JUVE Comment

This traditional Hamburg-based patent attorney firm maintains a broad-based prosecution practice in chemistry, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, electronics and mechanics. A flagship in the firm’s visibility is its representation in EPO oppositions of pharmaceutical, biotech and chemical patents.

The team around Albrecht von Menges enjoys an excellent reputation in this field. It was recently active for regular client Amgen in several EPO oppositions regarding economically significant patents. BMS/Pfizer also entrusted the team with its defence in an EPO opposition against eleven opponents regarding its blockbuster drug apixaban, which was ultimately unsuccessful.

The practice has recently shrunk considerably. After several partners retired in 2023, including the renowned Peter Franck and Ulrich-Maria Gross, five patent attorneys will leave the firm at the end of the year. Two long-standing partners are moving to the competitor Eisenführ Speiser with three experienced associates. These changes could also affect the relationships with well-known regular clients. Martin Nohlen, for example, is responsible for the client relationship with Exxon Mobil in prosecution, and conducts many oppositions. Biotech specialist André Guder has ties to Boehringer Ingelheim, Ferring and Ohly. With only eight patent attorneys, the IP firm is comparatively small.

European set-up

The small team size could be a disadvantage for the firm regarding the UPC. Although the team around von Menges has outstanding experience in representing core clients in extensive EPO oppositions, it will also be in competition with other law firms for UPC cases. The mixed law firm Bardehle Pagenberg, for example, is also working for Amgen and has already gained much experience in UPC cases for other clients. However, several of Uexküll’s regular clients have not yet transferred their most important patents to the new system and are still waiting to see how things develop.

Strengths

Litigation and prosecution with a technical focus on pharmaceuticals, biotech and chemicals.

Recommended individuals

Albrecht von Menges, Heinz-Peter Muth (“extraordinarily well prepared”, competitor; all patent attorneys)

Team

8 patent attorneys

Partner moves

Martin Nohlen and André Guder (to Eisenführ Speiser), Peter Franck and Ulrich-Maria Gross (both retired)

Clients

Litigation: EPO oppositions for BMS and Pfizer against Teva, Stada, Galenicum Generics in EPO opposition over blood anticoagulant apixaban (revoked 2023); Amgen against various generic drug companies over cancer drug cinacalcet (revoked 2023); Amgen against Bayer HealthCare over antagonists of vascular endothelial growth factor; Chr. Hansen against Nestlé over food composition for infants to promote gut microbiota; ExxonMobil against Dow Chemical over manufacturing process for ethylene polymers and copolymers; Sealed Air against Avery Dennison over polyester shrink wrap (all public knowledge).