JUVE Comment

In the past year, this IP firm, which boasts a large team and files many patents, demonstrated for the first time that its extensive prosecution activity harbors huge potential for much more litigation work for the patent attorneys and lawyers. VJP is playing a central role in the first series of proceedings involving the hot trend of connected cars with a large patent attorney team, who are fighting for Audi/VW alongside litigation experts from Kather Augenstein. The firm’s initial experience from mobile communications proceedings for NPEs like NMS, as well as close ties to the semiconductor and auto industry, came in useful here. The strong starting position for this crucial growth area in patent litigation could also pay dividends before the UPC. The firm’s strength in the electrical engineering and auto industry, and excellent Asian links (own office in Singapore) as well as the Düsseldorf office, which recently hired a patent attorney, also make a good basis for the UPC. This could be even better if VJ&P manages to position its own team of lawyers in more major proceedings. The firm saw some staff changes, with two partner departures, six internal partner appointments and one lateral move across all technical specialties.

Strengths

Prosecution for electronics, IT and engineering patents.

Team

47 patent attorneys, 4 lawyers

Partner moves

Peter Reckenthäler (from Hoffmann Eitle), Karl Kolbinger (destination unknown), Stefan Friedrich (to Bardehle Pagenberg).

Practice

IP activity focuses on technical protection rights. Large proportion of patent prosecution with a broad technical spectrum. Opposition and nullity suits, infringement proceedings increasingly with own lawyers.

Clients

Litigation: VW and Audi against Avago regarding connected cars; Network Managing Solution (NMS) concerning mobile communications patents; litigation for Kyocera and Zepter. Prosecution: filing and opposition suits for Henkel, Hyundai, Infineon, Intel, Kyocera, LG, Osram.