JUVE Comment

The Bonabry team has unleashed fresh energy following its spin-off from established firm Preu Bohlig at the start of the year. Together with two colleagues in Paris and a partner from Munich, the Hamburg team now presents a more cohesive presence than before, with a clear focus on UPC litigation. This new structure is attracting both new clients and colleagues.

The practice continues to be anchored by a strong team led by Daniel Hoppe, which regularly represents generic drug companies in their most commercially significant disputes. A prime example is the ongoing representation of Accord against Astellas in proceedings concerning the dosage patent and associated SPC for enzalutamide/Xtandi, part of a broader litigation campaign. The team frequently collaborates with independent patent attorney firms.

This includes extensive work for Dr Reddy’s Laboratories/Betapharm, Accord and Abdi Farma regarding Bayer’s blockbuster Xarelto, where the team also initiated preliminary injunction proceedings against the IFA. This demonstrates both the proceedings’ importance to clients and the team’s ability to pursue novel strategic approaches. The team also acted for Formycon against Regeneron/Bayer concerning a biosimilar of Eylea in one of the most commercially significant ongoing biosimilar disputes.

Additionally, Bonabry represents numerous medium-sized companies across various technologies, often working with its extensive network of patent attorney firms for its regular clients.

Simultaneously, the firm is expanding its currently small Paris and Munich offices. In Paris, the team has already achieved notable success by recruiting a promising lawyer from litigation boutique Schertenleib, which also maintains strong connections with generic drug companies. This appointment, the firm’s first French lawyer, underscores its ambitions to establish a presence at the UPC central division.

European set-up

The team’s UPC strategy and accumulated experience have become more evident under its new independent structure. Although Bonabry’s lawyers are primarily known for life sciences litigation, and few pharmaceutical disputes have reached the new court to date, the team already handles various UPC proceedings. A highlight is its representation of Fives against Reel, where the team successfully brought fundamental legal issues before the UPC for clarification. The patent litigation boutique was also involved in a major, now settled UPC matter in the highly competitive medical device market, representing Tandem against Roche regarding insulin dosing pumps.

Overall, this dynamic, growing team is well positioned for UPC litigation, both for regular clients and medium-sized companies that frequently approach Bonabry through patent attorneys or via its French presence and strong US connections. Its distinctive geographical footprint, with offices in Hamburg, Munich and Paris, sets it apart from other litigation boutiques.

Strengths

Litigation across a broad technical spectrum, primarily in pharmaceuticals, biosimilars and SPCs.

Recommended individuals

Daniel Hoppe(“highly responsive”, competitor)

Team

11 lawyers

Clients

Litigation: Accord against Bayer over rivaroxaban/Xarelto; Dr Reddy’s Laboratories against Bayer over rivaroxaban/Xarelto including IP case against IFA; Accord against Astellas over SPC for enzalutamide/Xtandi; Formycon against Regeneron/Bayer over biosimilar Eylea; Abdi Farma against Grünenthal over pain medication naproxen and esomeprazole; Accord against Tewa over anticoagulant dabigatran; Helmholtz Munich against Poseida over gene-splicing technology; Stada and Aliud Pharma against Biogen over dimethyl fumarate/Tecfidera; Synthon against Teva over MS drug glatiramer acetate/Copaxone; Bora against Miele over induction hobs; Girard Sudron against Liquidleds Lighting over LED lamps.