JUVE Comment

Kather Augenstein’s phenomenal start at the UPC has proven to be more than just a one-hit wonder. In the court’s third year, the firm continues to operate at an exceptional level, demonstrating that its long-term strategic preparation has paid dividends well beyond the UPC’s launch. Although several highlight cases settled in early 2025, including major mobile communications disputes for Panasonic against Oppo and Xiaomi and for Ericsson against Lenovo, the team swiftly secured numerous new instructions. A notable achievement was taking over FujiFilm’s representation from Hoyng ROKH Monegier in appeal proceedings concerning offset printing technology.

From the UPC’s inception, Kather Augenstein successfully translated its national mobile communications expertise to the new forum, as evidenced by ongoing work for Ona Patents against Apple and Google. Further instructions from Ericsson followed in late 2025 in a dispute against Transsion. In UPC cases, partners Christof Augenstein and Christopher Weber typically advise core clients alongside Dutch lawyers from Taylor Wessing.

The practice maintains activity across a broad technical spectrum, with medical device cases for clients such as Aesculap, Canfield Scientific and Roche forming a second crucial pillar of its UPC work. Miriam Kiefer has been particularly prominent in medical device cases, including the fierce but subsequently settled dispute for Advanced Bionics concerning cochlear implants.

While recent settlements have somewhat eased the intense pressure on the team, Kather Augenstein maintains a high caseload. Market perception that the “workload may be too high for a comparatively small team” persists, suggesting that growth is inevitable. Although the firm has recently recruited two associates it has yet, unlike local competitors Wildanger and Arnold Ruess, to develop a market-visible mid-level team.

In terms of talent recruitment, Kather Augenstein now faces fresh competition in its home market Germany following UK firm Powell Gilbert’s arrival. The two boutiques previously enjoyed a close relationship but now compete directly for UPC business, talented young litigators and clients in Germany.

Strengths

Litigation across a broad technical spectrum, especially mobile communications and medical devices.

Recommended individuals

Christof Augenstein (“excellent advocate”, “very good in UPC work”, competitors), Miriam Kiefer (“adeptly applies her extensive UPC knowledge to curate pragmatic solutions for the client”, “excellent case management, attentive to client needs”, competitors), Christopher Weber (“highly responsive, good technical understanding”, competitor)

Team

15 lawyers

Clients

Ericsson against Transsion over 4G and 5G patents; Ona Patents against Apple and Google over mobile communications; Fujifilm against Eastman Kodak over offset printing; Omipac against Brødrene Hartmann over egg packaging technology; Papst Licensing against Intel over computer technology; KPI and Malikie against Discord over software and messenger technology; Imusyn against BAG Diagnostic over diagnostic tests; Aesculap against Shanghai Bojin Medical over medical devices for bone surgery; Canfield Scientific against Quantificare over medical imaging software; Roche Diabetes Care against Menarini and Berlin Chemie over diagnostic tools; Adin Dental against Versah over dental implants; Advanced Bionics against MED-EL over cochlear implants (settled 2025); Stellantis and Opel against Avago over connected cars (settled 2025).