JUVE Comment

This Düsseldorf IP boutique is known for its strong litigation team, which is often active in game-changing patent proceedings. Arnold fought for ECC in the dispute over coffee capsules and Schumacher plays a central role in various proceedings for Hexal, e.g. regarding the second medical use of active ingredient fulvestrant. The lawyers, who competitors praise for their “high quality” and “excellent work and good service”, frequently enter new technical and legal territory. AR was successful for the second time for client Celltrion in the dispute over biosimilars, imitations of biotechnologically produced biologics that are regarded as a future trend in medicine. The dispute between Sisvel and Haier now pending at the Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof) has turned into the lead proceedings in FRAND case law. The team is active in complex mobile communications proceedings for a number of notable clients, among them Nokia and ZTE. While the client list is impressive, AR suffered some staff losses. For the first time in its history, it lost three lawyers at once (to Vossius), incl. a counsel experienced in the mobile communications sector, who took client Wiko with him. In response, AR hired a counsel from PwC Legal and 2 associates.

Strengths

Litigation concerning pharmaceuticals, medical technology and mobile communications patents. SEP suits.

European strategy

AR has no foreign offices of its own, but cooperates with a fixed network of firms at all major UPC locations. However, it shares these ties with German competitors. They are important to AR in two respects and should thus be nurtured carefully: they support the UPC strategy and they deliver high-profile clients from abroad, e.g. work for South Korean pharmaceuticals company Celltrion, which arose thanks to Bristows.

Recommended individuals

Dr. Bernhard Arnold (“very capable”, “provides surprising new ideas”, competitors), Cordula Schumacher, (“outstanding litigator”, “target-oriented”, competitors), Dr. Arno Riße

Team

3 partners, 5 associates

Practice

Exclusive activity in IP with a strong focus on patent litigation and trademarks and unfair competition.

Clients

Litigation: Nokia against BlackBerry; Nokia, Alcatel Lucent and Adtran against Intellectual Ventures; Sisvel against Haier; ZTE against Spotify (all regarding mobile communications); Celltrion against Roche regarding biosimilars; Hexal against AstraZeneca concerning fulvestrant and against Pfizer concerning second medical use claims; Ethical Coffee Company (ECC) against Nespresso concerning coffee capsules; Wilkinson against Gillette regarding razor blades.