JUVE Comment

Grünecker, a large mixed German IP firm, maintains strong teams in both prosecution and litigation. Current litigation highlights include representing international companies in battery and chip technology disputes. Notable successes for Hytera Communications have enhanced the firm’s standing among Chinese companies, enabling its litigation practice to attract new Chinese clients across various technological sectors.

In prosecution, the substantial team of patent attorneys specialising in electrical engineering ranks among the market leaders and continues to expand its biotech practice. The firm successfully manages any economic or strategic decline in applications from regular clients by consistently winning new business and expanding existing work, such as for Philip Morris. The team maintains an active presence in opposition proceedings across all technological fields, including national oppositions such as Paptic against Ahlstrom concerning packaging and filter materials. The appointment of a partner in electrical engineering with expertise in medical devices underscores the firm’s commitment to solid and sustained team development.

European set-up

Grünecker has been engaged in UPC proceedings since the court’s inception. The mixed practice has gained valuable experience in UPC matters, with patent attorneys collaborating effectively with external lawyers. Notable highlights include representing Broadcom/Avago against Tesla and acting for Roche Diagnostics. The team is also involved in several other proceedings, including representing medical device manufacturer Teleflex against Speed Care Mineral in a dispute over wound dressings. This experience positions the large mixed team well to provide comprehensive support to both existing and new clients in UPC proceedings.

Strengths

Litigation concerning mechanics, semiconductors and mobile communications, including SEPs.

Recommended individuals

Bernd Allekotte, Ulrich Blumenröder; patent attorneys: Jens Hammer, Moritz Höffe, Reinhard Knauer, Jens Koch, Heike Vogelsang-Wenke

Team

10 lawyers, 49 patent attorneys

Clients

Litigation: CosMX against ATL over lithium-ion batteries; Hytera Communications against Motorola over radio communications; AMD against Polaris over chip technology (settled 2024); Drylyte against OTEC Präzisionsfinish over electrolytic polishing; Geoplast against Peri over modular plastic forms; Topsoe against Casale over manufacturing process for synthesis gas, hydrogen, ammonia and methanol; Broadcom/Avago against Tesla over controls for infotainment systems (settled 2024). EPO oppositions: straw man opposition against Asahi Kasei Kabushiki Kaisha over chemical products for polyester and polyurethane; Krones against Sidel over container inlets; Rockwell Automation against Festo over control technology.