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.

The team is also active in SEP cases, for example for Huawei and recently also for Telefònica. The deep roots in the SME sector ensure a constant stream of litigation work concerning mechanics and electronics patents. As a result, Preu Bohlig is frequently involved in disputes concerning future technologies, such as battery technology or AI. The lawyers regularly conduct nullity proceedings without patent attorneys.

In addition to the strong focus on litigation, the team also advises on employee invention rights, licences and R&D contracts.

Preu Bohlig recently expanded its ranks with the appointment of a younger partner.

European set-up

The opening of the Paris office a few years ago is bearing fruit. On the one hand, Preu Bohlig has become appealing for French clients such as Girard Sudron, which a French-German team is representing in a dispute against Liquidleds. The strength of the cooperation between the teams in Paris, Munich, Düsseldorf and Hamburg is now also evident at the UPC. There, Paris partner Konstantin Schallmoser and Düsseldorf partner Christian Kau are leading a dispute for Cané against France Dévelopment Électronique. At the same time, Preu Bohlig maintains non-exclusive relationships with foreign law firms that come into play at the UPC. For example, it is cooperating with the Swedish outfit Gulliksson for Aarke in the dispute against Sodastream and with the French boutique Dhenne Avocats for Cané. Thanks to its extensive litigation experience in various technologies and its size, the German team has the clout to conduct proceedings before the UPC on its own, as demonstrated by its work for Stada in the dispute against Sanofi. However, it is the broad client base of large SMEs in mechanics and electronics that could bring Preu Bohlig more work at the UPC.

Strengths

Litigation with a broad technical spectrum, including SEP and FRAND claims.

Recommended individuals

Christian Donle (“good in patent litigation”, competitor), Daniel Hoppe (“not to be intimidated in court”, “in-depth litigation expertise, good technical understanding, friendly cooperation partner, very good orator”, competitors), Christian Kau, Axel Oldekop

Team

20 lawyers

Clients

Litigation: Accord, Betapharm and 089 Pharm against Bayer over Xarelto/rivaroxaban; Aliud Pharma/Stada against Bayer over Nexavar/sorafenib; Stada against Grünenthal over painkiller Tapentadol; Synthon against Millennium over Velcade/bortezomib; Telefónica against NPE over 4G standard; Fives ECL against REEL over service modules for aluminium production; Huawei against Intve, Sonion and WaveTouch over SEPs and patents for microphones and fingerprint sensors; Goertec Cyberport against Sonion over microphones in smartphones; Hewlett Packard against Wsou over mobile communications; iAQUA against Cayago Tec over battery holders in diver propulsion vehicle; G&B Fissaggi against Fischerwerke over special rawlplugs; Girard Sudron against Liquidleds over LED technology; Washtec against EPC over hub washers in car washes. Advice: EvCon and Global Distribution on portfolio management; Silgan and Surgnova Healthcare on FTO analysis; ZKW Lichtsysteme on licensing project.