JUVE Comment

This mixed IP boutique is characterised by its active filing practice and representation in infringement actions for clients in mobile communications. The team, which has good ties to Asian companies, was once again active in patent disputes for well-known clients such as Xiaomi. The patent attorneys often cooperate with external law firms such as Klaka. However, the mixed team includes lawyer Marco Scheffler, who has a good reputation for SEP and FRAND disputes. He is representing Haier in a highly regarded constitutional action against a landmark decision of the Federal Court of Justice. He is also involved in various nullity proceedings and appeals.

Less frequently, however, a mixed team from Gulde acts as lead counsel in infringement proceedings. For example, the team is representing Oppo at Mannheim Regional Court in a dispute with Panasonic concerning an Oppo patent for headphone technology. In addition to litigation, Gulde’s brisk prosecution practice covers a broad technical spectrum, with a particular focus on automotive and transport, digital communication, computer technology and electronics.

The law firm continues to grow. The appointment of a partner emphasised the importance of the Düsseldorf office, which opened last year. In addition, Gulde merged with the Berlin patent attorney firm Jungblut & Seuss. The two name partners strengthened the team with their expertise in chemistry and expanded the client base to include SMEs from the pharmaceutical, medical technology and cosmetics sectors. These are mainly advised on prosecution but offer potential for future litigation in these sectors. Expanding the legal team with lateral hires experienced in patent litigation would increase the chances of it being retained as an independent mixed team without external law firms in the future.

European set-up

As a mixed law firm with a large team of patent attorneys with broad technical expertise compared to the rest of the market, Gulde is also well positioned to represent clients at the UPC – whether in mixed teams or only by patent attorneys. Despite good contacts with well-known mobile phone companies such as Oppo and Xiaomi, which often act as defendants but increasingly also as plaintiffs, the team is not involved in Oppo’s extensive series of lawsuits against Panasonic at the UPC. For the latter court, these clients have so far primarily relied on law firms that have previously acted more frequently than Gulde in cross-border patent disputes.

Nevertheless, the good contacts to Asian clients and the strong client base in the medical technology and automotive sectors offer great potential for future UPC proceedings.

Strengths

Patent litigation related to electronics and telecoms patents. Strong presence among Asian companies.

Recommended individuals

Marco Scheffler (“extensive experience in SEPs”, competitor), Nicolas Haße (“quick comprehension, substantial knowledge in mobile communications”, “sharp as a tack and very shrewd, especially in patent infringement cases”, competitors), Sönke Lorenz (“very good”, competitor; patent attorney), Martin Thimm (“extremely good technical understanding in mobile communications, excellent mathematician and computer scientist”, competitor; patent attorney)

Team

33 patent attorneys, 3 lawyers, 1 dual qualified

Clients

Litigation: Oppo against KPN over telecommunications patents; Xiaomi against Bell Northern Research over telecommunications (settled 2024); AVM against Huawei over wi-fi 6 patents (settled 2024); Bestway against Intex Marketing over inflatable products; Haier against Sisvel over SEPs for advanced audio coding (complaint before the German Constitutional Court). Oppositions: Oppo against Nokia over telecommunications patents; Samsung Electronics against Dyson over vacuum cleaner; Imperial Tobacco against Philip Morris and Juul Labs over e-cigarettes (all public knowledge).