JUVE Comment

This team has outstanding expertise in biotech and pharmaceutical patents. Biotech clients such as BioNTech and Sanofi trust the firm for high-stakes proceedings. This has also given the pure patent attorney team a remarkable track record in infringement and nullity proceedings.

The practice is developing dynamically in terms of staff. After hiring two partners last year, it has now appointed two partners from its own ranks. At the same time, the firm plans to expand the comparatively small team in mechanics – here the firm’s second office in Berlin could be an advantage as comparatively few firms are present in the capital.

Prosecution work for existing clients such as Immatics is also developing positively, although no large new clients are being added. The staff growth means that the law firm could also expand its client base here.

European set-up

The firm may not be the first port of call for UPC cases, but it has been active here. However, as more and more biotech patents are litigated in the new system, the firm could become more involved. As in the past with pan-European and national litigation, it presents itself as an independent technically experienced partner for lawyers without in-house biotech expertise on the patent attorney side. A concept that can work based on the experience of the law firms, but which offers no guarantee of success.

Strengths

Litigation regarding pharma and biotech patents.

Recommended individuals

Georg Schnappauf, Jörk Zwicker (“very good”, competitor; both patent attorneys)

Team

25 patent attorneys

Clients

Litigation: BioNTech against CureVac and Moderna over COVID-19 vaccines; Sanofi/Regeneron against Amgen over cholesterol-lowering drug evolocumab/Rapatha/Praluent. EPO oppositions for BioNTech against CureVac over protein expression; BioNTech against Moderna over vaccine against respiratory virus; Sanofi against Amgen over PCSK9-specific antibodies/Praluent; WobbleWorks against myFirst Tech Asia over design apparatus.