JUVE Comment

This well-positioned mixed patent practice of the international law firm is particularly active in technology. The small litigation team recently attracted attention with a lawsuit for Emtelle over fibre optic cables. Campbell Forsyth in particular has a good name in the market. Unlike most law firms, Dentons uses a mixed approach with patent attorneys, which is currently in vogue on the continent. In London, apart from patent attorney firms such as Marks & Clerk and EIP, only Simmons & Simmons and CMS are currently following this path. However, the development of the London litigation team is currently limited because of the lack of counterparts in the major markets on the continent, i.e. France and Germany. It is thus unlikely that Dentons will be the first point of contact for coordination work for cross-border disputes, something which is typical for the litigation practices of other international law firms in London.

Strengths

Patent disputes in the tech area. Mixed approach with litigators and patent attorneys.

European strategy

Dentons is not yet one of the heavyweights in the European patent market, but has recently made efforts to strengthen its patent team with lateral hires in Amsterdam. It has well positioned teams in London, Amsterdam and Milan. But in Paris Dentons also saw the departure of its probably best known patent litigator, Marianne Schaffner, to Reed Smith last year. In Germany the firm has offices in Düsseldorf and Munich but no visible patent team.

Recommended individuals

Campbell Forsyth

Team

2 partners, plus 4 patent attorneys

Specialties

Full-service advice in patents, including litigation and prosecution, with the firm’s own patent attorneys. Also antitrust and regulatory work.

Clients

Litigation: Emtelle (claimant) against Hexatronic over fibre optic cables. Patent filing for Divergent Technologies, Positec Power Tools, Pindrop Security, Raytheon, Sarcos, Starkey Laboratories, Tesla (all public knowledge).