JUVE Comment

The patent attorney firm combines an active prosecution practice across a broad technical spectrum with a busy patent litigation practice. In addition to many opposition proceedings for regular clients such as Wilo and TK Elevators, the firm is regularly involved in infringement and nullity proceedings. The team cooperates closely with external lawyers from, for example, Fieldfisher and Preu Bohlig.

In addition to German SMEs and corporations such as Thyssenkrupp and Siemens, the firm maintains very close relationships with Asian clients such as Hitachi and Samsung.

In setting up a new China desk with a Chinese lawyer from Dompatent, the firm is set to expand this client base. Thanks to its broad positioning in automotive, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and chemicals, as well as its strong headcount, Michalski Hüttermann is one of three heavyweight patent attorney firms in western Germany, alongside Dompatent and Cohausz & Florack. That said, the firm is still seen far less often in infringement proceedings on the side of lawyers than Cohausz & Florack.

European set-up

This could change at the UPC, where the firm is already involved in proceedings. For example, it is working with Fieldfisher for Syngenta in the PI proceedings against Sumi Agro. With its litigation experience and team size, the firm is well positioned for the new court and could especially appeal to the strong Asian clientele.

Strengths

Litigation regarding biotech and electronics patents.

Recommended individuals

Uwe Albersmeyer, Aloys Hüttermann, Wasilis Koukounis (“extraordinary expertise, industry experience and an ability to explain difficult matters in layman’s terms”, competitor), Stefan Michalski, Guido Quiram, Dirk Schulz, Ulrich Storz (all patent attorneys)

Team

26 patent attorneys

Clients

Litigation: TP Vision against Seoul Semiconductor over LED technology; Kiekert against Brose over door locks; Panthera Dental against Resmed over mandibular repositioning device (settled 2024). Oppositions: Syngenta against UPL over a method for controlling rust; dSPACE against various opponents over simulation technology for the automotive industry (all public knowledge).