JUVE Comment

This IP firm in Essen is one of the best-known litigation outfits in western Germany on the patent attorney side. This is thanks to gradual personnel growth over many years. Over the past year AH has seen stronger growth and appointed a patent attorney from its own ranks to equity partner, as well as hiring a former patent attorney trainee on a permanent contract. These are two important steps for the small, previously cautious firm in preparing for the upcoming generational change in its core area: traditional engineering. The solid ties to many regular clients from the German Mittelstand form the basis for this part of the practice. For companies like Novoferm, Certoplast or Kickert, the firm generally files patents directly as well as conducting opposition suits and infringement proceedings. External lawyers like to call on the patent attorneys in national infringement proceedings for their expertise. The uncertain UPC launch is hardly impacting the firm because of its strong Mittelstand roots, as few suits involving Mittelstand companies are expected.

Strengths

Patent prosecution with technical expertise in engineering, especially for the automotive and sanitation industry.

Recommended individuals

Bernd Lorenz (“argues the technical side convincingly and in a way that lawyers can understand”, competitor), Jörg Nunnenkamp (both patent attorneys)

Team

8 patent attorneys

Specialties

Clear focus on patent prosecution with broad technical expertise. Opposition and nullity suits. Infringement proceedings for regular clients, generally in cooperation with external lawyers.

Clients

Litigation: Anomatic (defendant) against Presspart Manufacturing over inhalation tanks; Certoplast (defendant) against Tesa over sticky tape; KHS (claimant) against Sidel over bottling plants; Kiekert (defendant) against Sidel in nullity suit over car locks; Simonswerk (claimant) against Dongguan Shen on nullity case in China over door hinges; Novoferm (defendant) against Hörmann over garage doors; frequent litigation for Changzhou Kaidi Electrical. Prosecution: patent filing and oppositions for Aldi Süd, Atlas Copco, Giesecke + Devrient, Franz Kaldewei, Kiekert, Mondi, Novoferm, Simonswerk, Ströher Group, Titan Umreifungstechnik. Oppositions for Haandle over digital communication systems, TI Automotive over fuel lines, Wessel-Werk over vacuum cleaner nozzles, Thyssenkrupp over camshafts and construction equipment.