The Legal 500

Bird & Bird’s leading, comprehensive practice provides ‘a unique level of quality and strategic thinking’ and ‘a great understanding of US law’. The team regularly acts in major cases, such as representing LG in several large-scale proceedings. It also acted for new client win Microsoft in several matters, and represented Nokia in proceedings against IPCom. Christian Harmsen is ‘a brilliant lawyer with excellent communication and strategic skills’, Oliver Jan Jüngst is ‘on top of every single case’, and Daniela Kinkeldey needs ‘no time to bring her up to speed with technical details’.

Hogan Lovells International LLP is ‘detailed, constructive and in the end successful’. The team has an extensive roster of international clients and remains one of the leading practices for contentious patent work and has particular expertise in pharmaceuticals cases for clients such as Merck. Andreas von Falck shows ‘excellent understanding of the pharmaceuticals business’. On the technology side, the team represented Dell in a case relating to computer monitors against innovation; and Qualcomm in a wi-fi technology patent infringement case against Ericsson.

Krieger, Mes & Graf von der Groeben scored a coup when it was instructed to represent Samsung against Apple Inc in the smart phone litigation, large parts of which had been previously handled by Rospatt Osten Pross. The firm is acting for TomTom in litigation over navigation devices; and IPCom against Deutsche Telekom regarding GSM patents. Other clients include 3M, Sony and Tetra Pak. Axel Verhauwen and Peter Mes are recommended.

Boutique firm Reimann Osterrieth Köhler Haft has ‘an extremely strong market position’, maintains ‘a continuously high caseload’ and attracts ‘substantial cross-border work for a boutique’, particularly thanks to its deep expertise spanning pharmaceuticals, telecoms and electronics IP. Highlights were representing Nokia against HTC; and Samsung against Osram regarding LED technology. The firm also provides ongoing advice and representation to Teva and Continental. Name partners Thomas Reimann, Klaus Haft and Christian Osterrieth are recommended.

Electronics and pharmaceuticals are hallmarks of Wildanger Kehrwald Graf v Schwerin & Partner’s practice. Recent highlights include representing LG against Mitsubishi and Mundipharma against Sandoz. The practice also acts for numerous Asian clients, including several Korean companies. Roland Kehrwald and Wolf von Schwerin are the key figures.

Bardehle Pagenberg has an excellent patent litigation practice, and attracts ‘a wide range of impressive mandates’. The team has robust ties to numerous US clients, and is representing Apple Inc against Motorola and HTC, as well as Microsoft against Motorola, both in the smart phones litigation. Other highlights were representing Nintendo regarding games consoles, and Bavarian Nordic regarding vaccines. Jochen Pagenberg and Tilman 
Müller-Stoy are recommended.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer had an impressive year by capitalising on its pharmaceuticals and technology expertise. For example, it represented Microsoft against Motorola in the smart phones litigation, and acted for Nokia Siemens Networks in a range of patent cases. Novartis and Hexal are clients in the pharmaceuticals industry. Peter Chrocziel and Frank-Erich Hufnagel are recommended.

Preu Bohlig & Partner is well regarded for its pharmaceuticals and life sciences expertise, where Boehringer Ingelheim and Boston Scientific are clients. On the technology side, the team represented Ericsson in several patent cases; and HTC in proceedings against Apple Inc. Continental is also a client. Peter Kather and Stephan Gruber are the key figures.

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP continued its successful path of expansion, opening its second German office in Hamburg in May 2012 and gaining new clients such as Samsung, which the team is now representing against Apple Inc. Other highlights were representing Motorola against Apple Inc, and acting for IPCom against Nokia. Marcus Grosch has ‘successfully developed his team’, and is recommended.

Rospatt Osten Pross is strong in advising clients from the pharmaceuticals and technology sectors, and continues to act for Samsung against Osram in litigation pertaining to LED light bulbs. The firm is also one of Samsung’s advisers in smart phones litigation with Apple Inc. Name partners Horst von der Osten, Ulrich Pross and Max von Rospatt are recommended.

‘Truly outstanding in every way’, Taylor Wessing gained new instructions in the life sciences, IT and electronics sectors, and has recently been representing Ericsson in the patent infringement suit initiated by IPCom. The team also negotiated a settlement for United Internet, thus concluding four standard patent ADSL technology infringement suits. Sandoz is a new client. Christoph de Coster and Sabine Rojahn are recommended, as is Dietrich Kamlah, who is ‘a great litigator and exceptional legal mind’.

Gleiss Lutz excels in pharmaceuticals work and recently defended Actavis Deutschland in a cross-border infringement case. On the technology side, the team represented ViewSonic in patent infringement and invalidity proceedings against iiinnovation regarding screen technology. Thomas Bopp has ‘a strong grasp of technically complicated matters’ and his ‘creativity leads to success’.

Grünecker’s team of patent attorneys and lawyers is ‘accurate, fast and of excellent quality’, and provides a comprehensive service with particular strengths in electronics, mechanics and software IP. Highlights included representing Arcelik against Philips regarding television patents and acting for Novozymes in pan-European litigation against Danisco. Motorola is another client. Bernd Allekotte and Gerhard Barth are recommended.

Boutique firm Klaka Rechtsanwälte enjoys a great reputation for pharmaceuticals and mechanical IP litigation. Highlights included acting for the Comité Interprofessionnel du 
Vin de Champagne in litigation, and representing Tyco in proceedings regarding safety technology. Olaf Giebe is ‘excellent’.

CMS excels at advising clients from the biotech, pharmaceuticals and healthcare sector but also handles technology mandates. It recently represented Nanya Technology against semiconductor manufacturer Qimonda, and acted for Leifheit in infringement proceedings against ADE. Matthias Eck heads the practice, which is increasingly attracting instructions 
from Chinese clients.

Boutique firm Harmsen Utescher frequently acts for defendants in IP cases, and is representing Telefónica in a case against CIF regarding DSL patents. Other clients include retailer Lidl. IP experts Michael Schaeffer and Rainer Kaase are recommended.

Hoffmann Eitle is increasingly focusing on cross-border matters, and has offices in Munich, London and, since December 2012, in Düsseldorf. Pharmaceuticals and technology are key areas of expertise for the team, which represented Apple Inc against Samsung in the smart phones litigation; and Ericsson against IPCom regarding GSM patents. Chemicals patent specialist Thorsten Bausch is recommended.

Boehmert & Boehmert’s patent attorneys and lawyers have particular pharmaceuticals expertise, but also attract substantial technology mandates such as representing Microsoft against Motorola in the smart phones litigation. Heinz Goddar and Jan Krauss are recommended.

DLA Piper’s dynamic team revolves around Julia Schönbohm, who has ‘successfully built a substantial practice’. The team represented 
Osram in litigation against LG Electronics, and acted for Sun Chemical in patent infringement proceedings. Other clients include Bayer CropScience and Motorola.

Eisenführ Speiser has a strong patent prosecution practice and has managed to expand on the litigation side, where electrical engineering cases are a particular strength. The firm is representing iiinnovation in litigation regarding television screens, and Philips is another key client. Harald Förster, Jochen Ehlers and Klaus Göken are recommended.

Hengeler Mueller has notable telecoms and pharmaceuticals expertise, and produces a ‘fantastic quality’ of work. It is acting for IPCom in its high-profile litigation against Nokia. The team also represented Kennametal in a patent lawsuit regarding chemical coatings. Wolfgang Kellenter has ‘perfect knowledge and rhetorical skills’.

Jones Day’s ‘top-notch’ practice is excellent for chemicals and technology matters. It is representing Daikin in pan-European patent infringement litigation. Other clients include Sunrise Medical, Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Lufthansa Technik. Christian Paul is ‘very structured and persuasive’, and ‘makes complex subjects understandable’.

Vossius & Partner’s team of patent attorneys and lawyers has been active in high-profile litigation, such as representing ZTE against Huawei. Johann Pitz, Hans-Rainer Jaenichen and Alexa von Uexküll are particularly good.