JUVE Comment

This German mixed IP firm started with an impressively large number of proceedings at the UPC and convinced numerous clients to file actions there when it first launched. Bardehle Pagenberg has tackled the UPC like few other law firms, having strengthened its team in advance. The firm relies on the cooperation of patent attorneys and lawyers in mixed teams, but, unlike successful teams at large international law firms, it largely avoids international representation. The German team handles the lion’s share of the proceedings. Its Paris office has not played a major role in cases to date.

This strategy has paid off in the first year and a half of the UPC. Indeed, hardly any other law firm handles so many cases for different clients in diverse technological fields. Among the highlights are the proceedings for 10x Genomics over RNA detection, for Philips over wireless power, and for Amgen over PCSK9.

This also makes Bardehle Pagenberg one of the few firms to conduct high-volume pharmaceutical and medical technology cases while also managing to impress clients in other technological fields such as electronics. Not only have several core clients such as Microsoft retained the firm for their UPC actions, but new clients such as Qualcomm are also relying on Bardehle, having worked with Bird & Bird and Quinn Emanuel in the past.

In contrast to competitors such as Kather Augenstein, Bird & Bird or Taylor Wessing, fewer partners at Bardehle Pagenberg have so far secured visibility and reputation in the market, according to observations by companies and competitors. Tilman Müller-Stoy remains a clear exception. However, Bardehle Pagenberg does not lack experienced UPC litigators and deploys sufficiently large teams. It would secure the firm’s success in the long term if several partners were to boost their market presence in UPC cases.

Strengths

Litigation in mixed teams, especially mobile communications.

Recommended individuals

Tilman Müller-Stoy (“top lawyer”, client)

Team

23 litigators, 33 patent attorneys, 4 dual qualified

Partner moves

Frédéric Portal (from Bird & Bird)

Clients

Philips against Belkin over wireless power; 10x Genomics against NanoString and Vizgen over RNA detection; 10x Genomics against Curio Bioscience over nucleic acids; Amgen against Sanofi and Regeneron over PCSK9; NEC against TCL over video decoding device; Dolby against HP and Asus over video coding; Dolby against Beko and Arcelik over audio decoding; Audi and VW against Network System Technologies over integrated circuit with data communication network; Qualcomm against Network System Technologies over integrated circuit with data communication network; Qualcomm against Shenzhen Transsion, Tecno Mobile, Galaxus and Max over navigation receiver; Hand Held Products/Honeywell against Scandit over handheld scanners; Cisco against Lionra over wireless networks; Xiaomi against Daedalus Prime over networks; Microsoft against Suinno Mobile & AI Technologies Licensing over browsing by walking technology.