JUVE Comment

This pure patent attorney firm is undisputedly one of the market-leading outfits when it comes to litigation in technical matters in major patent suits. Few mobile communications cases of high economic importance occur without its involvement. Apple and LG, for example, entrusted the patent attorneys with additional proceedings. Only a few patent attorney firms, such as Samson & Partner, have a similar visibility in SEPs and FRAND proceedings. The patent attorneys mainly advise patent users on defending NPE suits. In exceptional cases, e.g. for LG and Hoccer, they work on active suits involving telecommunications patents. The activity for LG could offer further potential if the Korean company discontinues its mobile communications business and exploits its patents more.

Maikowski & Ninnemann underscored its preeminent expertise in mobile communications by representing Continental as one of Daimler’s most important suppliers in connected cars proceedings. Younger patent attorneys, such as Christoph Schröder and Andreas Tanner, used these varied activities to strengthen their market profiles – an important step as the market’s perception of litigation work has focused too heavily on Gunnar Baumgärtel for many years.

Intensive litigation work in the mobile communications sector is offset by a technically broad prosecution practice. Maikowski & Ninnemann has consistently secured this, too, by establishing new offices with young patent attorneys. The appointment of a patent attorney to equity partner in Frankfurt underlines the success of this expansion. Opening an office in Düsseldorf would be a consistent next step in view of litigation work.

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 many international disputes. The firm also intensified connections to technology corporates like Apple, 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, Felix Gross, Ralf Emig, Christoph Schröder (“top work in the connected cars cases”, competitor), Andreas Tanner (“steers his mobile communications cases like a pro”, competitor; all patent attorneys)

Team

20 patent attorneys

Specialties

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

Clients

Litigation: regularly for Broadcom, Brose, Greenwork Tools; Continental (co-defendant of Daimler) against Nokia over connected cars (settled in 2021); Lenovo (defendant) against Nokia (settled); HTC (defendant) against Unwired Planet and Fipa; LG (claimant) against mobile phone manufacturers; LG (defendant) against different NPEs; Apple (defendant) against different NPEs; Google (defendant) against NPE in 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. Advice: strategic advice, portfolio management and inventor rights for Brose, Flooring Technologies, Joyson Safety Systems and Rolly Royce. Prosecution: filing and oppositions for Biotronik, Brose, Fresenius Kabi, GE Healthcare, Google, Infineon, Johannes Heidenhain, Joyson Safety Systems, Lenovo, LG, Phoenix Contact, Rolls Royce, Vestel.