Morgan Lewis expands European patent litigation team in Munich with Baker partner

Morgan Lewis’ latest addition Alexander Ritter (45) is a lawyer with a technical background as a computer scientist. He specialises in advising and representing companies from the high-tech, mechanical engineering, chemical, medical technology and biotechnology sectors. Associate Moritz Sutterer is accompanying him to Morgan Lewis.

Ritter’s career began in 2012 in the patent practice of the German IP firm Preu Bohlig. In 2015 he moved to Baker McKenzie, where he was part of a team led by practice head Jochen Herr. The team advised well-known companies such as Becton Dickinson and Giesecke & Devrient. It also represented Pioneer in a licence dispute with Thomson Licensing.

Alexander Ritter

When Herr opened a Munich office with three associates for Finnegan at the beginning of 2022, Ritter took over as head of the IP team at Baker McKenzie.

Morgan Lewis aims for UPC

In addition to his experience in patent litigation before national courts and the EPO, Ritter advises on intellectual property rights in the context of corporate transactions.

“Alexander’s extensive track record in litigating standard-essential patents, patent infringement and opposition proceedings makes him a tremendous asset to our firm,” says Louis Beardell, head of Morgan Lewis’ global IP practice. “His technical background in IT combined with his more than ten years of high-stakes patent litigation experience will add value to our clients in the most complex IP disputes.”

At Baker McKenzie, ten fee earners remain in the IP team, of which four are partners. However, none are active in patent litigation.

Morgan Lewis opened the Munich office in spring 2023. Ritter will join IP partners Alexander Klett and Christoph Mikyska, who moved from Reed Smith in July 2024 to build up the young IP practice. Both are primarily active in soft IP and advise on trademarks and design law. Ritter now brings expertise in patent matters. This should benefit the US law firm’s technology, healthcare and life sciences clients — especially with a view to the UPC.

Tim Powell at the helm in the UK

Morgan Lewis laid the foundation for a patent practice in the UK in autumn 2024. The firm poached renowned patent litigator Tim Powell and Hiroshi Sheraton from Baker McKenzie’s London IP team.

A co-founder and former name partner of Powell Gilbert, Tim Powell was instrumental in the British IP boutique’s successful launch at the UPC. He boasts a wealth of experience in complex, multijurisdictional, and cross-border patent disputes, particularly for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies as well as in the field of medical devices. For example, he was active for Edwards Lifesciences, Illumina and GlaxoSmithKline (now GSK). Powell was also lead representative for Actavis in the high-profile dispute against Warner-Lambert. The case led to a landmark decision at the UK Supreme Court. His addition thus underlines Morgan Lewis’ intention to play a role at the UPC in the future.

“In recent months, we have strategically added to our European and UK bench, notably with the arrivals of IP litigators Hiroshi Sheraton in London and Alex Klett and Christoph Mikyska in Munich. Tim’s arrival plays a critical role in our overall growth plan,” says Louis Beardell. “Tim’s presence will immediately enhance the planned expansion of our European/UK team and contribute to the synergies with our already strong IP litigation practice in the United States.”

At the European forefront

Jami McKeon, chair of Morgan Lewis, says, “With significant changes anticipated in the European patent courts and patent assertion throughout the entire EU, our clients require careful, specialised guidance. Tim’s stellar reputation and skillful coordination of complex, cross-border disputes will enhance our global IP practice capabilities in cutting-edge sectors where IP protection is key to our clients’ success.”

The prospect that the UPC could develop into the most important patent court worldwide makes Europe increasingly appealing for US law firms. If the UPC does indeed become a key patent litigation hub, UPC expertise and presence in UPC cases could become a decisive factor when companies are choosing which firms they want to coordinate their major global litigation campaigns.

In an interview with the World IP Review, Tim Powell emphasised the strategic importance of leveraging the UPC as a hub for global patent litigation. “Europe has become a much more significant centre of gravity for patent litigation,” he said.

Ritter will help bolster the firm’s patent litigation capacities in Munich — one of the most active UPC locations to date.