JUVE Comment

This firm dominated by patent attorneys has a broad technical focus but is especially well established among auto companies. The firm conducts many proceedings for these, from EPO oppositions to infringement proceedings concerning traditional engineering and mechanics patents – the great strength of the patent attorneys. Suppliers Valeo and ZF/TRW are among long-time clients. Prinz & Partner also made an early appearance in a case involving connected cars patents for Texas Instruments as intervener for Audi/VW two years ago. The dispute has since been settled. The firm has so far been unable to repeat such success; other patent attorney firms like Cohausz & Florack or Samson & Partner have a clearer profile for mobile communications suits. But Prinz & Partner is building expertise in the telecommunications sector through prosecution work for ZTE. Electronics client Rohde & Schwarz is also developing in the direction of connected products, which harbours potential for Prinz & Partner in this field. The firm closed its Hamburg office in 2020, as the partner working here withdrew from the legal profession at the end of the year. The Munich partners have taken over his clients.

Strengths

Litigation regarding engineering patents, mainly for the automotive industry.

European strategy

Prinz & Partner is a national IP firm with a strong focus on patent prosecution for German clients. However, it is connected via the AIPEX network with comparable law firms in nine European countries, including France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and the UK.

Recommended individuals

Jochen Sties, Thomas Kitzhofer (“both highly experienced in mechanics and chemical engineering litigation”, competitor; both patent attorneys)

Partner moves

Dr. Bernhard Pfleiderer (retirement from legal profession)

Team

12 patent attorneys

Specialties

IP activity with a strong focus on patents. Filing with a broad technical spectrum, esp. patents in mechanics, mechanical engineering and electronics. Strong focus on the nuclear industry. Opposition and nullity suits. Infringement proceedings with external lawyers. Also trademarks and unfair competition with own lawyers.

Clients

Litigation: Valeo (claimant) against Depo over Auto headlights; Schischek (claimant) against Petz over speciality drive engineering; Fraport (claimant) over bag-drop machines; TRW (claimant) over airbags; regular litigation for Rittal and Volvo; Jochen Schweizer (opponent) on EPO opposition over indoor skydiving facility; Faurecia (both as opponent and defendant) regarding various EPO oppositions against Tenneco and Eberspächer over exhaust systems. Prosecution: filing for BCS Automotive Interface Solutions, Delo, European Central Bank and Fraport. Filing and oppositions (mostly including strategic advice and portfolio management) for BMW, Boucherie, Faurecia, Kennametal, Nike, Rational, Rohde & Schwarz, Sartorius, Truma, Valeo, ZF/TRW and ZTE (partly public knowledge).