JUVE Comment

The German patents team of this international firm boasts a renowned litigation specialist, Herr, who is dual-qualified as a patent attorney. B&M therefore conducts a host of separate nullity and opposition suits and is hired increasingly often by clients like Becton Dickinson and RealID for infringement proceedings and opposition suits. A respectable portion of proceedings are conducted with other offices in the international network. But B&M is nowhere near as visible in cross-border proceedings as market leaders Hogan Lovells and Bird & Bird, because the team has so far been missing from the major pharmaceuticals and mobile communications cases. Another partner could improve the starting conditions for the UPC by helping to leverage the network’s huge potential.

Strengths

Litigation with technical and legal expertise. Arbitration.

European strategy

The European patents practice has a respectable setup for the UPC launch with teams in London and Munich. But none of the offices are market leaders and the planned growth in Paris has yet to materialize. The firm would have offices in two additional UPC locations, Warsaw and Barcelona, if Poland and Spain join the court.

Recommended individuals

Dr. Dr. Jochen Herr

Team

2 partners, 3 associates

Practice

IP work focuses more on trademarks and unfair competition. Work in technical protection rights focuses on litigation with a mixed approach and technical specialties in chemicals, electronics and mechanics patents. Patents-related arbitration, transactions, licensing contracts and antitrust.

Clients

Litigation: ITT and Rehau; Pioneer against Thomson concerning licence payment; RealID regarding 3D cinema projectors; Pelikan regarding printer cartridges; Becton Dickinson concerning medical products. Prosecution: opposition suits for Arcelik, E.on, Pelikan, Becton Dickinson. Advice: Curevac regarding cooperation for cancer vaccine.