JUVE Comment

This full-service IP firm is dominated by patent attorneys and best known for its patent prosecution practice, which is active across a very broad technical spectrum. Litigation plays a secondary role for the patent attorney firm, although the life sciences team enjoys an excellent reputation for its technical assistance in revocation and infringement proceedings. In particular, René Raggers is highly regarded for his technical support in biotech cases. The firm works for a multitude of small, innovative companies here.

However, it was AOMB’s flagship practice that had the loss of partner Rike Dekker to Kilburn & Strode to cope with. She worked alongside The Hague partner Raggers in patent litigation, particularly in life sciences, but was nowhere near as visible as AOMB’s star litigator.

The firm works for clients of a completely different calibre when it comes to computer and mobile communications patents. Ericsson is one prestigious name. The firm not only files a great deal of patents for the Swedish network equipment manufacturer and holder of many SEPs, but also litigated for it against Samsung on the side of Taylor Wessing in the Dutch proceedings over SEPs. Unlike market leader De Vries & Metman, the AOMB patent attorneys are rarely recommended for SEP and FRAND proceedings, despite such top-level cases. Because its regular client and Samsung quickly settled their dispute, the AOMB team did not have the chance to show what it can do in the courtroom.

Strengths

Litigation support by patent attorneys regarding life sciences, especially over pharmaceutical and biotech patents.

European strategy

Outside the Netherlands, AOMB has no other offices in major patent jurisdictions. Unlike other Dutch patent attorney firms, AOMB eschews an office in Munich but has its own branch in Poland. Furthermore, AOMB is allied with other European patent filing firms through the AIPEX network, including strong ties to Prinz & Partner in Germany and Wynne Jones in the UK.

The AIPEX firms are an option for joint activity before the UPC, should the new court start up soon. But firms like Prinz & Partner also collaborate with other international patent attorney firms.

Recommended individuals

René Raggers (“highly qualified in biotech matters”, “excellent litigation support”, both competitors; pharma and biotech)

Team

22 patent attorneys

Partner moves

Rike Dekker(to Kilburn & Strode)

Specialties

Full service in IP with a strong focus on patents. Patent prosecution in a broad field of technologies with focuses on life sciences, computers, mechanics and transport. Also EPO disputes and revocation cases. Infringement disputes with external laywers.

Clients

Litigation: Ericsson (claimant) against Samsung regarding mobile communication technology including SEPs (settled in 2021); NOBA (defendant) against Nutrition Sciences regarding enforcement and revocation of a patent for fatty acids in livestock feed; Kiremko (defendant) against Tomra in infringement and revocation cases over steam peeling technology; Insud Pharma (claimant) in nullity case against Galenicum’s patent over pharmaceutical compositions comprising crystalline sitagliptin hydrochloride. Prosecution: patent filing: BE Aerospace, Ericsson, Rockwell Collins, AAA-Lux, Koito Manufacturing, Prysmian, Technical University of Eindhoven, University of Maastricht, VDL Hapor (all public knowledge).