JUVE Comment

With its lawyers and patent attorneys, this IP boutique is nicely positioned for legal disputes. Thomas Adam stands out for his increasing activity for NPEs, such as Solas (OLED displays) and Neodron (mobile communications). Many of his clients of late have stemmed from the Irish NPE group Atlantic IP. Innovation Foundry Technology is another repeat client, which the firm is advising in a dispute over chip technology.

Given the sharp rise in mobile communications suits, the arrival of Marc Grunwald from Bird & Bird as an equity partner came at the right time. He is experienced in both mobile communications cases and in medical devices litigation – two of Peterreins Schley’s mainstays. Besides his focus on mobile communications cases Adam litigates in a wide array of technical fields. Frank Peterreins on the other hand is equally broadly positioned, with major series of actions for Boston Scientific (medical technology), Bose (headphones) and BorgWarner (camshaft adjusters).

Prosecution work also displays a huge technical breadth. The firm, but especially the dual-qualified patent attorney and lawyer Peterreins, is unusually active in EPO oppositions for Boston Scientific, as well as for Schindler concerning elevators and in several strawman suits against Xiaomi concerning mobile communication patents. In Jan-Malte Schley the firm boasts a second patent attorney respected in this segment.

Strengths

Litigation involving medical technology, NPE suits in mobile communications and electronics.

European set-up

The Munich IP firm is nationally independent first and foremost but operates a mixed patent praxis. Its best-known litigators Peterreins and Adam have gained many years of experience in international firms and still have good contacts in other European countries. Many of their clients have a US background, which gives rise to much work in international series of proceedings, like those for Boston Scientific and BorgWarner. This often includes EPO oppositions, thanks to the successful mixed approach.

The intensive work for NPEs, much of which recently stemmed from the NPE group Atlantic IP, is also international in scope. This client base could make the firm a first mover at the UPC. Adam is a renowned expert for the new court. Grunwald not only raises Peterreins Schley’s clout in litigation, but also brings experience in international cases from his old firm.

For the UPC, Peterreins Schley is counting on its good relationships with a French and UK firm, though these are being wooed by other German firms.

Recommended individuals

Frank Peterreins (“passionate and vigorous patent litigator with great experience in medical devices”, competitor), Thomas Adam; patent attorney:Jan-Malte Schley (“superb in electronics”, competitor),

Team

10 patent attorneys, 5 lawyers (one of whom is dual qualified)

Partner moves

Marc Grunwald (from Bird & Bird)

Specialties

Besides trademarks and unfair competition, IP activity centres on patent prosecution and litigation. Contract drafting, licences and strategic advice.

Clients

Litigation: Innovation Foundry Technology (claimant) against Micron and Mouser over chip technology; Boston Scientific (both claimant and defendant) in EPO oppositions over heart valves, stents and other medical devices; Hanwha Q-Cells (claimant) against Jinko, Longi and REC in EPO proceedings over solar technology; Insulet (claimant) against competitors over insulin pumps; BorgWarner (both claimant and defendant) against Schaeffler over camshaft displacer (settled 2022); Solas (claimant) against Samsung over OLEDs (settled 2022); Neodron (claimant) against Apple and Samsung over mobile communication patent (settled 2022); Schindler (claimant) against Otis in EPO oppositions over elevator technology; strawman (claimant) against Xiaomi in EPO opposition over mobile communication patents; Klöckner Pentaplast (defendant) against competitor in EPO opposition over packaging; regularly for Bose over headphones and various subsidaries of Atlantic IP over mobile communication patents. Prosecution: filing and oppositions for Aurora, Bic Violex, Bose, Boston Scientific, BorgWarner, Crane Payment Innovations, Dolby, Insulet, iRobot, WiTricity.