and chiefly advises pharmaceuticals clients, among them Pfizer. Following staff losses in recent years, Milbradt’s practice is now looking to reel in more technology-related work. Before now it has conducted isolated proceedings for Strix and auto corporate Hyundai.

JUVE Comment

Despite some of its members, incl. partners, going to competitors in the past two years, the respected litigation team around Gampp managed to regain its strength and emerge from the shadows. This was thanks to its growing visibility on the side of defendants in mobile communications suits against NPEs, e.g. for Box and Versicherungskammer Bayern. The team advises on a broad technical palette and, if it grows further, is ready to play a central role within DLA’s well-positioned European patents group.

JUVE Comment

The presence of this patents team, which is respected for litigation, is unbroken in proceedings. The team is called on by external patent attorneys. In addition to its traditional client base in the healthcare and food sectors, HU increasingly works for other industries, e.g. consumer goods manufacturers, and often reviews the patent situation for clients before they enter a market. However, the lawyers deliberately do not use the interface with the filing work of their small prosecution practice as a basis for litigation. This practice focuse...

JUVE Comment

Last year, this firm primarily driven by transactions welcomed a well-known litigator from DLA Piper in the shape of Schönbohm to expand the practice, which is respected for patent litigation. The firm has since added two more associates to the small team and is focusing on advice to pharmaceuticals companies in this startup phase. The partner already enjoyed a strong reputation in this sector before joining Linklaters. Other sectors, esp. mobile communications, currently only play a side role. The young German team thus reflects the strengths ...

JUVE Comment

This Munich IP boutique is a leading name in patents and has enjoyed stability from day one, thanks to a base of very loyal clients, most of whom are advised on an all-round basis incl. patent filing and patent litigation. The practice is characterized by close cooperation between the patent attorneys and lawyers. This year saw a rise in the strong filing activity for regular clients like Fresenius and Faun. The team stepped up efforts to acquire Japanese and Chinese clients for the upcoming UPC. The main coup came from the very small litigatio...

Other Rankings

• Filing
• Litigation: Patent Attorneys

JUVE Comment

This Munich team, respected for its patent litigation work, remains very visible in mobile communications suits, such as the class action for TLI against various mobile communications manufacturers, or for Synchronicity in one of the first NPE suits in Germany against various auto manufacturers. The action for MedTech involving medical technology showcases the team’s technical breadth. That said, Noerr is positioned as a firm for NPE suits more distinctively than competitors. This is not changed by the fact that the team also litigates for a No...

JUVE Comment

With great ambition, this British firm built a pan-European practice with the UPC launch in mind, incl. a German team respected for patents. The delay in the UPC caused by Brexit put a damper on this process. Nonetheless, the German patents practice is flourishing with its mixed approach. Olswang worked in NPE suits related to mobile communications patents for Facebook, ZTE and TCT among others. The firm thus emerged as an alternative to the practices established in NPE suits on the defendant side and as an intervener representative. The strong...

JUVE Comment

Kröner’s respected patents team boasts in-depth expertise in the pharmaceuticals industry. It also defended many patents for regular clients like Beiersdorf (cosmetics) and Pure Fishing (fishing accessories). Spiegelhalder mainly conducts litigation related to mechanics patents; he coordinates international proceedings for regular Mittelstand client Hauck, currently in the US concerning child seats.