JUVE Comment

Bartenbach and Kunzmann’s team is respected in patents and considered the number one for employee law matters. CBH had long been restricted to litigating in patent suits related to its core competence, partly because of its location in Cologne. By welcoming renowned Munich litigator Gruber and another partner from Preu Bohlig in July 2017, CBH entered a new dimension and positioned itself as an expert for patent infringement suits. The move is still very recent, but could make sense as the invention lawyers have worked with Gruber in the past for clients like VW and Siemens.

Strengths

Employee invention law for companies, litigation.

Development potential

Before CBH can think about playing a role in cross-border proceedings before the UPC, it will have to establish itself as a national patent litigation practice and position Cologne and Munich lawyers as a hard-hitting, integrated team.

Recommended individuals

Prof. Dr. Kurt Bartenbach, Dr. Stephan Gruber (“the textbook for patent litigation”, competitor), Jens Kunzmann, Dr. Martin Quodbach.

Team

4 equity partners, 2 salary partners, 2 associates

Practice

In IP, advice and litigation in trademarks and unfair competition and technical protection rights to an equal degree. Strong focus on employee invention law and infringement proceedings. Licenses and R&D contracts.

Clients

Public knowledge: VW in rei vindicatio action against employee inventor and against Metatron regarding gas injection system; Ganymed on takeover by Astellas; frequent advice to Bayer on patent and invention law; frequent advice to Ford on invention law; litigation for and advice on invention law to Siemens; Eberspächer, laminate and mobile communications manufacturers in infringement proceedings.