JUVE Comment

This chiefly transaction-focused firm pressed ahead with growing its respected patent litigation practice, as it is looking to conduct more high-end proceedings across Europe with an eye on the UPC. Efforts in Germany are making headway. In its third year at Linklaters, Schönbohm’s team is gaining a foothold in pharmaceuticals proceedings, partly because it is working for regular clients from London and Germany on a more regular basis, among them a British pharmaceuticals manufacturer. Pharmaceuticals proceedings are the German practice’s strength, but it also widened activity in electronics patents, e.g. for a Korean LED manufacturer. The small team is not visible, however, in mobile communications suits, although manufacturers and network operators are among Linklaters’ typical clientele.

Strengths

Pharmaceuticals litigation.

European strategy

The patents teams in London, Paris and Frankfurt work in close cooperation in the healthcare sector. But the firm has greater ambitions for the UPC. For this, it still lacks visible teams in Amsterdam and Düsseldorf. Other partners of Schönbohm’s caliber would be logical.

Recommended individuals

Dr. Julia Schönbohm.

Team

1 partner, 5 associates

Practice

Strong focus on patent litigation. Close cooperation with the dispute resolution team. Also licenses, contracts, transactions and antitrust.

Clients

Epcos regarding valve control; Korean electronics corporate concerning LEDs; cross-border advice to British pharmaceuticals company regarding allergy medication; pharmaceuticals corporate concerning FTO analysis for genetic diagnostic method.