JUVE Comment

This IP firm is one of the most active patent outfits outside Munich, due to its intensive patent-filing work on the one hand, and its strong litigation focus (both patent attorneys and lawyers) on the other. The patent attorneys traditionally litigate in oppositions and nullity cases for nationally and internationally renowned clients such as BASF, Enercon and Philips. That they increasingly work with the small team of lawyers on suits for Philips and various licence pools is a consistent development. Eisenführ is thus more active in the growing litigation work in Germany than other patent attorney outfits. As a litigation firm it is very present in cases where NPEs like Sisvel or industry companies such as Philips attempt to enforce their protection rights. On the corporate side, clients include Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and Dolby, which have pooled their patents. The patent attorneys handle a high number of patent filings for many notable core clients.

Strengths

Patent prosecution in chemistry, electronics and wind energy. Litigation for NPEs concerning mobile communications.

European strategy

Eisenführ is generally open to international offices when the UPC launches and significant work develops locally, e.g. due to its excellent connection to Philips in Amsterdam. But in the meantime, the firm wants to put itself forward for UPC proceedings with its tried-and-tested mixed approach but no foreign offices. This makes sense with the launch of the new court uncertain. Internationally, Eisenführ relies on ties to partner firms.

Recommended individuals

Volkmar Henke; patent attorneys: Jochen Ehlers, Klaus Göken, Joachim von Oppen, Manuel Söldenwagner

Team

32 patent attorneys, 4 lawyers

Specialties

All-round activity in IP with a clear focus on patent prosecution and litigation with a broad technical spectrum. Opposition, nullity and infringement cases and arbitration. Transactions and assessment of protection rights. Trademarks and unfair competition.

Clients

Litigation: Philips against Asus; Vodafone against Intellectual Ventures; Sisvel against Wiko (all over mobile communications); Via Licencing against Wiko over audio coding; HEVC pool member against Mas Elektronik over video coding; Enercon against Senvion over wind plants; Nordson against Baumer over industrial glue; Symrise on infringement suits in China over cosmetics; Harting against Phoenix Contact over industrial plug. Prosecution: oppositions for BASF and Symrise; filings and oppositions for BASF, Donaldson, CeWe Stiftung, Edwards Lifesciences, Enercon, Minimax, Nordson, Panasonic, Philips, Sennheiser, Symrise.