JUVE Comment

The Cologne IP firm is one of the most active prosecution outfits in the Rhine-Ruhr region, with an outstanding reputation in chemistry and pharmaceutical patents. However, because its most important client in the mobile communications sector, Asus, faces further suits from Philips, the patent attorneys were more active in infringement cases last year. Generally, the patent attorneys work alongside external lawyers, e.g. with Taylor Wessing for Asus. Dompatent’s own lawyers are exclusively active in soft IP cases. The firm has traditionally seen a lot of EPO oppositions and nullity suits concerning pharma and chemistry patents. However, Dompatent is less visible in infringement proceedings than its Munich rivals Vossius and Hoffmann Eitle. Dompatent appointed a partner last year with a Chinese background with the aim of advising more Chinese companies, as well as German companies active in China. Together with good internal growth, these developments have considerably broadened the firm’s offering and finally put paid to its reputation of being a purely chemistry and pharma firm.

Strengths

Patent prosecution related to pharmaceuticals, biotech and chemicals.

Recommended individuals

Hans-Peter Jönsson, Jörg Helbing, Jochen Hilleringmann (all patent attorneys)

Team

17 patent attorneys

Specialties

All-round IP activity specializing in patent prosecution with a broad technical spectrum. Opposition and nullity suits. Infringement proceedings with external lawyers, trademarks and unfair competition with the firm’s own lawyers. China desk.

Clients

Litigation: Asus against Philips over mobile communications; Wilkinson against Gillette over razor blades; regular litigation for a manufacturer of suitcases and prams; NPE against Apple over mobile communications. Prosecution: filings and oppositions for German Aerospace Center (DLR), Oerlikon, Becton Dickinson, Xaomi Mobile (all public knowledge).