JUVE Comment

This pure patent attorney firm enjoys a good reputation for litigation. This is largely thanks to the partners in Frankfurt and Hamburg, who litigate for clients from a wide variety of technical fields – in both EPO proceedings and a whole host of nullity and infringement suits. In a dispute with Ocado in Germany, Autostore relied on a team around Frankfurt-based name partner Keulertz. In this and in other lawsuits, he cooperates with lawyers from Düsseldorf IP boutique Arnold Ruess.

Cross-border cases such as these are still the exception for the patent attorneys – as a rule they litigate for technologically strong German SMEs in German proceedings and before the EPO. Mechanics and mechanical engineering are focal points here. Olbricht also expanded its life sciences expertise when a biologist joined from medical product manufacturer Dräger.

Strengths

Litigation and prosecution concerning mechanics and mechanical engineering patents.

European set-up

The firm has its headquarters in Frankfurt, but also a small office in Hamburg, a future UPC venue. With their many years of litigation experience, the patent attorneys are in a good position to litigate in UPC cases. In addition to a strong portfolio of SME clients from the mechanical engineering sector, the firm has growing contacts among Asian companies from its prosecution activity, such as TCL and Danfoss. The patent attorneys could therefore act as key UPC representatives for both its large German client base and its Asian clients, given their vast litigation experience. Like so many small patent attorney firms, Olbricht would also make an ideal partner for similar foreign firms as well as law firms without patent attorneys in their own teams.

Recommended individuals

Robin Keulertz (“creative thinker”, “solution-oriented”, “very entrepreneurial, pragmatic advisory approach”, competitors), Sabine Kossak (“eminent”, “top expert”, competitors)

Team

15 patent attorneys

Specialties

Broad IP practice with strong focus on technical IP rights. Filings, EPO oppositions, nullity suits. Infringement proceedings with external lawyers.

Clients

Litigation: Autostore (defendant) against Ocado over robot technology for warehouse logistics; Norma (defendant) against Caillau over joining technology; Eurotronic (defendant) over sensor technology for buildings; Edelmann Technology (defendant) over wrapping machines; P&M Services (claimant) against Veolia over paper-cutting machines (settled 2021). Prosecution: filing for Bode Chemie, Bruno Bock Chemische Fabrik, Danfoss, Dilo, Eurotronic, Edelmann Technology, EEW Special Pipe Constructions, Faudi Aviation, Geobra, Johns Manville, JP Morgan, Katek, Man & Science, Max Wild, Norma, Nyxoah, OptoTech, Panther Packaging, PSA Technology, Shenzhen Huasheng Software, Urban GmbH, Uesa GmbH, Vacon Oy, Vibracoustic, Volume Graphics, Wimag. Advice: Elbe Flugzeugwerke on FTO, Günther Heisskanaltechnik, Hoppe and Steca on employee invention remuneration.