JUVE Comment

The patent team of this international IP boutique is one of Munich’s well-positioned litigation practices. Taliens is especially visible in mobile communications suits and is praised by clients for its FRAND expertise. Its proximity to the increasingly relevant Munich patent court also makes the firm attractive to clients in SEP suits, and is an excellent basis for further development. Regular clients ZTE and TCT already ensure a good utilisation rate for the German patent team led by Thomas Lynker and are likely to be regular targets of NPEs in the future.

The team is establishing a second mainstay in litigating for Italian companies such as ATK, Newtec Labeling and PIL in various technical fields. It has an asset here in the soft IP team’s good connections in Italy. Overall, Taliens represents companies across a very broad range of technical fields.

The life sciences sector remains the last blank space in the IP boutique’s portfolio. Entry to this highly competitive industry is only likely to work with an established lateral. With regard to advice to medical device manufacturers, this step was achieved in the summer of 2021 with the addition of Peter Koch to the partnership. The former legal director of Pinsent Masons brings with him relevant experience and could open up the sector for the German team through consistent cooperation with the Paris team. In France Taliens has close ties to medical product manufacturer Boston Scientific. However, growing the associate base is the more pressing task for both teams, to gain the manpower necessary for mobile communications suits.

Strengths

Mobile communications litigation.

European strategy

Since its launch in 2017 Taliens has had an international setup. The concept is based on the positioning of the patent team around Jean-Frédéric Gaultier in France and Thomas Lynker in Munich, as well as growing ties to ZTE, TCL and Boston Scientific. In Madrid, the firm works closely with the IP firm Bylos.

This setup should make Taliens an attractive partner for UK firms seeking closer ties to the continental European system once their country exits the UPC project. Taliens could capitalise on such connections to compete with large firms like Bird & Bird or Hogan Lovells for pan-European cross-border work. If it wants to remain attractive for pan-European disputes, an area into which many much larger competitors are moving, an expansion into other markets such as Italy could be an option. The potential in mobile communications proceedings for implementors has not yet been exhausted. Therefore the firm will not be able to avoid growing at partner level in its main offices, Munich and Paris, even after the latest partner addition in Munich, be it through further lateral hires or homegrown talent. Above all, Munich as a location offers enormous potential here. Arnold Ruess gave an impressive demonstration of how this can be achieved a few years ago.

Recommended individuals

Thomas Lynker (“small firm, but Thomas is great on FRAND issues”, client)

Team

1 partner, 2 associates, 1 of counsel

Partner moves

Peter Koch (from Pinsent Masons)

Specialties

Exclusively active in IP. Much patent litigation. Also contract drafting, licences and strategic advice. Trademarks and unfair competition.

Clients

Litigation: ZTE (defendant) against Conversant (settled); TCT Mobile (defendant) against IP Bridge, LG and Siemens (all over mobile communications); Mala Technologies (claimant) against Nokia and Extreme Networks; Orckit IP (claimant) against Adtran and Extreme Networks (both over network technology); Newtec Labelling (defendant) against KHS GmbH over labeling technology; ATK (defendant) against Salewa over ski bindings; PIL (defendant) against BEGA over lighting technology; frequent litigation for Sagemcom. Advice: TCT Mobile and auto component supplier on licence projects.