The Legal 500

Danubia’s ‘very specialised’ group provides a ‘broad scope of services’, and is an authority on patents, trade marks and other traditional IP matters. The team includes a hefty number of dedicated patent attorneys to provide market-leading advice on prosecution and IP enforcement. Practice head Mihály Lantos is a specialist in electronics and engineering IP.

SBGK Patent and Law Offices’ sizeable group is ‘good on filing matters’ for trade marks and patents, and on IP rights protection. Its wide-ranging expertise encompasses sectors including construction, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.

CMS Cameron McKenna LLP’s IP practice has expanded to eight fee-earners under the leadership of Dóra Petrányi. It advises on matters such as patent infringements and IP rights transfers including acquisitions of copyright, and is particularly strong in the TMT sector. Highlights included representing Johnson & Johnson in international trade mark enforcement before the Hungarian IP office, and advising Samsung Electronics on soft IP matters.

Eördögh Bird & Bird’s team ‘shows a large amount of experience and proactivity in the field of IP’, and is praised for its ‘extraordinary co-operation and celerity’. The group advises on European trade mark filings, anti-counterfeiting strategies and cross-border patent infringement litigation (in co-operation with its German office’s patent attorneys). However, the group suffered the loss of managing partner and key IP lawyer Andrea Simándi, who joined Microsoft in January 2012.

Kajtár Takács Hegymegi-Barakonyi Baker & McKenzie’s compact IP group now numbers three fee-earners following the recruitment of another associate. Zoltán Hegymegi-Barakonyi heads the team, which is advising a Hungarian bakery on multi-jurisdictional brand management and trade mark filings. It has also acted for a leading entertainment and clothing company on customs seizures and a domain name infringement.

Oppenheim’s bailiwick is IT-related IP advice, such as advising clients on their software, email and internet activities. Ivan Bartal leads the four-strong team, which counts OTP Bank and Sinoma Budapest as key clients. In addition, the group represents Mars in trade mark litigation and recently advised new client The Reader’s Digest Association Inc on complex licensing agreements.

Szecskay Attorneys at Law defends clients in patent, copyright and design infringement litigation, especially in the pharmaceuticals industry. Gusztáv Bacher and managing partner András Szecskay recently advised Gedeon Richter in a patent dispute. The team also handles software development agreements and licensing.

Tamás Gödölle of Bogsch & Partners is highly regarded for trade marks advice and has a steady track record in litigation before the Hungarian Patent Office.

Horváth & Partners DLA Piper’s nine-strong group provides ‘fast and efficient’ service and ‘tailor-made advice’ to film and television production companies on copyright issues. Additionally, it advises IT, energy and life sciences clients on data protection matters. Practice head Mónika Horváth ‘delegates work effectively to very capable colleagues, yet remains involved across all the issues’.

Name partner Péter Lakatos at Lakatos, Köves and Partners led the Hungarian defence of Nokia in a high-profile claim brought by Artisjus relating to private copy levy fees. The team has also been advising Hugo Boss on trade mark protection, and Fruit of the Loom in trade mark infringement litigation.

‘Solutions-oriented’ Réczicza White & Case LLP provides ‘very good’ advice on data privacy issues, copyright law, as well as trade mark exploitation and enforcement, and advises on a steady diet of transactions. The team recently advised Invitel Holding on the IP aspects of several acquisitions in the television sector. Counsel Balázs Fazekas heads the practice, and is ‘constructive in responding to challenges’ and ‘quick in understanding and assessing the key issues’.