JUVE Comment

The patent attorneys at df-mp are among the market leaders in both life sciences litigation and disputes concerning electronics patents, particularly in mobile communications and entertainment. Since the legal separation into two practice areas under a single umbrella brand, both the life and tech divisions have developed well.

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 high-stakes cases. Each team member enjoys an excellent reputation, particularly for their work in EPO opposition proceedings, a field in which few competitors, such as Cohausz & Florack, can match them.

The list of highlights is long. Particularly notable is the success achieved for Amgen against Alexion in the dispute over eculizumab biosimilars, in which all opposing patents were ultimately revoked. The team led by Sandra Pohlman is also continuously engaged on behalf of Biogen, most recently representing the client in disputes concerning the multiple sclerosis drug Tecfidera, the follow-on product Vumerity and the blockbuster Spinraza.

UPC cases naturally fall to the life sciences team when clients have already selected them for the relevant EPO opposition or national nullity proceedings. For example, Elisabeth Greiner is playing a key role in the first UPC proceedings in which traditional generics companies are pitted against originator companies, representing long-standing client Zentiva against Sanofi over cabazitaxel/Jevtana.

In prosecution, the practice has secured new clients such as Gilead’s subsidiary Tubulis.

The firm’s tech group, headed by renowned partners David Molnia and Dominik Ho, maintains a strong presence in the current wave of litigation surrounding streaming technology. The team represents regular clients such as InterDigital, Malikie, and Huawei in numerous large-scale disputes. The firm has recently invested in both technical equipment and staff, thereby strategically strengthening its foundations to ensure it can continue to deliver a high volume of work to the required standard.

The high number of UPC cases in which the firm is now involved stems from its close relationships with regular clients, as well as from new clients these have attracted. These clients are increasingly choosing to resolve their disputes partly or entirely at the UPC whilst continuing to rely on the expertise of the firm’s litigation specialists. Although the firm regularly represents clients such as InterDigital, Huawei, Malikie, and Darang in national nullity proceedings, EPO opposition proceedings play hardly any role in the tech arm of df-mp, as this client base rarely engages in such work.

Strengths

Litigation concerning pharma, life sciences, tech, and mobile telecommunications patents.

Recommended individuals

Hans-Ulrich Dörries (“very good in hearings”, competitor), Elisabeth Greiner (“outstanding”, competitor), Sandra Pohlman (“experienced in pharma cases against multiple opponents”, competitor), Alexandre Hoffmann, Dominik Ho, David Molnia (“Dominik and David are the best advocates I have ever worked with”, client about both)

Team

34 patent attorneys, 1 lawyer, 2 dual-qualified

Clients

Litigation: Amgen against Sanofi over cholesterol-lowering drug evolocumab/Rapatha/Praluent; Biogen against Neuraxpharma, Hexal and Zentiva over multiple sclerosis drug dimethylfumarat/Tecfidera; Zentiva against Novartis over fingolimod/Gilenya and against Sanofi over use of cabazitaxel to treat tumours; Zeon against Arlanxe over batteries; InterDigital against Disney over video streaming technology; InterDigital against Amazon over video streaming technology (settled in 2026); Huawei against Disney over video streaming technology. EPO oppositions: Amgen against Alexion over Eculizumab/Soliris; several straw man oppositions against Regeneron’s/Sanofi’s drug use in atopic dermatitis and asthma dupilumab/Dupixent; several straw man oppositions against Janssen’s product Daratumumab/Darzalex; Biogen against Sandoz and four other opponents over multiple Spinraza high-dose patents; Biogen and Samsung Bioepis against Fresenius Kabi over adalimumab biosimilar; Zentiva against Novartis over heart-failure drug Entresto; Zentiva against Otsuka over anti-psychotic drug aripiprazole Abilify; straw man against BMS over checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab/Opdivo (all public knowledge).