JUVE Comment

DLA’s patent team is carving out an ever-better position for infringement proceedings and patent advice. Although the practice is relatively small, it boasts a strong track record in high-profile cases. DLA again played a central role in connected cars disputes for Harman and Aptiv as first-tier suppliers of communications modules. DLA represented these as interveners for BMW in infringement suits with Broadcom. For Harman, the team is also active in the suits by Avanci pool members Conversant and Sharp against Daimler. DLA acquired Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft for an NPE suit involving touchscreen technologies and is working for another US technology corporation for the first time. Team leader Gampp has connections to these clients from previous roles and has now successfully activated them for the first time for DLA. To follow this with similar victories, the team will have to grow. The practice has so far not been as visible in pharma and medical products patents as it is in mobile communications suits, though it is growing continuously in its second specialty. It has good connections to Becton Dickinson and Medtronic and deepened ties to another international medical products manufacturer.

Strengths

Mobile communications and connected cars litigation, including revocation case without external patent attorneys.

European strategy

Backed up by a strong US practice, DLA has established a well-positioned European patent practice. It is especially strong in Cologne and Munich. The inroads made by the German team have raised its profile within the European practice but there is still room for development in Amsterdam and London, where DLA has well-positioned teams as well. The team has smaller offerings in Brussels and Milan, but it is not present in Paris. The practice has eschewed integrating patent attorneys in Germany. In Amsterdam, however, a European patent attorney specialised in pharma patents recently left the firm.

Recommended individuals

Markus Gampp (“has raised his visibility enormously”, competitor), Philipp Cepl

Team

3 partners, 1 counsel, 5 associates

Specialties

Patent infringement and nullity suits with a broad technical spectrum, as well as transaction advice, R&D and licensing contracts. Advice on antitrust. Trademarks and unfair competition.

Clients

Litigation: Harman as co-litigant of Daimler against Sharp and Conversant; Aptiv and Harman as co-litigants of BMW against Broadcom (all over connected cars patents); Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft (defendants) over touchscreen technology; Alpinestars (defendant) against Dainese over motorcycle clothing; Extreme Networks (defendant) against Orckit IP over network technology; Medtronic (claimant) over surgery technology; Nike (claimant) against imitator over sports clothing. Advice: portfolio management, licences and FTO analyses for Alpinestars, Euclid, Mavenir and Robert Bosch; licences for Avicanna, Biocard, Incyte and Martinrea.