JUVE Comment

In just a few years, the German IP practice of this international full-service law firm has established itself as a force to be reckoned with in the market, particularly for litigation relating to mobile communication patents. Düsseldorf partners Tobias Hessel and Stefan Richter joined last year with a counsel from Hoyng ROKH Monegier, bringing extensive experience in SEP litigation as well as regular client Huawei. The team is active in several high-calibre proceedings for the Chinese mobile phone provider as well as for Oppo, including at the UPC. They have also recently won over new clients such as TP Link, which the team is representing in a dispute over wi-fi 6 patents.

The team is also active for industrial clients, for example from the automotive sector, and advises various pharmaceutical manufacturers such as Neuraxpharm. In addition to litigation, advice on licences and transactions plays a major role. The good contacts of Clifford Chance’s market-leading healthcare practice offer further potential to step up patent litigation for life sciences clients in the future.

Strengths

Litigation over mobile communication patents.

European set-up

The strategic expansion of recent years is now paying off for Clifford Chance’s German practice. The extensive experience of Hessel and Richter, as well as the close client relationship with Huawei, have led the team to the UPC for several proceedings. The team is also active in one of the most comprehensive UPC proceedings over digital communications, namely for Oppo against Panasonic. As in national proceedings, the lawyers are also cooperating with experienced patent attorney firms.

Clifford lawyers from other offices are so far not involved in the Oppo case. The team led by practice group head Claudia Milbradt coordinates the litigation strategy for Swedish company Lelo in various countries and in the opposition proceedings at the EPO, demonstrating the cross-border cooperation works. However, such cross-border cases are rare. The good relationships with international tech clients, as well as Clifford Chance’s established contacts with pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, are a good basis for expanding international litigation work and attacking the European market leaders.

Recommended individuals

Tobias Hessel (“expert in patent litigation”, competitor), Stefan Richter (“impressive orator and writer”, competitor; “good and successful”, “know exactly how to mount a good defence strategy”, “successfully building a new patent litigation team”, competitors about both)

Team

10 lawyers

Clients

Litigation: Huawei against AVM and Netgear over wi-fi 6 patents; Huawei against Tot Power Control over mobile communications; Oppo against Panasonic over digital communications; Oppo against InterDigital over mobile communications; TP-Link against Atlas over wi-fi 6 patents; Lumitec against Scangrip over LED patents; Autoscan/KHS against Auto Damage Inspection over scanning system for hail damage on cars; Lelo Europe against EIS over pressure-wave massager. Advice: Neuraxpharm on licensing.