Lederer & Keller and Kraus & Weisert announce merger

Following the merger on 1 January 2024, the new outfit Kraus & Lederer will have a total of 25 patent attorneys. It combines a focus on pharmaceuticals, chemistry and biotechnology with expertise in electronics and mobile communications, as well as mechanical engineering.

As a new, midsized pure patent attorney firm, Kraus & Lederer could also transfer Lederer & Keller’s strong litigation experience in life sciences to other technologies in the future. This would be an advantage in the market, not least in view of possible UPC litigation.

A mix of talents

Michael Best

Prior to the merger, Lederer & Keller has extensive experience in disputes related to pharma, biotech and chemicals patents – both in opposition suits at the EPO, as well as in nullity and infringement cases.

The firm’s regular clients include Sandoz, Hexal and Teva, and the latter’s subsidiary, Ratiopharm. They frequently put their faith in the team around renowned partner Michael Best. For example, Teva hired the firm for the lucrative opposition proceedings against Bristol-Myers Squibb concerning the drug apixaban.

Pharmaceutical expertise

Other recent litigation includes Lederer & Keller’s work for Ratiopharm on a nullity suit at the German Federal Court of Justice against Biogen/Acorda over MS drug Fampyra. Another example is the infringement proceedings for Hexal against Biogen over Tecfidera, in which the patent attorney team cooperated with lawyers from Gleiss Lutz.

Together with Bird & Bird, Michael Best is advising Ratiopharm/Teva on technical issues in the dispute with Bayer over Nexavar.

Claus Beckmann

Active at the EPO

On the other hand, Kraus & Weisert are primarily known for filing and prosecution work, where the patent attorneys are active across a broad technical spectrum.

Clients include well-known companies from the electronics industry such as Infineon, as well as medical technology manufacturers such as Siemens Healthcare or Carl Zeiss Vision. The firm also advises automotive suppliers such as Bridgestone and Harman Becker Automotive.

In addition, Kraus & Weisert is very active in life sciences. For example, it acts for pharmaceutical manufacturer AbbVie and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

Focus on Asia

Kraus & Weisert’s patent attorneys are also very active in oppositions, including acting as a strawman against Biogen and Novartis, and as a strawman against Bayer over a patent for Xarelto. In the latter case, Lederer & Keller advised Hexal as one of the eleven opponents. On behalf of Alfasigma, the Kraus & Weisert team is leading several oppositions against Sandoz and defends the client’s patents against strawman oppositions.

Kraus & Weisert also conducts national nullity proceedings, albeit less frequently. Here, it has worked for solar module manufacturer Meyer Burger in the dispute over smart wire technology before the German Federal Patent Court.

The firm also maintains close ties with Asian clients such as Sony, Nippon Steel, Korean Aerospace Research Institute and Oppo. It represented the latter in oppositions against 3G Licensing, a subsidiary of Sisvel, among others. Partner Claus Beckmann is especially active in advising clients from Japan, Taiwan and China, such as Daido Metal, Hoya Lens and Contemporary Amperex Technology.