JUVE Comment

Supported by a technically broad-based prosecution practice, this mixed Munich IP firm is also well positioned throughout Germany for disputes, with numerous EPO oppositions for regular clients – BMW, Eppendorf, Fresenius Medical Care and Cellcentric, for example. Companies like Bridgestone, C&E Fein/Robert Bosch and Eastman also trust in the patent attorneys in EPO oppositions, without them necessarily carrying out the patent filing as well.

Two industries dominate the prosecution work: besides the auto industry, the firm is also active all-round for pharma and biotech companies. The firm’s reputation as highly experienced in litigation also extends to infringement proceedings, which Wallinger Ricker Schlotter Tostmann typically conducts for its prosecution clients. The firm has thus consistently developed its team of lawyers in recent years. Today, its mixed teams litigate for Archroma, C&E Fein and Zimmer Medizinsysteme. The patent attorneys, however, are still far more visible in the market than the lawyers.

The presence of the patent attorneys has endured even one year on from the withdrawal of firm founder Michael Wallinger from the partnership because the firm tackled the generational change early on, and has a patent attorney equally experienced in litigation in the shape of life sciences specialist Mathias Ricker. The firm is also growing its associate base. An experienced patent attorney returned from another Munich firm, bringing with him AVL as a prosecution client. Wallinger Ricker Schlotter Tostmann had already litigated for AVL in the past.

Strengths

Litigation predominantly for the automotive sector. Pharmaceuticals patents.

European set-up

Wallinger Ricker Schlotter Tostmann is a national IP firm with a strong focus on German clients (mainly from the automotive sector) and international clients (strong focus on the life sciences sector). But its patent attorneys Michael Wallinger and Mathias Ricker are highly experienced in infringement and nullity suits. The patent attorneys have also gained a great deal of international litigation experience in a large number of EPO oppositions.

Despite a well-oiled mixed approach with its own lawyers, the firm is rarely in action in pan-European suits over important drugs or mobile communications patents. It is nevertheless well set for the UPC launch thanks to a long-standing litigation focus. To handle multiple UPC lawsuits, the small lawyer team must maintain its growth strategy and the firm must strengthen its international network of similar European firms.

Recommended individuals

Christiane Maxien, Mathias Ricker, Michael Wallinger

Team

24 patent attorneys, 3 lawyers

Specialties

All-round IP activity. Much litigation, licences, IP transactions and IP management. Midsized filing practice with broad technical expertise.

Clients

Litigation: frequent infringement and nullity suits for AVL, Archroma, BMW, Doka, Human Care Netherlands, Kuka and Toyo Tire; Zimmer Medizinsysteme in infringement cases and EPO oppositions. Prosecution: frequent EPO oppositions for Bridgestone, C&E Fein/Robert Bosch, Dürr Systems, Eastman, Schaeffler and Zimmer Medizinsysteme. Patent filing and oppositions for Archroma, AVL List, Biosynth, BMW, Boehringer Ingelheim, Borregaard, Cellcentric, Eastman, Doka, Eppendorf, Fresenius Medical Care, Giesecke + Devrient, Kuka, LuK, Merck KGaA, Merz, Mölnlycke, MTU, Nippon Shokubai, Opel, Renk, Swiss Look, Siemens Gamesa, Toyo Tire, Valeo, Vertex, ZTE.