JUVE Comment

A highly recommended firm which conducts patent litigation within a broad technical palette. The firm had an eventful year: following the spinoff of its Düsseldorf patents team in early 2016 as Kather Augenstein, the firm is now rebuilding its office in the location of Germany’s most important patent court. A lawyer from DLA Piper brought GE subsidiary PII Pipetronix as a new client. Berlin partner Donle is now more visible in Düsseldorf thanks to his litigation for Huawei. These steps are just the beginning of efforts in Düsseldorf, if PBP hopes to return to its former strength. This new start in the Rheinland also offers an opportunity for the firm to tackle the issue of cooperation between the individual offices, where there is room for improvement. This will be necessary for the firm to compete with large teams in mobile communications suits and, in the long-term, before the UPC. The firm had been banking on the new patent system. To conduct isolated nullity suits at the UPC Central Court in Paris, PBP got in position early on by placing a lawyer locally – this may have been a premature move, given the Brexit vote.

Strengths

Litigation incl. related to pharmaceuticals.

Recommended individuals

Dr. Stephan Gruber, Dr. Ludwig von Zumbusch, Prof. Dr. Christian Donle (“clever negotiator”, competitor).

Team

8 partners, 5 associates

Practice

The activities of this full-service firm clearly focus on IP. Alongside patents, also trademarks and unfair competition and pharmaceuticals and healthcare. Litigation predominates. Lots of German clients, some direct contacts to corporates.

Clients

Public knowledge: Huawei against Unwired Planet regarding LTE; VW regarding engine control; PII Pipetronix on employee invention law; Coatex concerning thickener polymer; Diaper Recycling concerning inventor remuneration; ongoing activity for Schaeffler, Manroland Sheetfed.