JUVE Comment

The Munich IP team around Thomas Lynker is renowned for its regular representation of telecommunications implementers such as ZTE. Recently it acquired Acer as another central client, which it is now defending in a second extensive lawsuit against Wilus, including FRAND. The team’s representation of Israeli clients such as Mala and Orckit IP also shows its strong roots in this industry.

The practice has only occasionally been retained for medical device or pharmaceutical cases, but it was recently involved in a PI for a cannabis substance manufacturer, new client THC. However, the economic success and reputation of the small team is based on its extensive experience with semiconductor and mobile communications patents.

European set-up

This specialty paid off at the start of the UPC, whereby the team brought an infringement action for new client Total Semiconductor against Texas Instruments at the Mannheim local division regarding microprocessors. Furthermore, the defence of Mala in the national dispute with Nokia grew to include a fundamental question at the UPC. The small German team is thus already intensively involved in new UPC cases. However, it has not yet been able to make use of its international line-up with the Paris team around Jean-Frédéric Gaultier and Grégoire Triet and its close cooperation with Madrid IP firm Baylos. However, this could become more important in the future, especially with regard to team strength. As the workload increases with UPC proceedings and their tight deadlines, the well-maintained relationships with UK law firms, Italian partners and patent attorneys in various countries are likely to become important to remain operational.

Strengths

Mobile communications litigation for implementers, including FRAND issues.

Recommended individuals

Thomas Lynker (“extraordinary patent litigator”, competitor)

Team

6 lawyers

Clients

Litigation: Acer against Wilus over wi-fi 6 patents; Mala Technologies against Cisco, Nokia and Extreme Networks over network technology; Orckit IP against Adtran and Extreme Networks over network technology; THC Pharm against Avextra Pharma in PI over cannabis substance; regular advice and litigation for ZTE. Advice: G+ Communication on litigation strategy for SEPs.