JUVE Comment

Preu Bohlig maintains an excellent reputation for patent litigation across a broad technical spectrum. The firm benefits from a steady flow of new instructions from technology-driven medium-sized companies, largely due to its traditionally strong connections with numerous German patent attorney firms.

Having internationalised in preparation for the UPC launch and recently established a strong foundation among generic drug manufacturers through its Hamburg office, the firm found itself refocusing on its core work in Munich, Düsseldorf and Berlin in early 2025. This followed the departure of nine IP lawyers who decided to establish an independent practice under the Bonabry brand. The entire Hamburg office, along with two lawyers in Paris and a partner from Munich, left to launch the new outfit in January. This included three partners with a strong focus on patent disputes: Alexander Harguth (Munich), Daniel Hoppe (Hamburg) and Konstantin Schallmoser (Paris).

For Preu Bohlig, which remains the larger entity with 17 lawyers, this development means the loss of both its Hamburg and Paris offices, along with crucial pharmaceutical expertise that it must now rebuild.

However, the firm’s other offices in Munich, Düsseldorf and Berlin remained largely stable. Beyond its numerous SME clients, such as kitchen equipment manufacturer Bora, the firm represents international clients including Tesla in a case concerning windscreen wipers. Preu Bohlig also maintains a strong presence in SEP and FRAND cases. Currently, various partners represent Sunmi Technologies against Nokia regarding SEPs for card readers in both national courts and at the UPC. Such cases demonstrate the firm’s ability to support core clients across both national and UPC proceedings.

European set-up

With offices in key UPC locations – Munich, Paris, Düsseldorf and Hamburg – Preu Bohlig set out in 2023 to establish a significant presence at the UPC. The Bonabry spin-off in early 2025 revealed strategic differences about the way forward. Nevertheless, both entities retain sufficient strength to compete independently in UPC work, though they now lag somewhat behind prominent boutiques Bardehle Pagenberg and Kather Augenstein.

The Preu Bohlig team has primarily conducted UPC proceedings for its medium-sized core clients across various technologies. Examples include representing Collomix/Decathlon against Lidl over water dispensers and Primetails in a steel strip plant dispute. In the latter case, Andreas Haberl (Preu Bohlig) and Konstantin Schallmoser (Bonabry) continue to work together. Christian Kau represents NUC Electronics in a dispute with Hurom over juice extractors. The firm also handled a case for Bekaert Binjiang Steel Cord concerning inspection rights against Siltronic regarding saw wires.

Strengths

Litigation across a broad technical spectrum.

Recommended individuals

Christian Donle, Christian Kau, Axel Oldekop (“very good, well versed and always keeps economic aspects in mind”, competitor)

Team

17 lawyers

Partner moves

Alexander Harguth, Daniel Hoppe, Konstantin Schallmoser (all to Bonabry)

Clients

Litigation: Sunmi Technologies against Nokia over SEPs for card readers; Telefónica against NPE over 4G standard; Huawei against WaveTouch over SEPs and patents for microphones and fingerprint sensors; Goertec Cyberport against Sonion over microphones in smartphones; Tesla against Trico over windscreen wipers for cars; iAQUA against Cayago Tec over battery holders in diver propulsion vehicle; G&B Fissaggi against Fischerwerke over special rawlplugs; Bergamont against Optima Cycles regarding cargo bikes; Bora against Miele downdraft systems for kitchens; frequently for Washtec.