JUVE Comment

The strength of this mixed IP firm is its breadth. It is anchored in numerous sectors and technical fields. The prosecution practice has a solid position among German midsized companies and has good ties to notable international clients such as Facebook and Johnson Controls. Only in pharma is the firm unable to compete with the presence of other Munich outfits such as Hoffmann Eitle. The agile litigation team around Wuttke has not only expanded its headcount, but also its technical breadth. E.g. the team’s work for Deutsche Telekom in mobile communications proceedings is firmly established. Following a merger in 2018 with a small patent attorney firm, MB gained a Düsseldorf office, which it is now integrating into its prosecution practice. The office brought important ties to BASF. Litigation does not play a role at present, but in the medium term the office could bring a stronger toehold at an important patent court. However, MB needs to establish experienced litigators here.

Strengths

Patent prosecution with technical expertise in chemicals and engineering. Litigation mainly involving mobile communications patents.

European strategy

With its mixed approach and a presence in the UK, MB is well set to look after its midsized German and Asian clients independently when the UPC launches. But until then the new office in Düsseldorf could also strengthen its national position. In the long term a Düsseldorf presence only makes sense with experienced litigators. Overall the litigation team needs to grow to be considered for major mobile communications suits more often.

Recommended individuals

Tobias Wuttke (“individual, always service-oriented and structured advice”, client); patent attorneys: Eugen Popp, Kay Rupprecht

Team

70 patent attorneys, 9 lawyers

Specialties

All-round IP activity, around 50 percent of which is in patent prosecution and litigation. Filing with broad technical expertise. Nullity and opposition suits. Infringement proceedings, incl. rights to inspection, with mixed teams. Employee invention law and protection of trade secrets.

Clients

Litigation: ongoing for Deutsche Telekom over mobile communications; Commscope against competitor over telecom antennas; Idemina against Gemalto over sim cards; Acandis against competitor over stents; Juul Labs over e-cigarettes; Cybex against competitor over children’s seats; ITW against Madag Printing over packaging machines; regular work for Electrolux; retailer against NPE over devices that detect bottles with returnable deposit. Prosecution: filings and oppositions for Brita, Electrolux, Facebook, ITW, Johnson Controls, Mammut Sports, Pioneer, Thyssenkrupp, Villeroy & Boch.