JUVE Comment

This medium-sized, pure patent attorney firm in Munich has an excellent reputation for its broad prosecution and strong litigation practice. The patent attorneys are renowned for life sciences, electronics and mechanics. They regularly represent clients in nullity proceedings and EPO oppositions, for example Rampf and Sanofi Aventis. Last year’s highlight was undoubtedly the team’s victory for Bayer regarding the cancer blockbuster drug sorafenib/Nexavar after a first-instance defeat at the Federal Court of Justice.

Weickmann & Weickmann’s life sciences practice extended its work, for example for Emergence Therapeutics. The firm also developed work in other technical areas, such as electronics.

This is a good basis for a successful generational change, which, like at many competitors, is currently on the firm’s agenda. This brings opportunities to admit young talent to the partnership.

European set-up

Weickmann & Weickmann is a national IP firm that cultivates close relationships with its clients through prosecution work, demonstrated by its established litigation practice. It regularly works with external lawyers for infringement proceedings.

Litigation such as for Bayer regarding the economically important cancer drug sorafenib/Nexavar shows the potential of Weickmann & Weickmann in high-profile cases. However, this is not yet being fully realised because pharmaceutical clients have not initially submitted key patents to the UPC. Pharmaceutical proceedings at the UPC could become a highly competitive market. It will therefore be important to gain litigation experience at the UPC soon. The openness of other industries, for example consumer goods manufacturers, could offer potential in this regard. The firm has excellent relationships to some well-known manufacturers in various sectors, such as Electrolux.

Strengths

Litigation regarding patents in pharma and mechanical engineering.

Recommended individuals

Frank Feller (“creative”, client), Volker Jordan (“great technical expertise, but also very good legal knowledge”, competitor), Wolfgang Weiß (all patent attorneys)

Team

23 patent attorneys

Clients

Litigation: Bayer against various generic drug companies over cancer drug sorafenib/Nexavar; Fischerwerke against G&B Fissaggi over special wall plug; TCI against Signify in nullity suit over LEDs. EPO oppositions for Rampf against H.B. Fuller over polyurethane foam for battery packs. Oppositions for Novelis, Sanofi-Aventis, Emergence Therapeutics, Baidu, Electrolux, Heidelberg Pharma.