JUVE Comment

The patent attorneys at this Stuttgart IP boutique frequently litigate for Mittelstand technology companies, predominantly medical product manufacturers like Karl Storz and Diazyme. Pharma and biotech litigation has become the firm’s hallmark over many years. Work here is increasingly shifting towards biotech patents, where WW&P currently works mainly for German and US universities. Visibility in pharma patents, on the other hand, has decreased, partly because the best-known partner, Hajo Otten, retired at the end of 2019. Although the firm built up new talent in good time, this is not yet visible in litigation. Witte Weller is praised for its prosecution in many technical areas. Work for industry giants like Mitsubishi Electric, Philips or Sony has resulted in a strong specialty in electronics patents. The patent attorneys are also far more active than others in the region for other international corporations like Boeing, for which it conducts much EPO opposition work.

Strengths

Patent prosecution in broad fields of technology. Litigation over medical devices.

Recommended individuals

Christian Steil, Volker Heuckeroth, Stephan Keck (all patent attorneys)

Partner moves

Hajo Otten (retired)

Team

19 patent attorneys

Specialties

Exclusive activity in IP, 80 percent of which is in patents. Filing practice with strong focus on electronics, medical technology and mechanics. Opposition and nullity suits, infringement proceedings.

Clients

Litigation: BBP (defendant) against ElringKlinger over oil pans; Diazyme and General Atomics (defendants) against Brahms over diagnostics technology; Sony over display for digital text; Karl Storz over medical devices; regular activity for Pilz and Zeiss (public knowledge). Prosecution: filing and oppositions for Boeing, Jennewein Biotechnologie, Karl Storz, Mitsubishi Electric, Morata, Philips, Saturn Licensing, Sony. Filing for Kawasaki, Rohm.