JUVE Comment

This strongly positioned patent attorney practice is working in proceedings from the Munich market, barely fazed by the economically uncertain environment some of its clients are facing. The patent attorneys run lawsuits within a very broad technical spectrum, while competitors like Samson & Partner or Braun-Dullaeus Pannen Emmerling nurture a clear focus on patent litigation in mobile communications and electronics.

Lorenz Seidler has cultivated a successful mixed approach for years. The dual-qualified Veit Kirchner is especially busy in patent litigation with the patent attorneys. The other lawyers are more intensively involved in soft IP litigation.

The firm’s well-positioned prosecution practice with broad technical expertise is the foundation for the litigation work. Lorenz Seidler files patents for numerous German technology SMEs, such as Alois Pöttinger Maschinenbau, as well as well-known brand manufacturers, such as Ford, Fresenius Medical Care and Liebherr, for which the firm also runs litigation. The patent attorneys also frequently litigate in opposition and nullity suits for these clients. The firm conducts most of its infringement proceedings for these regular clients with its own lawyers. Major proceedings, such as those for regular client Telefonica against NPE Intellectual Ventures, therefore, tend to be the exception rather than the rule. There has also been a recent rise for both the patent attorneys and the lawyers in litigation for Chinese companies, for example a solar technology manufacturer. Unlike competitors such as Bardehle Pagenberg, however, the litigators are rarely hired by clients for whom Lorenz Seidler does not file patents.

In this regard, firm development is characterised by client continuity and careful growth, which earn the firm a huge amount of respect in the Munich market. Lorenz Seidler is not a firm for the fast-paced mobile communications business. So it comes as little surprise that it is not playing a prominent role in the connected cars suits, in spite of strong ties in the auto industry (e.g. Ford and Mazda) but is instead advising suppliers in the background on connectivity issues.

Strengths

Patent prosecution with technical expertise in mechanical engineering, electronics and automotive. Litigation with mixed teams.

European set-up

Lorenz Seidler Gossel is first and foremost a national IP boutique, which advises German SMEs. This is unlikely to change in the near future. These clients are not the ones to be wrapped up in intensive, international disputes or which will use the UPC in the future. But with its steady litigation activity for Chinese companies, the firm could see a rise in demand for activity in international proceedings.

While the UPC start was unclear, the firm had been unable to deepen its cooperation with a French and British patent team. But with its mixed litigation practice and patent attorneys experienced in litigation, who essentially could represent clients before the UPC as well, Lorenz Seidler has the right starting conditions for the new court. Demand for advice about the UPC will also increase rapidly among its strong SME client base, to whom the patent attorneys have first access. The firm will therefore have to look for alliances if it is to advise on an international level with large teams.

Recommended individuals

Veit Kirchner; patent attorneys: Uwe Herrmann, Dieter Laufhütte

Team

10 patent attorneys, 1 lawyer

Specialties

All-round IP activity with a strong practice in trademarks and unfair competition. Patent activity centres on patent prosecution with a broad technical spectrum. Opposition and nullity suits and infringement proceedings.

Clients

Litigation: O2/Telefónica (defendant) against Intellectual Ventures and Munitech over mobile communications; Geox (claimant) against competitor over shoes; Liebherr (claimant) against competitor over construction machines; Credit Card Supplies (claimant) against Bundesdruckerei and VTT regarding ID technology patent; IMES (defendant) against Kistler regarding sensors for car motors; rose plastic against competitor over plastic packaging; manufacturer of photovoltaic plants (defendant) against research company over inverters; regular litigation for Alois Pöttinger Maschinenbau, Fibertex, Ford, Fresenius Medical Care and Mazda; Chinese manufacturer of solar plants over inverters. Prosecution: filing and oppositions for Allianz, Alois Pöttinger Maschinenbau, Amoena, ASIS, Blizzard Sport, Bulthaup, Carl Zeiss, CRRC Group, DSM Nutrition, dy-pack, Entrotech, Fibertex, Fresenius Medical Care, Ford, GE, KSB, Karl Liebinger Medizintechnik, Liebherr, Mazda, Maruta, SK Group, Ovid Therapeutics, Telefonica, Vivonic and Wabtec.