JUVE Comment

This highly recommended patent litigation practice around Sonntag boasts broad technical expertise. The team is esp. active in pharmaceuticals patents as well as the telecoms and consumer goods sectors, litigating for regular client Procter & Gamble (Gillette) in a major dispute over razors. GL also cemented its client connections in the mobile communications sector. But as of counsel Bopp only works in selected cases now and is less and less visible in the market, the team is very thin at partner level and would certainly offer room for another partner.

Strengths

Litigation for pharmaceuticals and telecoms patents.

European strategy

Like Noerr and Hengeler Mueller, the patents team at Gleiss is limited in its strategic flexibility as part of a national full-service firm. Although it nurtures close connections at firms across Europe, esp. Gide in France, Gleiss could feel the impact of the competition in the UPC when suits are filed at the international local divisions rather than the German ones. The team also needs to grow if it is to be hired for UPC proceedings, esp. in mobile communications. Being a firm that typically foregoes laterals, Gleiss will have to strategically tackle this early on.

Recommended individuals

Dr. Thomas Bopp, Dr. Matthias Sonntag, Dr. Herwig Lux.

Team

2 partners, 2 counsel, 6 associates, 1 of counsel

Practice

All-round in IP, esp. trademarks and unfair competition and patent litigation. Employee invention law, R&D cooperations, licenses and M&A transactions. Advice on the interface with antitrust.

Clients

Procter & Gamble (Gillette) against Wilkinson regarding razor blades; frequent litigation for Actavis and Robert Bosch; Betapharm and Sanofi-Aventis regarding rivastigmine; General Atomics, SiaSys, Siazyme, Orlalab concerning blood tests; Joline regarding kyphoplasty; Japanese electronics corporate against NPE concerning mobile communications.