Litigation: Patent Attorneys – Germany 2018

JUVE Comment

This mixed firm is among the German market leaders in patent prosecution and patent litigation to an equal extent. BP has had a turbulent time in every respect. The lawyers had the sudden death of internationally well-regarded managing partner Peter Hess to cope with. The litigation practice also grew with a four-strong team around former Freshfields partner Chrocziel. This not only brought connections to Audi, Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard, but valuable expertise in antitrust, and broadened the comparatively slim litigation practice. BP also enjoyed success in client work. The firm was visible as ever in mobile communications cases, especially in what is probably the largest dispute before the German courts at present, for NPE Intellectual Ventures against various mobile communications providers. Having long been present in the healthcare sector, litigation for Amgen regarding Praluent and 10X Genomics involving microfluid chips was important progress. A dispute for Adidas against Nike and extensive prosecution work for the auto and semiconductor industry showed how Bardehle is primarily an industry firm. So it was no surprise that the firm is also involved in the major proceedings between Avago and Audi/VW for co-litigator Nvidia. Given the large number of auto manufacturers and suppliers, e.g. Audi, BMW or Kuka, among clients, the hot topic of connected cars is just the tip of the iceberg for BP.

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JUVE Comment

Because of its tremendous visibility in disputes, this Munich firm is one of the most active litigation outfits on the patent attorney side. Whether pharmaceuticals patents or biosimilars, the team is involved in virtually all of the sector’s high-profile proceedings, incl. the disputes over Truvada and fulvestrant. Only the Düsseldorf team of competitor König enjoys comparable visibility. The df-mp lawyers are also active in numerous opposition suits in this segment as straw men for unknown industrial companies. While advice to industrial companies dominates in the pharmaceuticals sector, the strong IT and electronics practice focuses on NPE suits in mobile communications. Following major proceedings for Fipa, IPCom and Unwired Planet, an additional class action for Conversant underscores Molnia’s outstanding position in this segment. He and his team also litigate for production companies, such as Wiko, or a competitor in opposition suits against Philips patents (as straw man).

JUVE Comment

This mixed IP firm is among the market-leading practices on the patent attorney side, but the litigation team is also excellently positioned when it comes to pharmaceuticals suits. HE has now raised the headcount of its prosecution team and underscored the importance of this by appointing four partners from its own young patent attorneys. The renowned litigation practice was expanded with an associate lawyer in Munich. The Düsseldorf litigation team, however, still needs reinforcements, partly because the litigators do not enjoy a similar standing in other sectors to that seen in pharmaceuticals proceedings. In major mobile communications proceedings, for example, it is mainly the patent attorneys who are visible, e.g. for Ericsson against IPCom concerning UMTS patents. Competitor Vossius has overtaken HE here by ramping up its Düsseldorf litigation team with laterals. But HE is expanding its European network. As well as offices in Milan and Madrid, which have grown by foreign fee earners, the firm launched in Amsterdam with a Dutch patent attorney – a logical step as covering the Dutch market from Düsseldorf was not a huge success.

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JUVE Comment

Although this Düsseldorf patent attorney firm has a solid filing practice for a very loyal client base, it is best known for its outstanding litigation experience. Few other firms enjoy such a reputation for pharmaceuticals and biotech litigation. The firm is active in EPO opposition suits for a number of originators, e.g. AbbVie, while for others like Bayer it conducts high-profile infringement proceedings. The patent attorneys are increasingly coordinating international litigation strategies – a task generally performed by lawyers and therefore highlighting KSTR’s many direct company contacts. Litigation for ECC in the coffee capsule dispute against Nespresso drew much attention and underscores KSTR’s broad technical expertise.

JUVE Comment

This pure patent attorney firm operates a renowned prosecution practice. Few other such firms boast so many partners experienced in litigation and such an impressive list of litigation clients. Mobile communications litigation for manufacturers predominates. S&P is present in virtually all the high-profile NPE suits on the side of the defendant, e.g. Deutsche Telekom, Nokia or Apple. The firm litigated for the iPhone manufacturer with Intel in a major suit by Qualcomm. But this depth of activity in the sector is leading to conflicts of interest: S&P was unable to work on the since-settled Nokia/Apple dispute. So as not to risk losing their excellent starting position for the UPC, the partners will have to keep an eye on the expansion of technical expertise at Bird & Bird and Hoyng ROKH Monegier, with whom they work closely. But S&P also boasts lots of direct company contacts and a wealth of litigation experience. Unlike litigation, which focuses on mobile communications, prosecution work is much broader with many technical fields.

JUVE Comment

This IP firm is among the market-leading German patents firms, especially for patent prosecution. ES not only files patents and conducts official proceedings in large quantities, but also boasts an impressive list of regular clients, incl. international corporates like Philips as well as innovative German Mittelstand companies and corporates, e.g. Sennheiser, Enercon or BASF. Eisenführ ramped up its patent attorney headcount, for example welcoming a partner experienced in chemicals patents from Uexküll & Stolberg as counsel. But the patents practice has made its most significant strides in litigation over recent years as the patent attorneys traditionally experienced in disputes are incorporating the lawyers in litigation with increasing consistency. Moreover, these are now operating largely independently and increasingly visibly for Philips and other industrial companies, incl. Fraunhofer Society and Dolby, who have pooled their patents. The firm’s in-depth mobile communications know-how is also the result of many years working for NPE Sisvel. Of the mixed litigation practices only Bird & Bird still conducts more proceedings.

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JUVE Comment

The major strength of this market-leading patents team lies in its unusually large prosecution practice with broad technical know-how. The firm’s ties among auto suppliers and chip manufacturers paid dividends: together with Klaka, the litigation team conducted what was perhaps the year’s most important series of proceedings before the German patent courts, the first high-profile case involving connected car patents, for Broadcom/Avogo against Audi/VW. The team had already worked for Broadcom concerning chips for games consoles. With the connected cars case, the lawyers finally made the breakthrough into major proceedings. Up until then, only the patent attorneys had gained recognition in major mobile communications proceedings. But Grünecker’s mixed approach is well established. The large prosecution practice, to which few competitors across Europe can compare, gives rise to a multitude of nullity suits and infringement proceedings in a broad technical spectrum. In comparison to Vossius and Hoffmann Eitle, pharmaceuticals litigation only plays a minor role. Grünecker is somewhat more strongly positioned when it comes to medical products. With only two partners, the lawyer litigation team will have to boost its litigation team and, like Vossius, grow in Düsseldorf to raise its clout for the UPC.

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This mixed IP firm is a market leader in patents: besides an extremely strongly positioned prosecution practice, Vossius is vigorously expanding its litigation team. Filing activity is very extensive and internationally focused among the German firms and centers on biotechnology. This frequently manifests itself in numerous opposition suits and appeal proceedings at the EPO, e.g. for CRISPR Therapeutics. Vossius also enjoys a strong position among pharmaceuticals and medical product manufacturers, as shown in the extensive litigation for ResMed and Boston Scientific. Vossius is also gaining ground in electronics and mobile communications patents, based on filing work for Asian corporates, especially LG. The expansion of the China desk is making an impact, as shown by litigation for ZTE. In general, Vossius is enhancing its litigation team more than most competitors. The focus here is on Düsseldorf, where a team of three joined from Arnold Ruess, among them Kramer, who is experienced in mobile communications and brought Wiko as a new client. The lawyers also litigated for another mobile communications provider in an NPE suit. The Munich litigation team has a strength in medical products.

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Like so many Munich patent attorney firms, with its midsized filing practice B&R is best known for its prosecution work for a strong international client base. The patent attorneys also run a renowned litigation practice with various technical specialties, incl. electronics and mobile communications patents. So it comes as no surprise that its best-known client is Google, to whom B&R mostly provides prosecution. In litigation, the patent attorneys have long been active for Nichia and always bank on good, but non-exclusive connections to selected firms like Taylor Wessing.

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JUVE Comment

This mixed patents team is still among Germany’s undisputed market leaders for patent litigation. The lawyers are better positioned than the up-and-coming patent attorney team. Clients from a wide array of industries trust in B&B, although the integrated, mixed team has seen stronger years (regular client Nokia has been somewhat restrained with active suits). The team is especially active in major proceedings for medical product manufacturers like Fisher & Paykel and Edwards Lifescience. Envipco’s lawsuit against the German bottle deposit system is attracting much attention. Even without class actions for Nokia, the firm underscored its strong position in mobile communications suits with the Technicolor/Thomson litigation. One fly in the ointment is that B&B is that conflicts of interest have prevented B&B from getting involved in the first wave of suits against auto manufacturers concerning connected cars. Constant staff development in this huge litigation team contributed to the practice’s successful development, as did the further expansion of a dedicated prosecution practice. Although the patent attorneys specialize in litigation, they are constantly building on prosecution – provided that this does not create conflicts of interest for litigation. While the Hamburg team managed patents for Airbus, the Munich office handled the portfolio of chemicals company Emery and medical product manufacturer B. Braun Melsungen. In view of the conflict-ridden work in the pharmaceuticals and mobile communications sectors, this is a clever – albeit limited – opportunity to expand the field. Competitors like Hogan Lovells are increasingly imitating this successful strategy, but unlike B&B they do not dare to tackle prosecution just yet.

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JUVE Comment

The team of patent attorneys at this Munich IP firm is still one of the most visible litigation outfits in the patent attorney scene for mobile communications patents. This is largely owing to the successful litigation for SLC. BJ has now litigated for new client Wilan, another major NPE. But the patent attorneys do not focus exclusively on NPEs, with frequent litigation on the industry side now, e.g. for ski binding manufacturer G3. They are also cleverly enhancing their prosecution portfolio, incl. filing for Amazon in Germany. Sooner or later this could translate into litigation activity.

JUVE Comment

This Berlin IP firm is one of the strongest filing firms in east Germany, whose patent attorneys have carved out a strong presence in infringement proceedings over recent years. Excellent ties to Asian companies – with its own offices in Beijing and Yokohama – play a large part in this. Chinese mobile communications manufacturers feature heavily in the current client list. G&P used its showpiece instruction Haier against Sisvel – where the Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof) is expected to make a precedent ruling on the FRAND issue at the end of 2018 – to position its own lawyers in infringement proceedings. The well-prepared retirement of the firm’s best-known patent attorney, Jürgen Hengelhaupt, was a certain turning point. In response to this, G&P appointed another patent attorney to partner.

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JUVE Comment

Like Bird & Bird, JD has opted for a mixed approach with a well-positioned litigation practice and strong prosecution practice for much longer than other law firms. The latter practice raised its patent attorney headcount. Both filing and litigation centre on international biotech and pharmaceuticals companies. The team has an asset in the close ties to offices in the global firm network, as JD litigated in a host of pharmaceuticals proceedings in various countries. The German litigation team is also active in proceedings involving mechanics or engineering patents. Mobile communications is still uncharted territory, although increasing car connectivity could be to JD’s advantage, as the patent attorney team boasts notable international auto suppliers as clients.

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JUVE Comment

This mixed IP firm is established in Munich with a broad prosecution practice. The patent attorneys also boast a good reputation in disputes. While the pharmaceuticals and biotechnology practice puts in a strong appearance at the EPO for opposition suits and appeal proceedings, the mechanics team is very active in nullity suits and infringement proceedings for the auto industry. Traditional litigation between auto parts suppliers predominates. The team has yet to appear in the connected cars suits, but given its excellent sector ties this should just be a matter of time. Litigation practice growth suffered a setback with the move of partner Neels to Ampersand. Other mixed firms like Meissner Bolte or Vossius show a more united front with mixed teams of patent attorneys and lawyers experienced in litigation. The patent attorney team brought in associate laterals from other firms.

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JUVE Comment

Not only is this Munich patent attorney firm one of the major German filing practices with a very international approach, but it is also well positioned for litigation in the mobile communications sector. Katérle is active for LG in two proceedings against NPEs Fipa and Conversant. The firm also conducts much litigation involving bicycle components for regular client Sram. The pharmaceuticals and biotech team is not present in so many infringement cases before the EPO, but in opposition and nullity suits. The basis for this is extensive prosecution work for the sector, incl. a major originator. W&W also nurtures close ties in the auto supply industry, which could, in combination with its mobile communications know-how, provide a good starting point for connected cars. But for now the firm is fighting over traditional auto components for Valeo and ZF TRW.

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This Ruhr Valley firm, one of the four most visible filing practices in west Germany, is opting for cautious, partner-centric development. Though smaller than Cohausz & Florack or Dompatent, its renown in prosecution work is in no way inferior to the much larger competitors. In litigation, the patent attorneys are not nearly as prominent as Cohausz, as they are hardly visible at all in the major patent battles, tending rather to represent the innovative German Mittelstand.

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This Cologne IP firm is one of the most visible prosecution outfits in the Rhein-Ruhr region with an outstanding name for chemicals and pharmaceuticals patents. Dompatent was more visible than ever before in a number of high-profile infringement proceedings outside its specialist discipline. The firm litigated for Asus in an extensive mobile communications suit and defended regular client Wilkinson in a prominent dispute against Gillette over razors. Reducing Dompatent – as many competitors do – to just the life science and chemicals sector thus does not tell the whole story. The firm looks after a technologically diverse client base in prosecution, and if necessary, before the courts with external lawyers.

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JUVE Comment

This Stuttgart IP boutique is rooted in the technologically strong southwest German Mittelstand with its extensive prosecution work. The team also files patents for notable electronics manufacturers such as Nokia and General Electric. The firm continued to branch out from its traditional focus on regional engineering companies – both geographically and thematically. It stepped up advice on legal issues related to blockchain technology and AI, e.g. for a large German electronics manufacturer. Dreiss is also attracting new international clients by continually growing its informal foreign network. One good example is US medical technology manufacturer Conmed, for whom the firm files patents at the EPO. The patent attorneys also often appear in litigation – often in cooperation with external lawyers, for instance in the preparation of an infringement suit for an electronics manufacturer concerning navigation technology. The firm underlined the positive development by appointing two patent attorneys as partners.

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JUVE Comment

The patent prosecution team of this IP boutique is one of the most visible Munich outfits and files a large number of patents at the German Patent and Trademark Office. For its predominantly German client base the firm files a large number of priority applications, and European filing is also on the increase. One very important client is Liebherr – both for filing and litigation. Besides activity for many innovative Mittelstand companies, LSG’s work for a number of international corporates is visible in the market. The patent attorneys around Laufhütte also conduct infringement proceedings for regular clients. Pre-litigation advice is provided to the auto industry. The lawyers also master the field of patent litigation, as shown by major mobile communications proceedings for regular client O2/Telefónica. The combination of a strong client base in the auto industry and mobile communications know-how is a good basis for the hot topic of connected cars and more visibility in patents as a litigation firm.

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JUVE Comment

This Munich IP firm operates a very active filing practice for a balanced client list of international corporates like Honda and Sony as well as numerous German Mittelstand companies. Huawei is another key client for whom the firm conducts many opposition and nullity suits. The patent attorneys stepped up activity for the Chinese company in infringement proceedings. This is the field in which Mitscherlich made the most progress, as it also worked for Nespresso in its epic coffee capsule battle against ECC.

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JUVE Comment

This pure patent attorney firm has a well-positioned midsized prosecution practice. P&P is particularly active for auto suppliers. So it is only logical that P&P is involved in the first proceedings regarding connected cars before the German courts, for Texas Instruments on the side of the Audi/VW co-litigant. As in this case, extensive filing work often gives rise to busy litigation activity for regular clients.

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JUVE Comment

This IP firm remains one of the most visible prosecution outfits in Munich. The firm is remaining true to its strategy as a pure patent attorney firm and works within a broad technical spectrum. Because of their activity for originators, the patent attorneys enjoy an excellent reputation for pharmaceuticals litigation, but also work for generics manufacturers. Although they are experienced in litigation and file many global patents for LG (one of the highest profile mobile communications manufacturers), the patent attorneys hardly appear at all in mobile communications proceedings. This harbors further potential, which the cautiously growing firm can tap by transferring its litigation expertise from pharmaceuticals to the electronics and communication team.

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JUVE Comment

This Hamburg IP boutique mainly works for companies from the pharmaceuticals, biotech and chemicals sectors in filing and opposition suits. Such notable companies as Monsanto and ExxonMobil are regular clients. Long-standing connections to Presspart gave rise to work for its subsidiary H&T. But the continuity in client relationships contrasted with staff fluctuation. Uexküll lost a partner accomplished in the chemicals sector, Wiegeleben. Two patent attorneys experienced in mobile communications already left last year. Staying attractive to younger partners will be the key to mastering the potential challenges brought by the UPC. After all, with its vast litigation experience in the pharmaceuticals sector, Uexküll is actually well set for the European court.

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This IP firm has an excellent reputation as a prosecution outfit in Frankfurt and the surrounding area. The patent attorneys are also active for regular clients in opposition and nullity suits. K&S recently grew by several patent attorneys, partly due to the merger with Frankfurt firm Dr. Knoblauch. Dr. Andreas Knoblauch brings experience in mechanics and electronics patents. His regular clients include ASC Telecom, Danfoss and Karl Mayer Textilmaschinen. The work of K&S itself is heavily characterized by filing for long-time clients from the engineering, mechanics, chemicals and chemical engineering sectors. K&S conducts infringement proceedings with both its own lawyers and external litigators, but its visibility cannot compete with that of the Düsseldorf or Munich firms. This may change after the merger with Dr. Knoblauch with the new clients this brings. The greater focus on Chinese work pushed by a patent attorney with a Chinese background harbors further potential.

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JUVE Comment

This Munich patent attorney firm is best known for its solid expertise in pharmaceuticals, biotech and chemicals patents. Besides prosecution work for regular clients like Teva or Sandoz, L&K is often seen in litigation, e.g. for Ratiopharm against Orion Pharma involving the sedative dexmedetomidine or for Hexal in the dispute with Bayer over Xarelto. Such clients secure the patent attorneys’ excellent reputation for pharmaceuticals proceedings on the side of generics manufacturers.

JUVE Comment

In the past year, this IP firm, which boasts a large team and files many patents, demonstrated for the first time that its extensive prosecution activity harbors huge potential for much more litigation work for the patent attorneys and lawyers. VJP is playing a central role in the first series of proceedings involving the hot trend of connected cars with a large patent attorney team, who are fighting for Audi/VW alongside litigation experts from Kather Augenstein. The firm’s initial experience from mobile communications proceedings for NPEs like NMS, as well as close ties to the semiconductor and auto industry, came in useful here. The strong starting position for this crucial growth area in patent litigation could also pay dividends before the UPC. The firm’s strength in the electrical engineering and auto industry, and excellent Asian links (own office in Singapore) as well as the Düsseldorf office, which recently hired a patent attorney, also make a good basis for the UPC. This could be even better if VJ&P manages to position its own team of lawyers in more major proceedings. The firm saw some staff changes, with two partner departures, six internal partner appointments and one lateral move across all technical specialties.

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JUVE Comment

The patents team at this mixed Stuttgart firm is best known for prosecution work and praised by competitors as being “highly competent and reliable”. The outfit is far more visible for international corporates than others in the region. Besides regular clients Sony, Boeing and Qiagen, a number of US companies trust in WWP. The firm also often litigates for its clients, e.g. for Sony in the nullity suit over a digital book against an NPE. In infringement proceedings, the patent attorneys often operate on the side of large law firms with strong roots in southwest Germany.

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