JUVE Comment

Like a well-oiled machine, Quinn Emanuel’s German patent litigation team remains involved in numerous high-profile cases for international clients, maintaining its position among Germany’s market-leading practices. Despite charging hourly rates well above market average, the team continues to attract clients “willing to spend a lot of money on key disputes”, as one client notes.

While large-scale proceedings for Dexcom regarding glucose-monitoring devices and for Tesla concerning mobile phone patents dominated the team’s activities in national courts and at the UPC until their settlement in late 2024, cases for Google, Netflix and a weapons manufacturer have recently come to the fore. The team has also been heavily engaged in advising a battery manufacturer on multiple European lawsuits.

Beyond its traditional focuses of mobile communications and medical products, the practice increasingly handles chemical patent matters. A UPC lawsuit for Corning against various handset manufacturers regarding LCD glass panel manufacturing exemplifies this trend. In pharmaceutical proceedings, such as those for Samsung Bioepis, Quinn Emanuel’s involvement has increased, though not yet reaching the level of competitors like Hogan Lovells or Freshfields.

Outside pharmaceutical litigation, growth opportunities for the patent team appear limited across most technical segments. In line with their strategy as a litigation firm, the litigators increasingly seek involvement in cases with a technical focus beyond patent law. A prime example is their representation of OpenAI in a precedent copyright lawsuit brought by Gema regarding ChatGPT training data. Nevertheless, the team’s primary market reknown remains in patent law.

European set-up

Thanks to the German patent litigation team’s extensive network among US clients such as Dexcom, Google and Tesla, Quinn Emanuel made a strong start at the UPC. The German team represented carmaker Tesla and medical device manufacturer Dexcom in two major battles before the UPC and national courts, prior to settlement. Dexcom exemplifies the team’s litigation work across civil courts and EPO proceedings. Quinn Emanuel also plays a crucial role coordinating such international disputes.

Quinn Emanuel surpasses all other US firms in successfully transferring major cases across the Atlantic for litigation before German courts and the UPC, working in both directions.

Core client Google retained Grosch’s team for its first UPC proceedings against NPE Ona Patents. The team also recently commenced a significant UPC case for Corning. Nevertheless, Quinn Emanuel could play an even stronger European role if it established comparable teams in London and Paris – something the firm has struggled to achieve for years due to its high partner profitability requirements.

Consequently, the firm regularly collaborates with major competitors outside Germany on key pan-European and UPC cases. For instance, a Paris-based Bird & Bird team handled Dexcom’s proceedings at the Paris local division.

Strengths

Litigation related to telecoms and medical devices. Opposition and nullity suits by lawyers without patent attorneys. Strong US practice.

Recommended individuals

Johannes Bukow (“thorough and goal-oriented litigator”, competitor), Andreas Duensing (“very good patent litigator”, client), Marcus Grosch (“guides cases very efficiently by hitting the nail on the head”; “expensive but worth every penny”, both clients), Jérôme Kommer (“pleasant cooperation with a very good patent litigator”, competitor), Jesko Preuß

Team

45 lawyers

Clients

Litigation: Netflix against Broadcom and DiVX over video streaming; Dexcom against Abbott over glucose-monitoring patents (settled 2025); Tesla against Broadcom/Avago over implementation patent for mobile communications (settled 2024);

Google against OnaPatents over location determination in handsets; Google against Netlist over storage module; Niantic against K.Mizra over near-field communication regarding video game Pokémon Go; Fresenius Medical Care against Nipro over dialyser patent; Samsung Bioepis against Regeneron and Bayer over biosimilar for age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy; Bissell against Carl Freudenberg in EPO opposition over cleaning machines; frequent litigation for Qualcomm.