JUVE Comment

This patent attorney firm is one of the market-leading names when it comes to the representation of technical aspects in big-ticket patent litigation. There are few economically important mobile communications cases it is not involved in. The patent attorneys represent many notable industry giants in the shape of Apple, Google, HTC, Lenovo and Vodafone – chiefly in the defence against NPE suits. For LG and Hoccer, on the other hand, they are involved in active suits concerning mobile communications technologies. Just how well the firm is established among important law firms, as well as among companies, is shown by the fact that it represented Google alongside Quinn Emanuel concerning an important Android feature. The law firm generally conducts litigation without external patent attorneys. The firm underscored its outstanding mobile communications expertise with work for Continental as one of the main suppliers to Daimler in the current connected cars proceedings. Besides rigorous litigation work in the mobile communications sector, the firm operates a technically broad prosecution practice. Maikowski & Ninnemann has consistently safeguarded this by establishing new offices with young patent attorneys in traditional fields of technology: last year it launched in Frankfurt and quickly landed more prosecution work from Rhein-Main industry. Opening a Düsseldorf office would be the next logical step.

Strengths

Litigation related to mobile communications. Technical expertise in telecoms, semiconductors and engineering.

European strategy

With its litigation experience and strong ties to most relevant litigation firms in the German market, Maikowski & Ninnemann has moved into position for advising on international disputes. The firm also intensified connections to technology corporates like Google and LG to reduce its dependence on law firms such as Hogan Lovells, for instance, which are integrating their own patent attorneys. Still, Maikowski & Ninnemann also banks on a self-sufficient patent attorney practice and strengthened its patent filing work in other technical areas so it is less dependent on other firms.

Recommended individuals

Gunnar Baumgärtel (“highly visible in connected cars litigation”, competitor), Felix Gross, Ralf Emig (all patent attorneys)

Team

19 patent attorneys

Specialties

Strong focus on patent prosecution with broad technical expertise for predominantly midsized clients. Increasing work for medical technology manufacturers and international mobile phone manufacturers. Litigation mainly for international mobile communications companies.

Clients

Litigation: regularly for Broadcom and Brose; Continental (co-defendant of Daimler) against Nokia and Sharp over connected cars; Lenovo (defendant) against Nokia; HTC (defendant) against Philips and Fipa; LG (claimant) against mobile phone manufacturers; Apple (defendant) against NPE; Google (defendant) against NPE on nullity suits; Vodafone (defendant) against Intellectual Ventures (all over mobile communications); Fitbit and Garmin (both defendants) against Philips over mobile communication in sports devices; Hoccer (claimant) against Tinder and Uber over communications patents; SolarEdge (claimant) against Huawei over solar technology; Phoenix Contact (defendant) against Harting over industrial connectors. Prosecution: filing and oppositions (partly including strategic portfolio advice) for Biotronik, Brose, Fresenius Kabi, Google, Infineon, Johannes Heidenhain, Joyson Safety Systems, Lenovo, LG, Phoenix Contact, Rolls Royce, Vestel.