JUVE Comment

Grünecker, one of Germany’s largest mixed IP firms, combines a vast patent prosecution practice with an increasingly active patent litigation team. The firm is highly visible in disputes concerning electronics, telecommunications, and automotive technology. Current highlights include representing Broadcom/Avago in extensive infringement proceedings against various automotive manufacturers of the Stellantis Group, as well as against telecommunications providers such as Deutsche Telekom. The team is also active in SEP disputes for GenSquare against Amazon over video coding technology.

The firm’s relationship with Broadcom/Avago demonstrates how consistently it provides comprehensive support to its clients. Only in exceptional cases does it handle litigation for companies that it has not previously represented in patent prosecution. “Grünecker is a top patent prosecution firm and leverages that expertise for patent litigation,” acknowledges one client. In any case, both the prosecution practice and the litigation team have recently received considerable recognition from international clients.

The firm also continues to build on its strong reputation amongst Asian companies. Recently, it represented several Asian car manufacturers in court proceedings and EPO opposition proceedings. In doing so, it advises both traditional Japanese car manufacturers and Chinese manufacturers of electric cars. It has also secured Milaukee Electrical Tools, a traditional manufacturer of power tools, as a new client for prosecution and litigation work.

Strengths

Litigation concerning mechanics, semiconductors, and mobile communications, including SEPs on the patent holder side.

Recommended individuals

Bernd Allekotte (“he and his colleagues have delivered exceptional results at unparalleled value for our company”, client), Ulrich Blumenröder (“he is very cooperative and always brings creative ideas to resolve problems”, client), Sebastian Ochs (“creative lawyer with deep knowledge of SEP and FRAND licensing disputes”, client); patent attorneys: Jens Hammer, Moritz Höffe (“he and his team evaluate new patent cases at a small fraction of the time and cost of other firms, but with a much deeper level of understanding, advocacy, and quality”, client),Reinhard Knauer (“excellent in the court room”, client), Jens Koch, Olivia Nemethova (“her technical knowledge and experience are impressive”, client)

Team

12 lawyers, 49 patent attorneys

Clients

Litigation: Broadcom/Avago against Deutsche Telekom and Telefónica (settled 2026) over network technology; Broadcom/Avago against various Stellantis car brands over connectivity patents; GenSquare against Amazon over HEVC video streaming; Grizzly Tools against Robert Bosch and Festool over power tools; Weber Food Technology against Provisur over food-slicing machines; Geoplast against Peri over modular plastic forms; Portable Multimedia against Contour Technosciences over sports cameras; frequent litigation for Vestel. EPO oppositions: Philip Morris against BAT and JTI over e-cigarettes; Roche Diabetes Care against Abbott and Dexcom over glucose-monitoring devices; Vestas Wind Systems against Wittenstein over wind turbine technology; Agilent Technologies against competitors over CRISPR-Cas technology; Alfa Laval against GEA over energy saving components.