JUVE Comment

The patent attorneys at df-mp rank among the top names in life sciences litigation and electronic patents, particularly in mobile communications and entertainment, thanks to their experience. The medium-sized life sciences team, led by renowned partners Hans-Ulrich Dörries, Elisabeth Greiner and Sandra Pohlman, represents both pharmaceutical manufacturers and generic drug companies in economically significant cases. A highlight this year was the team’s work for long-standing client Hexal, challenging Astellas and The Regents of the University of California over the patent and SPC for prostate cancer drug enzalutamide/Xtandi. Although unsuccessful at the German Federal Patent Court, the case showcased the firm’s capabilities. The team also remains the first port of call for its regular clients in crucial EPO oppositions, currently representing Pfizer against CureVac and Moderna in various oppositions concerning mRNA vaccine patents.

The practice has also expanded its client base in chemical patents for automotive batteries, now representing Sunwoda in its dispute with Tulip.

The firm’s tech group, headed by the renowned David Molnia and Dominik Ho, specialises in litigation and handles prosecution only for individual patents intended to form the basis for litigation. In this area, the team has long represented clients such as InterDigital in lawsuits, initially concerning mobile communications and now increasingly focusing on streaming patents in mobile phone applications. The latest series of lawsuits against Disney once again demonstrates the practice’s proven technical specialisation. Another highlight is the extensive series of lawsuits for Huawei.

To manage this large caseload, the team led by Molnia and Ho has grown to include several experienced fee-earners from competitors. This expansion has made the practice one of the largest in the market with this proven technical specialisation.

This year has also seen a shift in focus for the firm, as it has undergone a two-step reorganisation. At the beginning of the year, partner Philipp Nordmeyer left with four patent attorneys, taking their business in classic prosecution of electronic patents. In a second step, the firm reorganised internally by legally separating into df-mp Tech and Life, whilst continuing to collaborate in areas such as training and maintaining close physical proximity.

European set-up

With its extensive experience, the team is well-positioned to support its regular clients in national, EPO and UPC proceedings as an independent patent attorney boutique. However, the UPC also increases competitive pressure between law firms, and it remains to be seen whether clients will consolidate their legal representation to cut costs and improve efficiency. Currently, for example, Amgen is splitting work between five firms in the complex proceedings against Sanofi over the cholesterol-lowering drug evolocumab/Rapatha/Praluent, with df-mp involved in only part of the proceedings. Their extensive litigation experience, team strength and close contacts with strong litigation law firms such as Arnold Ruess stand them in good stead.

The tech team led by Molnia and Ho has launched an extensive series of lawsuits against Disney on behalf of long-standing client InterDigital, both at the UPC and in national courts, concerning video streaming technology. These are part of a series of international lawsuits. New client Huawei is also relying on the representation of df-mp’s patent attorneys in conjunction with a team of lawyers from Clifford Chance in parallel proceedings at the UPC and in Germany.

Strengths

Litigation concerning pharma, tech and mobile telecommunications patents.

Recommended individuals

Hans-Ulrich Dörries (“high level of experience and good presentation”, competitor), Elisabeth Greiner (“knows all the tricks of the trade, always extremely well prepared and on the point in pleadings”, competitor), Sandra Pohlman (“outstanding pleadings”, competitor), Alexandre Hoffmann, Dominik Ho (“excellent, personable, responsive”, competitor), David Molnia (“responsible and highly experienced”, competitor)

Team

34 patent attorneys, 1 lawyer, 2 dual qualified

Partner moves

Philipp Nordmeyer (to Maucher Jenkins)

Clients

Litigation: Amgen against Sanofi over cholesterol-lowering drug evolocumab/Rapatha/Praluent; Biogen against Neuraxpharma, Hexal and Zentiva over multiple sclerosis drug dimethylfumarat/Tecfidera; Hexal against Astellas and The Regents of the University of California over patent and SPC for prostate cancer drug enzalutamide/Xtandi; Pfizer against Moderna over mRNA vaccine patents; Zentiva against Novartis over fingolimod/Gilenya and against Sanofi over use of cabazitaxel to treat tumours; Sunwoda against Tulip over car batteries; InterDigital against Disney over video streaming technology; Huawei against MediaTek over semiconductor chips; Datang against Samsung over 4G and 5G; InterDigital against Oppo, Orope and Lenovo over mobile communications; Sonos against Google over patents for the control of sound systems via mobile phone. EPO oppositions: Pfizer against Moderna and CureVac over mRNA vaccine; Biogen over multiple sclerosis drug Tecfidera; straw men oppositions against The Regents of the University of California over CRISPR/Cas (all public knowledge).