Litigation: Lawyers – Germany 2024

JUVE Comment

This mixed patent practice is one of the undisputed market leaders with its presence in numerous high-calibre patent proceedings in a wide range of technologies. Lawyers such as Christian Harmsen, Oliver Jüngst and Boris Kreye as well as patent attorneys such as Daniela Kinkeldey enjoy an equally good reputation, which sets Bird & Bird apart from most other mixed teams at major international law firms. While the German patent attorneys are well integrated internally, the team works just as smoothly with external patent attorneys, for exampl...

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• Litigation: Patent Attorneys

JUVE Comment

The German practice of this international full-service law firm has secured a place among the market leaders with a strong presence in high-calibre disputes in the pharmaceuticals and telecommunications sectors. The team's work has recently been characterised by extensive litigation series for regular client Novartis as well as high-profile disputes for Meta and Xiaomi – often in an international context. In addition to the renowned Düsseldorf partners Frank-Erich Hufnagel and Wolrad Prinz zu Waldeck und Pyrmont, the young Munich partner Nina B...

JUVE Comment

This mixed patent litigation practice has maintained its position among the German market leaders for years. The well-established team conducts high-calibre litigation for many clients across a broad technical spectrum. Hogan Lovells was again highly active in various mobile communications proceedings, for example for Oppo, Xiaomi and HMD Global. The team's comprehensive expertise in SEP proceedings has recently impressed Amazon, which opted for the law firm for its defence, first against Huawei (concerning wi-fi) and now also against claims by...

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• Litigation: Patent Attorneys

JUVE Comment

With its consistently high number of economically and legally important national infringement proceedings, Rospatt is a market leader. The German IP litigation boutique’s 16-strong lawyer team plays in the premier league of pharmaceutical and biotech proceedings. Recently, it clarified the interpretation of new SPC rules for Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen Biotech in a case against Formycon regarding the Stelara biosimilar.

JUVE Comment

Recently this market-leading litigation practice of the global litigation firm made impressive strides in patent litigation related to mobile communications and medical devices. For a long time, the strong activity in the mobile communications sector – regarding both implementation and standard essential patents – for key clients such as Google and Qualcomm dominated. The relatively new instruction from Netflix in a case concerning video streaming has also grown into a highly extensive litigation series and is currently keeping the team very bu...

JUVE Comment

The strong German team at this international law firm used its generational change to grow and this is attracting more extensive work. The tech team around Jan Ebersohl and young partner Denise Benz has developed its practice dynamically so as to handle more comprehensive series of proceedings, for example for Samsung.

JUVE Comment

This mixed IP law firm has a strong litigation practice, particularly for pharmaceutical proceedings. Both the patent attorneys and the lawyers have recently been involved in high-stakes cases, for example for Sanofi/Regeneron regarding the cholesterol-lowering drug Praluent. At the same time, the firm's patent attorneys are regularly consulted by external lawyers on technical issues, for example by Freshfields for Moderna.

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• Patent Filing
• Litigation: Patent Attorneys

JUVE Comment

This small partner-centred IP boutique has built up a good reputation for infringement proceedings, particularly in telecommunications and often in connection with FRAND issues. Industry giants such as Oppo and Xiaomi are among its long-standing clients, and now Infineon is also relying on the Munich team in a dispute against its Chinese competitor Innoscience.

JUVE Comment

This Düsseldorf IP boutique is known for patent litigation across a broad technical spectrum. Partner Axel Verhauwen is particularly well known and praised by a client as “outstanding” in patent disputes. He was highly present in proceedings for BSH and Brose concerning mechanics and electronics as well as for Ophthalmo Pro concerning medical devices. While the firm is strongly rooted among innovative German SME companies, much work also comes to Krieger Mes through its close contacts with patent attorney firms. Verhauwen also has many years of...

JUVE Comment

Preu Bohlig has an excellent reputation for patent litigation across a broad technical spectrum. The firm has increased its representation of well-known pharmaceutical companies such as Accord and Stada, which benefit from the team's expertise in SPCs and regulatory issues. Recently new clients have relied on the team for the market launch of their generics, including disputes over market exclusivity and SPCs.

JUVE Comment

In just a few years, the German IP practice of this international full-service law firm has established itself as a force to be reckoned with in the market, particularly for litigation relating to mobile communication patents. Düsseldorf partners Tobias Hessel and Stefan Richter joined last year with a counsel from Hoyng ROKH Monegier, bringing extensive experience in SEP litigation as well as regular client Huawei. The team is active in several high-calibre proceedings for the Chinese mobile phone provider as well as for Oppo, including at the...

JUVE Comment

DLA Piper is excellently positioned for infringement proceedings for clients in the mobile communications, mechanical engineering, and consumer goods industries. Reputable clients such as HP and Nike regularly trust the team with their many lawsuits. The practice is also well positioned for proceedings involving SEPs and network technology, such as for Extreme Networks. However, it still lacks a steady presence in high-volume proceedings to put it at the same level as law firms such as Preu Bohlig.

JUVE Comment

One year after rebuilding the lawyer side of its mixed practice, Eisenführ Speiser's powerful team is making an impression. Numerous clients are entrusting it with extensive cases, for example regular client EIS concerning pressure-wave massagers, and Bego concerning dental technology. Another example is new client Zhuhai CosMX Battery in a case concerning the electrolyte composition of batteries for smartphones and laptops.

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• Patent Filing
• Litigation: Patent Attorneys

JUVE Comment

The well-positioned patent practice of this German full-service law firm is renowned for its extensive litigation for its core SME clients. The team around Matthias Sonntag is regularly involved in strategic advice, pre-litigation licensing negotiations and patent litigation. Advice on SEPs plays an important role here. The practice, like the firm as a whole, has an excellent specialisation in pharma and regularly represents core clients such as Hexal and Sandoz in extensive proceedings.

JUVE Comment

The German patent litigation team works in a globally integrated law firm with a focus on IP. The practice attracts clients of various sizes from Europe, the US and Asia. The team has a clear specialty in pharmaceuticals, biotech, and automotive suppliers, particularly e-mobility. The patent attorneys and lawyers are similarly well positioned and usually work on cases together. They regularly represent their core clients in the life sciences sector in important EPO oppositions.

Other Rankings

• Patent Filing
• Litigation: Patent Attorneys

JUVE Comment

The patent team of this full-service law firm is very active in patent disputes in the mobile communications sector. The practice led by Munich partner Ralph Nack was again involved in numerous high-calibre proceedings, for example for Xiaomi and TCL. Clients in SEP disputes benefit from the strong links to Noerr's antitrust practice.

JUVE Comment

SMEs, large and small, are confident their patents are in good hands with CBH. The Cologne team, led by Jens Kunzmann, has an excellent reputation for its advice on employee invention law. The Munich team around Stephan Gruber and Hannes Jacobsen is established in patent litigation with particularly close ties to its regular German SME clients. It also maintains excellent relationships with numerous patent attorney firms, which work with the team whenever their clients file infringement suits or become involved in disputes. Additionally, the te...

JUVE Comment

This mixed Munich IP firm is a rising star in the litigation market. This is mainly due to the great reputation of the team around Thomas Adam in representing NPEs. For example, various companies of the Irish Atlantic IP group are among the firm's regular clients. Current highlights include the litigation for Daedalus Prime, Headwater Research and Pictiva. The team is also highly active in technologies related to electronics. Frank Peterreins and Jan-Malte Schley are frequently seen in EPO oppositions and represent major players in medical devi...

Other Rankings

• Litigation: Patent Attorneys

JUVE Comment

The patent practice of this German full-service law firm is primarily active for the firm’s industrial clients, which includes infringement proceedings. Recently, however, the team has been seen much less frequently in court than similarly positioned competitors such as Hengeler Mueller. Instead, advice in connection with M&A deals and R&D contracts is playing a growing role for CMS, as are licensing negotiations and employee invention rights.

JUVE Comment

Since entering the market two years ago, the German practice of this US law firm has established itself well. It has made a name for itself, particularly in litigation related to electronics, mechanics and chemical patents. The firm not only extended existing work, it has recently expanded its client base to include companies such as InnoScience. The Munich team led by Jochen Herr successfully combines its own business with numerous referrals from the international network, such as US clients MediaTek and Giant.

JUVE Comment

The patent litigation practice of this German full-service firm is well positioned for advising SMEs before German courts. Litigation for automotive suppliers such as ZF Friedrichshafen plays just as strong a role as litigation for medical device manufacturers, such as Ziehm Imaging and Invacare in infringement actions and nullity proceedings before the Federal Patent Court.

JUVE Comment

The lawyers at this highly traditional Hamburg IP boutique are well positioned in patent proceedings. Partner Karsten Königer mainly represents his regular SME clients in actions brought by competitors. His highest profile client is Lidl, which the team frequently represents against attacks from brand manufacturers concerning products from a wide range of technical fields.

JUVE Comment

The small team of this German full-service law firm represents clients from a wide range of industries in patent infringement proceedings. In recent years, Hengeler’s work has been characterised by extensive proceedings for NPEs, but now its classic clientele is coming back into focus, particularly from the automotive and life sciences sectors. One example is an automotive supplier that Wolfgang Kellenter’s team is advising in a cross-border series of actions conducted in France, Italy and China, among other countries. In addition, pharmaceutic...

JUVE Comment

The German patent practice of this international full-service law firm is primarily known for its work in patent litigation for pharmaceutical companies. The Düsseldorf partner Ina vom Feld is particularly well known for this and regularly represents well-known innovators such as Sanofi or Millennium Pharma in infringement proceedings. Herbert Smith Freehills also advises on licences and FTO analyses, with vom Feld regularly contributing her expertise in regulatory matters. The team's visibility is also increasing outside its traditional life s...

JUVE Comment

The patent team of this Frankfurt law firm is involved in a considerable number of patent disputes for its moderate size. This is mainly thanks to partner Nora Keßler, who has headed the practice since name partner Friedrich Klinkert retired in autumn 2023. She has built up a solid market profile and is praised by competitors for her “quick grasp of technical issues”.

JUVE Comment

The IP practice of this international full-service law firm is traditionally known for its representation of pharmaceutical and biotech companies. The close relationship with Korean LED manufacturer Seoul Semiconductor has been further strengthened and has now also led the team to the UPC. This has enabled the firm to raise its profile and further expand its client base beyond its established life science focus. Linklaters is advising various companies, including a manufacturer of networked devices, on potential disputes concerning SEPs. The te...

JUVE Comment

The German patent practice of this US law firm has established itself in the market by advising and representing companies from various industries. Contacts to the automotive supply industry are particularly intensive, thanks to Düsseldorf partner Henrik Holzapfel, who was recently active in various proceedings for regular client Harman.