JUVE Comment

Although small, the well-positioned London patent practice of Jones Day continues to be fairly visibile in the UK courts. It is especially active in mechnical patent disputes, with this part of the firm’s practice enjoying more visibility than in tech or life sciences over the past few years. In the UK market, the clout of the small team is retained through core clients such as Lufthansa, which after a lengthy battle lead partner Alastair McCulloch continues to represent in a damages claim against Astronics and Panasonic. The firm has also recently taken over work for Noco against Shenzhen in a case regarding battery-powered car jump leads. With the client originally instructing Taylor Wessing, this win should help elevate the practice as it will soon appear in appeal and damages proceedings.

Although historically more visible in life sciences than in tech, this area of the practice has also had a quiet year. Despite there being no active litigation, it retains its relationship with BMS/Celgene and works with the firm’s European offices on cross-border matters in this dispute. It also picked up work for the biotechnology division of a pharmaceutical company in what may soon become litigation against another originator. On the other hand, Jones Day successfully represented SOLiD against CommScope in a case concerning a digitised antenna system. The firm also works for the client in parallel proceedings in the US and Germany.

With Alastair McCulloch continuing to steer the small team, much of the London office’s reputation in patent litigation hinges on his visibility in patent disputes and his cooperation with European Jones Day partners on cross-border matters. However, despite a lateral hire being on the cards, the practice is not yet as omnipresent as other international firms with a European presence, such as Allen & Overy or Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

Strengths

Life sciences patent disputes. Work on mechnical patents. Strong US practice.

European set-up

The European patent practice at Jones Day is present at some of the key locations for patent disputes in Europe such as Munich, London and Paris. In the French capital, Jones Day is strongly positioned. The second pillar of the European practice is the German team, which impresses with a well-coordinated bench of lawyers and patent attorneys. Both offices are a good basis to lead on UPC cases. On the other hand, although the firm also has an office in Düsseldorf, Jones Day is not visible here with any well-known partners.

The European team has an especially strong footprint in life sciences disputes. Internationally, close cooperation with the strong US teams is an asset, as is the integrated work with patent attorneys mainly located in the German offices.

Recommended individuals

Alastair McCulloch

Team

8 lawyers

Specialties

Full service in IP. In patents, focus on life science disputes. Transactions as well as licensing deals.

Clients

Litigation: Lufthansa (claimant) against Astronics and Panasonic over compensation for infringement of patent relating to aeroplane seats; SOLiD (defendant) against CommScope over antenna systems; NOCO (defendant) against Shenzhen Carku over battery-powered jump leads for cars; biotech division of pharmaceutical company on case against another originator.