The Legal 500

Homburger’s broad practice excels in IP litigation and has recently acted in cases involving music copyright, industrial designs and patent licensing, and Gregor Bühler represented Bibliotheca in a case relating to violation of industrial designs. Practice head Georg Rauber is regarded as ‘the first choice for complex intellectual property rights cases’ and is ‘a very strong negotiator with a strong commercial approach’. Werner Stieger is also highly recommended.

Lenz & Staehelin’s lawyers are valued for their ‘excellent response times, in-depth knowledge and awareness of client needs’. The practice covers the full spread of patent, trade mark and design law, including IP litigation and trade mark and design prosecution, and has expertise spanning the pharmaceuticals, IT, retail, and food and beverages industries. In 2012, Zurich-based Jürg Simon successfully represented Emmentaler Switzerland in a significant appellations-of-origin case in Italy. Zurich-based Thierry Calame and Geneva-based Dominique Rochat are also recommended.

Boutique practice Troller Hitz Troller ‘adds value through its unrivalled market knowledge and commitment to the area’. The firm specialises in advising top-drawer domestic and multinational clients on IP matters, and is particularly well regarded for its experience in the luxury goods, pharmaceuticals and nutritional products sectors. Patrick Troller is recommended for patent law, and Gallus Joller is well regarded for trade mark litigation and IT-related work.

Walder Wyss Ltd is regarded by some as being ‘the top-notch IP law firm in Switzerland’, and is recommended for its ‘hands-on, strategic lawyers’. It successfully represented Mega Brands in a claim to invalidate LEGO’s three-dimensional trade marks. Practice head Magda Streuli-Youssef is ‘a pleasure to work with because of her friendly personality and excellent knowledge of the law’. ‘Young, bright "new-generation" lawyer’ Markus Frick has ‘an uncanny ability to cut through legal jargon to the heart of the issue’.

BCCC Attorneys-at-law LLC handles contentious and non-contentious IP matters, and particularly excels on the litigation side. It recently defended a Swiss private bank in a complex IP and abusive termination case. Managing partner Manuel Bianchi della Porta is the main contact.

BMG Avocats’ expertise includes patent and trade mark law, as well as designs, copyrights, anti-counterfeiting and data protection matters. Clients include luxury and designer goods companies. Sylvie Gurry-Veit and Anne-Virginie La Spada-Gaide are the main contacts.

Baker & McKenzie impresses with its ‘ability to understand the clients’ services, activities and needs’. Michael Treis recently advised Parfums Christian Dior in trade mark litigation against Diodor Cosmetic. Nicolas Passadelis is also recommended.

Bär & Karrer AG’s ‘outstanding lawyers’ are recommended for their ‘hands-on approach and fast response times’, and practice head Markus Wang is ‘excellent’. The firm has a strong reputation for work in the pharmaceuticals sector, and recently acted in a major IP litigation in this field. Clients include Novartis, Cytos Biotechnology and UEFA.

Froriep Renggli has strong standing in the luxury goods sector and regularly acts for clients such as Richemont International group, August Storck and International Brand Management. The ‘analytical and sharp’ Roger Staub represents the Swiss Association of Media Monitoring Companies in negotiating copyright tariffs with collecting societies.

Fuhrer Marbach & Partners is ‘a highly respected name for trade mark law’, and clients highlight it as ‘a specialised Bernese law firm with a tremendously more favourable fee structure than most Zurich-based firms and very solid lawyers’. Eugen Marbach is a highly regarded trade mark expert, and Peter Widmer is recommended for patent disputes.

Meyerlustenberger Lachenal is representing Ethical Coffee Company in an international dispute brought by Nespresso regarding its three-dimensional trade mark; the Landgericht Düsseldorf recently rejected Nespresso’s claims for a preliminary injunction, arguing that Nespresso’s patent rights were exhausted. Michael Ritscher is highly recommended.

Niederer Kraft & Frey AG provides ongoing advice to Healey Sports Cars Switzerland and Healey Automobile Consultants regarding worldwide trade mark, domain name and design protection strategy. Other clients include St Moritz Polo, Singapore Airlines and Procter & Gamble. Nicolas Birkhäuser and Thomas Frick are the main contacts.

Lorenza Ferrari Hofer heads Pestalozzi’s IP practice, which handles a good balance of non-contentious work and litigation. In 2012, the firm advised the Johnson & Johnston group of companies on the development and licensing of iPad and iPhone apps for medical purposes.

Schellenberg Wittmer’s IP team is well known for its pharmaceuticals expertise and is representing Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals in three significant international arbitration cases relating to product licensing and distribution. Andrea Mondini is the name to note in Zurich, while Philippe Ducor heads the team in Geneva.

Vischer’s recent contentious engagements include representing a client in two arbitration cases relating to drug development and patent licensing agreements. Non-contentious work includes advising a European airline on trade mark strategy. Stefan Kohler is recommended for technology and life sciences matters.

Jeannette Wibmer at Badertscher Rechtsanwälte AG/ Attorneys at Law advises one of the world’s top ten executive search companies on global IP protection.

Bill Isenegger Ackermann AG’s Urs Isenegger recently advised a multinational medical technology group on licensing issues.

CMS recently acted for several user groups in the banking sector in a copyright case concerning the use of ISIN (international securities identification number).

GHR Rechtsanwälte’s Michael Meer recently acted for ALSTOM in several IP and licensing matters. Medco Health Solutions and GENBAN are also clients.

id est avocats sàrl, a boutique firm founded by former partners of BCCC Attorneys-at-law LLC, has a strong reputation for new media work and copyright, technology licensing and IP litigation are all areas of activity. Michel Jaccard is ‘an uncontested specialist for IT and internet-related Swiss legal matters’.

Kellerhals Attorneys at Law advises on both IP strategy and contentious issues. Daniel Alder is well regarded.

Lalive is advising a leading Middle Eastern luxury products group on the worldwide protection of its trade marks and designs.

Martin Eckert at MME Partners excels at advising on the IP aspects of IT projects for clients from the financial services, manufacturing and telecoms sectors.

IP boutique Meisser & Partners specialises in advising on the full lifecycle of trade mark matters, including litigation.

Nater Dallafior Rechtsanwälte AG has strong experience in IP pertaining to the food, beverages, pharmaceuticals and financial services sectors. Mathis Berger is recommended.

Python & Peter has a track record in IP arbitrations, particularly relating to pharmaceuticals products. Pierre-Yves Gunter and Thomas Legler are the main contacts.

Rentsch Partner AG is a niche IP firm of lawyers and patent attorneys and focuses exclusively on trade mark, patent, copyright, advertising and telecoms law. Rudolf Rentsch is ‘knowledgeable and user-friendly’.

Staiger, Schwald & Partner’s Christoph Gasser is highly recommended for IP work. The firm has an active litigation practice and handles a steady flow of trade mark and patent disputes, particularly in the pharmaceuticals and medical technology sectors. Trade mark portfolio management is also a strong area.

IP boutique Swissberg Ltd. acts on trade mark issues, portfolio management and litigation. Christian Rohner, Michael Widmer and Renata Kündig are the main contacts.

ThomannFischer handles a significant amount of IP litigation and has expertise in patent, trade mark and copyright law.

Umbricht Rechtsanwälte’s team is led by Daniel Kraus, who recently acted as sole arbitrator in a trade mark licensing dispute between leading pharmaceuticals companies.

WEINMANN ZIMMERLI was created by the merger of KRSW Weinmann and Zimmerli, Wagner & Partner. It is a boutique that is particularly active in competition and IP matters in the advertising, media and life sciences sectors. Conrad Weinmann is recommended.

Wenger Plattner has strong copyright experience and has recently handled cases in the music, media and technology sectors.