JUVE Comment

The German team of this internationally integrated firm has not previously belonged to the top of the national market, but it has undergone a reshuffle in recent years and integrated a large patent attorney team around Fritz Lahrtz and Stephanie Nottrott specialising in life sciences. Strategically building up a large team of litigation-experienced patent attorneys has paid off, because clients use the firm’s mixed approach.

The next step would be for the patent practice to establish a team in electronics, because this would enable it to represent its strong tech client base in mixed teams. For example

Thomas Gniadek’s extensive experience in FRAND negotiations and litigation consistently attracts new cases – a field that is developing across numerous industries due to the increasing networking and connectivity of products, as is currently the case with client Resmed concerning medical devices.

Overall, the firm is particularly well positioned in the life sciences sector. It regularly represents core client Roche Diagnostics and its subsidiaries in key proceedings. The straw man objections to CRISPR/Cas are another good example of the team’s excellent reputation in this sector.

The team around Peter Meyer frequently represents SMEs in complex technologies.

European set-up

Simmons & Simmons has not only been in the starting block for the UPC but was also involved in the court’s creation. The firm strategically prepared its team to ensure it would be a top player for UPC cases. Proceedings for companies such as DivX against Netflix and Amazon Prime Video over video streaming, and Network Service Technologies against Texas Instruments, Volkswagen and other well-known companies concerning semiconductors show that numerous clients are prepared to place their UPC cases in the capable hands of Simmons & Simmons.

The reorganisation of the German team over the past year has seen the addition of life sciences specialists to complement the much smaller patent attorney teams in Amsterdam and London. The firm had already expanded its patent teams in London and Amsterdam. The French team is less visible, but a generational change at the top could lead to dynamic development. Now, the partnership must manage potential conflicts regarding team composition in UPC proceedings in order to further expand its UPC work. This is a challenge that other internationally integrated practice groups such as Hogan Lovells, Bird & Bird and Tayor Wessing must also overcome. Currently, the firm’s mixed team stands it in good stead for UPC work.

Strengths

Litigation and prosecution related to pharmaceuticals. Strong European litigation team.

Recommended individuals

Thomas Gniadek (“very hardworking”, competitor), Peter Meyer; patent attorneys: Fritz Lahrtz, Stephanie Nottrott

Team

6 lawyers, 9 patent attorneys

Clients

Litigation: Bayer against various generic drug companies over cancer drug Nexavar; Tinder against Hoccer over communications patent; DivX against Netflix and Amazon Prime Video over video streaming; Xiaomi against Immersion over haptic effects of smartphones (settled 2024); Bühlmann against DiaSorin over medical devices; Formlabs against DWS over 3D printing (settled 2023); frequent litigation for Roche Diagnostics. Oppositions for Oberland, Roche Diagnostics, Chugai Pharmaceutical, Merus.