JUVE Comment

This IP firm is best known for its intensive prosecution work in a wide variety of technical sectors. Electrical engineering and the auto industry stand out. The patent attorneys are already conducting many opposition and nullity suits, especially involving electronics and mechanics patents. The firm’s own team of lawyers, based in Munich, is also active in infringement proceedings for a host of regular clients. Other clients from Asia rely on the firm for litigation in Germany, among them a manufacturer of power plant technology and tools. The team also boasts good connections to NPEs such as WiLan. Despite this technical breadth and the arrival of an experienced non-equity partner from D Young, the litigation team lacks visibility as the Düsseldorf office has too few lawyers. Like Vossius & Partner or Meissner Bolte before it, Viering Jentschura & Partner has hit a wall in its efforts to generate higher end litigation work, which it seems unable to break through organically. This is why its two competitors are successfully investing in first-rate laterals. This could also help Viering Jentschura & Partner, especially in Düsseldorf. After all, the patent attorney team did celebrate an impressive victory two years ago with litigation for VW in Germany’s first connected cars suits.

Strengths

Prosecution and litigation regarding electronics, IT and engineering patents.

Team

33 patent attorneys, 6 lawyers

Partner moves

Uli Foerstl(from D Young & Co)

Specialties

IP activity focuses on technical protection rights. Large proportion of patent prosecution with a broad technical spectrum. Opposition and nullity suits. 9 US patent attorneys provide advice on US patent filing from the German offices. Own offices in Miami, Singapore and Taiwan. Infringement proceedings increasingly with the firm’s own lawyers.

Clients

Litigation: Scia Systems (claimant) against Meyer Burger over coating technology; Araucaria (claimant) over cooking vessels and Plastex (claimant) over window ventilation; shutter manufacturer against competitor over smart home applications; Asian manufacturer on power station technology; Asian manufacturer on tools. Prosecution: filing partly including oppositions and strategic portfolio management for Andritz, Henkel, Hyundai, Infineon, Intel, Kyocera, Leica Biosystems, LG, Nikon, Osram, NTT Docomo, Solarworld, German pharma corporation.