JUVE Comment

After another successful year with an impressive track record, the German team of this international IP boutique reinforces its position among the market-leading litigation practices. Hoyng ROKH Monegier is equally present in high-level proceedings concerning pharmaceutical patents as well as in complex disputes concerning mobile communications. For example, the litigation series for BioNTech concerning mRNA technology kept the team, led by Christine Kanz, busy once again. Klaus Haft is active in well-known telecommunications cases, for example for Motorola and Lenovo. Despite the fact two partners renowned in mobile communications moved to Clifford Chance two years ago and took client Huawei with them, Hoyng ROKH Monegier remains one of the most active law firms in mobile communications and IT disputes. The firm is currently representing HMD, Intel and Netflix in high-stakes cases.

Although the gap created by the departures is difficult to close, Hoyng ROKH Monegier is managing to build up new talent. The firm appointed a partner from its own ranks and recruited two counsel (from Simmons & Simmons and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan) and an associate. Nevertheless, the firm needs to further strengthen the team with experienced lawyers, particularly because renowned senior partner Christian Osterrieth, who has moved to of counsel status, is gradually reducing his client work.

European set-up

Long before the launch of the new court, the firm prepared for UPC proceedings by joining forces with market-leading law firms in Germany, Belgium, France and the Netherlands. Now the European IP boutique is reaping the rewards of these efforts. The boutique was one of the most active law firms in the first year of the UPC and has thus established itself as a permanent fixture for the new court. Hoyng ROKH Monegier is active across a broad spectrum of technologies for both plaintiffs and defendants. The team is currently conducting proceedings for FujiFilm in the field of printing technology, for Hurom regarding patents for household appliances and for Motorola and Lenovo against Ericsson regarding mobile communications. In addition, Klaus Haft won the first trade fair injunction action before the new court for the bicycle technology manufacturer myStromer.

As with many competitors, the German team at Hoyng ROKH Monegier initially dominated UPC proceedings. In the meantime, the strong French and Dutch practices with clients such as Hurom or Orbisk are also making their presence felt at the new court. Most UPC cases are handled by the firm’s international teams anyway. Hoyng ROKH Monegier is playing to the advantage of its already integrated partnership and the established cross-selling between the individual offices. This has already ensured intensive cross-border cooperation on pan-European cases in the past, for example for Philip Morris or Hanwha Q-Cells. This experience and the international, powerful and highly qualified team make Hoyng ROKH Monegier a force to be reckoned with.

Strengths

Cross-border litigation over pharma, electronics and telecom patents, including SEP and FRAND suits.

Recommended individuals

Klaus Haft (“outstanding in enforcing our claims, intelligent, knows his stuff, canny arguments”, client; “strong in both written and oral arguments”, competitors), Tobias Hahn (“efficient, reliable, knowledgeable”, competitor), Carina Höfer (“painstaking work, takes great care”, “highly competent”, competitors), Christine Kanz (“quick comprehension, calm and confident under pressure”, “excellent litigator in pharma patent disputes”, competitors), Martin Köhler, Kay Kasper (“always impressive when we come up against him”, competitor), Mirko Weinert (“calm, extensive know-how”, competitor)

Team

24 lawyers, 2 patent attorneys

Clients

Litigation: Motorola and Lenovo against Ericsson over 5G; Netflix against Broadcom/Avago over video coding technology; Intel against R2 over chip technology; HMD against VoiceAge over speech coding technology; BioNTech against CureVac and Moderna over mRNA patents; Philip Morris against British American Tobacco over e-cigarettes (ended 2024); Heckler & Koch against C.G. Haenel over weapons; Vorwerk against Lidl and Hoyer over Thermomix kitchen appliance; Hanwha Q-Cells against Longi, REC and Jinko over solar cells; Deutsche Telekom against Intellectual Ventures over mobile communications (settled 2024). Frequent litigation for Apple, Samsung (all public knowledge).