Demonstrating significant prowess across the life sciences, TMT and energy sectors, among others, the ‘exceptional’ and ‘strategic’ Homburger is a tour-de-force in the technical IP sphere, frequently covering issues such as electronics, machinery and software engineering for its diverse multitude of global scale clients. Gregor Bühler heads up the firm’s offering, with a diverse arsenal of skills that extends across trade mark enforcement, licensing agreements and IP disputes. Andri Hess is highly active on the disputes and contractual side of the IP arena, while seasoned practitioner Georg Rauber maintains an established presence in relation to patent, copyright and trade mark disputes. Another name to note is Luca Dal Molin, who frequently handles matters pertaining to software, telecoms and copyright disputes, among other complex matters.
Intellectual property in Switzerland
Homburger
Responsables de la pratique:
Gregor Bühler
Autres avocats clés:
Andri Hess; Georg Rauber; Luca Dal Molin; Julian Schwaller; Philippe Baumann; Angelika Murer
Les références
‘They demonstrate knowledge and experience.’
‘The Homburger IP team stands out for efficiency and strong client relationship building.’
‘Good advice on a strategic approach.’
Principaux clients
Lotus Bakeries
ABB
Cadence Design Systems
H.Lüdi + Co
Nestlé
Nespresso
Sanofi Aventis
Hyundai
Illumina
Zur Rose Group
Siegfried
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Lotus Bakeries on IP related cross-border matters in a strategic partnership with Mondelēz International to expand and grow the Lotus Biscoff® cookie brand.
- Advised ABB on IP related matters in its acquisition of Sevensense Robotics.
- Represented H.Lüdi in a patent infringement action against Wobatech.
Lenz & Staehelin
Noted for its ‘creative and proactive’ capabilities, Lenz & Staehelin excels across the full gamut of IP mandates, with extensive expertise in representing blue-chip clients in complex patent litigation alongside stellar work in relation to trade mark and design work. Four key players spearhead the group: Thierry Calame, who is a force to be reckoned with in relation to patents and IP related arbitration; Jürg Simon, who leverages his extensive experience in the field to advise on multi-faceted trade mark, design and licensing matters; Peter Ling, a noted practitioner on the litigation and licensing side, recently excelling in the telecoms industry; and lastly Sevan Antreasyan, who enjoys an established presence in the IT, biotech and medtech industries. Martin Aebi and Barbara Abegg further enhance the firm’s capabilities in the contentious IP sphere.
Responsables de la pratique:
Thierry Calame; Jürg Simon; Peter Ling; Sevan Antreasyan
Autres avocats clés:
Martin Aebi; Barbara Abegg
Les références
‘The team is efficient. Good clear communication giving solid commercial advice.’
‘Peter Ling is super helpful and commercial. He is a pleasure to work with on IP disputes.’
‘Jürg Simon is the leading trademark practitioner in trademark law in Switzerland. His advice is clear, concise and leaves no open questions.’
Principaux clients
Abbott
AbbVie Inc.
Accord
Acino International AG
Actavis / Mepha
Apple Inc.
Asceneuron
Aura Blockchain Consortium
Bosch
Breguet
Cembra Money Bank AG
Champagne producers association, CIVC
Consorzio Prosecco
Consorzio Aceto Balsamico
Crocs
CYP Association
Mercedes Benz Group AG, (formerly Daimler AG)
Diageo
Dyson
European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
Emmentaler Switzerland
C&E Fein
Federation of the Swiss Electro/Telco Industry
Ferring
FIVE Hotels
Gustavo Gusto
International Olympic Committee
Henkel & Co
Harry Winston
Mars
Merck & Co., Inc. (MSD)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
MGI Tech Ltd.
MSC Cruises
ON Holding AG
Pack Easy
Prada
Pfizer Inc.
Raclette Suisse
Schöck Bauteile AG
Swatch Group
Swiss Government, Armasuisse
Swiss Sustainable Yachts AG
Swiss Salt Works AG
Tamedia
Teva Pharma AG
Vinci Construction Terrassement
Wyss Center for Bio and Neuro Engineering
Principaux dossiers
- Represented Apple Inc. before the Federal Patent Court and the Federal Supreme Court in a patent litigation initiated by a non-practicing entity, related to information transmission technology, with a successful result.
- Represented MSD before the Federal Patent Court in an SPC infringement case, resulting in an ex parte injunction regarding the sale of a generic fixed-dose combination of sitagliptin and metformin which was later confirmed by a panel of three judges.
- Advised the Wyss Center for Bio and Neuro Engineering on all areas of law to support its activities, but also those of the startups hosted at the Centre.
MLL Legal
The ‘outstanding’ MLL Legal, praised for its ‘very client oriented and reliable approach’, has an impressive workload that spans patent, trade mark and design litigation, as well as challenging pharma and medtech matters. The practice is jointly led by ‘consummate IP lawyer’ Michael Ritscher, who possesses a strong grounding in international patent and trade mark disputes as well as IP commercialisation; Simon Holzer, a prominent practitioner on the life sciences side; and Peter Schramm. Ulrike Ciesla fuses her pharma and litigation capabilities to bolster the team’s patent offering, and Louisa Galbraith is accomplished in managing 3D trade mark and non-conventional trade mark issues.
Responsables de la pratique:
Michael Ritscher; Simon Holzer; Peter Schramm
Autres avocats clés:
Ulrike Ciesla; Louisa Galbraith; Kilian Schärli; Andrea Schäffler
Les références
‘Extensive expertise and a pragmatic approach to finding solutions in the interests of the client.’
‘Exceptional advice on tricky trade mark questions.’
‘Peter Schramm possesses a deep understanding of Swiss and European trademark law and, with his extensive experience and deep knowledge, always made me feel that I was in the best hands. He not only explained the legal aspects clearly but also provided strategic recommendations to reach our goals that proved to be extremely valuable.’
Principaux clients
Adecco Group AG
AstraZeneca
Axapharm AG
Bayer Pharma AG
Baxter Ltd
Becton Dicinson Company
Bioeq AG
Boehringer Ingelheim
Birkenstock
Bitcoin Suisse
Bobst
Bristol Myers Squibb
Calida
Chapter 4 “Supreme”
Chocolats et Cacao Favarger SA
CHOCOSUISSE, Association of Swiss Chocolate Manufacturers
Coop Gruppe Genossenschaft; Coop Genossenschaft
Dell
Deutsche Telekom AG
ECCO Shoes
Emirates
Etihad Airways
Expedia Inc.
Feldschlösschen / Carlsberg
FIFA
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
H. Lundbeck A/S (Denmark); Lundbeck Schweiz AG (Switzerland)
Haribo
Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation
Hilti
Jung von Matt
Lego
Levis
Lindt & Sprüngli
Major League Baseball (MLB)
MaKe WeBo AG
MCM
Migros Genossenschafts-Bund
Mundipharma Medical Company
NIO
ON Running
Porsche
Red Bull
Schweizerische Post (Swiss Post)
Swisscom (Schweiz) AG
Swiss Cosmetic Association (SKW)
Ty Inc.
Telegram Messenger
UBER Technologies Inc.
ViiV Healthcare
Vitra
Zegna
Principaux dossiers
Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd
Frequently operating on a cross-border scale, Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd enjoys a pre-eminent reputation on both the contentious and non-contentious sides of the IP sphere, with a notable capacity to act across the life sciences, engineering, media and construction sectors, to name a few. The team is well regarded for its ‘in-depth knowledge’ and ‘high standard’ of work. Spearheading the department is Philipp Groz, who principally focuses on domestic and international scale disputes for a host of notable clients. Lorenza Ferrari Hofer possesses a wealth of experience in cross-border matters that encompasses the licensing and distribution of tech as well as patent and trade mark infringements, while Peter Georg Picht is reputed for his IP and competition expertise. Adrienne Henneman is also recommended.
Responsables de la pratique:
Philipp Groz
Autres avocats clés:
Lorenza Ferrari Hofer; Peter Georg Picht; Adrienne Henneman
Les références
‘This law firm is an expert on agreements.’
‘What sets them apart is their approach to the client.’
‘They are very professional, show a lot of knowledge in their field and have a business-like approach to the customer.’
Principaux clients
Addlife AB
BASF
Bayer AG
Hetronic International
Holcim
Johnson & Johnson group of companies
Locarno Film Festival
Philip Morris International
Porsche
Samsung
Santhera Pharmaceuticals
SIX Group
Standard Chartered
UBS
Volkswagen
The Walt Disney Company
Zimmer Biomet
ZimVie
BioNTech
Ty Inc.
Novartis
Yeti
Sulzer
Sosei (Nxera)
BridgeBio International
Principaux dossiers
- Represented a Swiss laboratory engineering company as defendant in patent infringement litigation before the Swiss Federal Patent Court (including an invalidity defence).
- Represented a Swiss bank and its foreign affiliated companies in a complex trademark dispute about the use of the same acronym for products in several countries and regions, such as the UK, EU, Germany, Middle East and Switzerland.
- Represented Ty Inc. in complex trademark and unfair competition litigation before the Swiss Federal Supreme Court.
Walder Wyss Ltd.
A team that is considered ‘wonderful to work with’, Walder Wyss Ltd. pairs its extensive experience in patent litigation with its substantive expertise in managing sizeable trade mark transactional mandates to represent a wide-ranging client roster, from fashion and luxury goods companies to tech and pharma businesses. Roger Staub and Markus Frick lead the firm’s IP offering; the former is highly established in the pharma, luxury goods and financial services industries, while latter is particularly well-versed in relation to multi-faceted cross-border litigation. Michael Isler deploys his capabilities in outsourcing and tech transfer issues to assist an array of tech based clients, while Stefano Codoni is fully immersed in the life sciences and tech arenas.
Responsables de la pratique:
Roger Staub; Markus Frick
Autres avocats clés:
Michael Isler; Stefano Codoni; Manuel Bigler; Sylvia Anthamatten
Les références
‘The firm handles our most complex cases in Switzerland. The quality of the service is good; the attorneys are responsive, professional and knowledgeable.’
‘Manuel Bigler is an experienced lawyer. His opinions are prompt and concise and he shows a good knowledge of the Swiss trademark law and practice. We are satisfied with Manuel’s work.’
‘This is a firm that you can trust blind. They simply know their business very well and will find a solution for every problem.’
Principaux clients
ABB Ltd.
Actial Farmaceutica Srl
Alcon Inc.
Amazon
Amazon Web Services
Apple TV
Argus Data Insights
AT&T
Bystronic
Deutsche Börse/Qontigo
Easygroup, incl. EasyJet
FIBEP Swiss Chapter
Giorgio Armani SpA
Hapimag AG
Hitachi/ABB Power Grids
Inventio AG (IP management company of Schindler Group)
Jemie B.V.
Kendris
Lastminute.com Group
Merck KGaA
Microsoft
Migros
Morach-Technik AG
Nestlé
Ortovox
OTTO’S AG
Pret A Manger
Relio AG
Richemont
Rocket Film Productions
Servisa Sammelstiftungen
Snap, Inc.
Storck
The Association of the Swiss Gas Industry
TX Group
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Principaux dossiers
Baker McKenzie Switzerland AG
Counting a litany of multinational corporations among its roster of key clients, Baker McKenzie Switzerland AG is well-positioned to advise across a diverse range of IP, tech and data mandates, with core streams of work being comprised of enforcement, litigation and design clearance, among a host of other issues. Practice head Eva-Maria Strobel is highly skilled in relation to strategic IP work and trade mark and design clearance and portfolio matters. Michael Treis covers the full gamut of IP advisory, prosecution and litigation mandates and Julia Schieber is well-positioned to advise on IP matters arising from the healthcare industry.
Responsables de la pratique:
Eva-Maria Strobel
Autres avocats clés:
Michael Treis; Julia Schieber
Principaux clients
Abbott
Abbvie
Acer Incorporated
Adagene AG
Alere Inc./Alere Switzerland GmbH
Apple
Applied Materials
Asahi Group Holdings
Astellas Pharma
Banque Lombard Odier
Bath and Body Works Inc.
Belron/Carglass
Boost Group
British American Tobacco
Burger King Europe GmbH
Bytedance Inc.
CSL Behring
CureVac
Danone
Emeis Cosmetics Pty.
Estating SA
Estee Lauder
General Electric
General Motors
Grupo Bimbo
GSK
Hasbro Inc.
Honeywell International
Hypatos GmbH
Johnson & Johnson
Lindt & Sprüngli
Luma Financial Technologies LLC
LVMH
Migros
Modag GmbH
ModernaTX
Mövenpick Holding
Narathai Cuisine Co. Ltd.
Nerium International
Novaliq GmbH
Numab AG
OnlineDoctor AG
Oracle
Principaux dossiers
- Supported Stance in litigation regarding an alleged infringement of Burlington’s iconic design, which involves two pending proceedings in Switzerland as well as pending proceedings in France.
- Advised GSK plc on a licence agreement with WuXi Biologics under which GSK will have exclusive licences for up to four bi- and multi-specific TCE antibodies developed using WuXi Biologics’ proprietary technology platforms.
Bär & Karrer Ltd.
Characterised by its outstanding ‘economic and transactional mindset’, Bär & Karrer Ltd. maintains a comprehensive IP offering that extends across the industries of software, consumer goods and sports, among others, including providing its clients with considerable experience before the Federal Patent Court and the Federal Supreme Court. Markus Wang helms the group and is equipped to handle a vast array of pharma, trade mark and licensing disputes. Other names to note in the practice include Michele Bernasconi, who frequently handles matters pertaining to sports, media, energy and data protection, and Jonas Bornhauser, who is highly skilled on the advisory, transactional and other non-contentious side of the IP sphere.
Responsables de la pratique:
Markus Wang
Autres avocats clés:
Michele Bernasconi; Jonas Bornhauser
Les références
‘Smart and efficient.’
‘The IP team has both a strong transactional practice as well as a strong litigation and counselling department. Markus Wang is the IP lawyer to go to for complex transactions and contract drafting.’
‘As an experienced litigator and highly intelligent attorney with an excellent commercial and technical understanding, Markus Wang provides court-proven contracts and guides its clients through demanding negotiations.’
Principaux clients
Sauber Motorsport AG (Formula 1)
Sandoz AG
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals
Novartis AG
Mobiliar
Medbase AG
Migros
Viseca
Leggett & Platt
Archroma
ELCA Group SA
Lonza
EnerSys
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Sauber Motorsport AG in connection with its sponsorship, partnership and licensing agreements for the seasons from 2026 onwards.
- Advised Novartis on the drafting and implementation of pre-spin-off IP transfer agreements as well as various agreements becoming effective as of the spin-off.
- Represented a large generics company in connection with infringement proceedings initiated by a big pharma originator at the Swiss Federal Patent Court.
IPrime
‘Blending legal expertise with advanced technology’, IPrime routinely acts for a stable of large enterprises, public entities and SMEs on the protection and commercialisation of innovative tech, alongside demonstrating notable excellence on the IP and tech disputes side. Rudolf Rentsch leads the litigation aspects of the IP offering, bolstering the practice with his extensive domestic and international scale experience, while Moritz Kälin leads the prosecution work. Thomas Kretschmer primarily focuses on software, cryptography, IoT and AI matters, and Raphael Zingg‘s strengths lie in complicated patent litigation.
Responsables de la pratique:
Rudolf Rentsch; Moritz Kälin
Autres avocats clés:
Thomas Kretschmer; Raphael Zingg
Les références
‘IPrime sets itself apart by blending legal expertise with advanced technology, including AI-driven research and data analytics. This approach streamlines processes and enhances efficiency, delivering faster, more transparent results for clients.’
‘The firm’s collaborative, diverse team offers deep industry knowledge, ensuring tailored solutions for each client.’
‘IPrime’s innovation in technology and client service positions it ahead of traditional firms, offering a modern, efficient legal experience.’
Principaux clients
Vyaire Medical Group
JK-Group
myStromer
AutoForm
ALPA Capaul & Weber
Schaerer AG and WMF Group GmbH (Group SEB)
Rotho Kunststoff
TeamSpeak
Alter Ego Technologies
Acsana
Alka Global
Principaux dossiers
- Representated myStromer in patent and design litigation against Revolt Zycling before the Unified Patent Court and the Swiss Federal Patent Court and obtained the first preliminary injunction and penalty order in the history of the UPC.
- Representated a leading Swiss intralogistics firm in several opposition proceedings before the European Patent Office and the German Patent and Trade Mark Office.
- Acted as lead counsel on the private equity-backed acquisition of TeamSpeak, the leading Voice-over-Internet-Protocol solution for competitive gaming.
Pestalozzi
Noted for its ‘great client service’, Pestalozzi continues to broaden its IP horizons across the areas of life sciences, luxury goods and media, demonstrating considerable capabilities in relation to branding strategies, tech transfer agreements and a broad range of contentious issues. Lara Dorigo, who leads the department, is especially knowledgeable on the pharma, biologics and medtech patent litigation front; she is well regarded for her ‘dedication and client-focused approach’. Michèle Burnier possesses a strong grounding in trade mark issues.
Responsables de la pratique:
Lara Dorigo
Autres avocats clés:
Michèle Burnier
Les références
‘Great client service and thorough, considered advice. I have always found them to be very responsive and on top of legal developments.’
‘Lara Dorigo and Michèle Burnier are both highly effective partners. Easy to work with and quick to understand the client’s needs and goals. I would not hesitate to recommend them.’
‘I enjoyed the collaborative approach in which different options were discussed. We found the solution-oriented approach, which focuses on where compromises are necessary and possible and where no compromises should be made, to be very sensible and helpful in the decision-making process.’
Principaux clients
Advance Magazine
CH Media
Coca-Cola
Franz Kaldewei GmbH & Co. KG
ITV
Johnson & Johnson group of companies
Karin Herzog
Lanxess Deutschland GmbH
Leclanché
LYNX BV
McDonald’s
MGI Tech Co., Ltd.
MKS PAMP
Newron Pharmaceuticals SpA
PIA Corporation
Sky International AG
Stoneweg
STS Systemtechnik Schaenis GmbH
Terre des Hommes
Ultramarine
Weetabix Limited
Zentiva Group, a.s.
ZimmerBiomet
Zoll Inc.
Principaux dossiers
- Represented Zentiva Group / Helvepharm in patent litigation proceedings regarding the launch of a rivaroxaban generic in Switzerland.
- Advised LeadXpro with respect to a major out-licensing deal.
TIMES Attorneys
Boutique firm TIMES Attorneys holds a varied skillset in the full spectrum of patent, copyright, trade mark and licensing matters, and provides its clients with strong experience in the Swiss Federal Patent Court. The group is recognised for being ‘very diligent and proactive, with a friendly and positive attitude’. Key names to note in the practice include Andrea Mondini, whose diverse set of strengths encompass trade mark disputes, licensing issues and distribution agreements; Michael Noth, who harnesses his capacity to handle litigation, contractual and prosecution issues to operate across trade mark and unfair competition mandates; and ‘business-minded’ Markus Kaiser, who covers the full array of IP issues. Simone Huser is also recommended.
Autres avocats clés:
Andrea Mondini; Michael Noth; Markus Kaiser; Simone Huser
Les références
‘The whole TIMES Attorneys team is very diligent and proactive, with a friendly and positive attitude.’
‘Markus Kaiser is one of the best lawyers I have collaborated with. His proactiveness, business-minded approach and expertise are outstanding.’
‘Andrea Mondini knows the pharma sector inside out and has lots of experience. It was a pleasure working with him.’
Principaux clients
Teva Pharmaceuticals
Mepha Pharma AG
STADA Pharmaceuticals
Spirig Healthcare AG
Alois Dallmayr
MHCS (belongs to Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton)
Zentiva
UEFA
All Star C.V. (Nike Inc)
Baur au Lac
Helvepharm AG
Principaux dossiers
- Represented Mepha Pharma AG (Teva’s Swiss subsidiary) before the Swiss Federal Supreme Court in patent infringement proceedings against Novartis regarding a generic version of Novartis’ product Jadenu® (deferasirox), with a successful result.
- Represented DABUS before the Swiss Federal Administrative Court with regard to the first patent application ever filed in Switzerland for an invention generated autonomously by AI under circumstances in which no natural person, as traditionally defined, qualifies as an inventor.
- Represented Google in several trade mark disputes, regarding its PIXEL, GOOGLE, CHROME, and YOUTUBE marks.
VISCHER
With substantive expertise across the fields of pharma, biotech, medtech and media, VISCHER frequently operates at the interface of IP and technology regulation alongside demonstrating significant skills on the IP litigation side. The practice is co-helmed by the ‘very smart’ Stefan Kohler and Lorenz Ehrler; the former maintains a wide-ranging practice that varies from trade mark administration to industrial engineering issues, and the latter is regularly retained by clients for assistance with trade mark, company name and unfair competition litigation. The ‘trusted’ Rolf Auf Der Maur is noted for his familiarity with copyright law, licensing agreements and IT issues.
Responsables de la pratique:
Stefan Kohler; Lorenz Ehrler
Autres avocats clés:
Rolf Auf Der Maur; Elias Mühlemann; Jonas Gassmann
Les références
‘Elias Mühlemann is an excellent managing associate: strong expertise and excellent service attitude.’
‘Outstanding knowledge.’
‘Jonas Gassmann: a smart guy, to the point, and gave very practical advice.’
Principaux clients
Netflix
CH Media TV AG
Swisscom
Teleboy
Additiv AG
Delica AG
Hostpoint AG
LASCCO SA
EraCal Therapeutics
RS Dynamics
Synhelion
Ten23
Principaux dossiers
- Represented Delica AG in the patent dispute on Nespresso-compatible aluminium coffee capsules before the Swiss Federal Patent Court and coordinating the parallel proceedings in Spain and Germany.
- Represented Berna Tresore in a patent dispute in relation to a security device for bankomats.
- Represented ten23 in a patent dispute relating to the production and market launch of a blockbuster prefilled syringe for eye pressure medication.
BMG Avocats
Counting companies from across the watchmaking, luxury, and finance sectors amongst its key clients, BMG Avocats provides a ‘very personalised’ and ‘efficient service’ on all aspects of trade mark and design rights matters. Based in Geneva, ‘brilliant’ team leader Anne-Virginie La Spada specialises in advising on commercial contracts and unfair competition issues, Gwénaël Perriere is highly skilled in soft IP litigation claims.
Responsables de la pratique:
Anne-Virginie La Spada
Autres avocats clés:
Gwénaël Perriere
Les références
‘The specialist in charge of our relationship, Anne-Virginie La Spada, has proven a highly available and pragmatic counsel. We particularly appreciated her efficient handling of our requests within short timeframes.’
‘Anne-Virginie La Spada has great experience and expertise in trademarks and associated matters, such as unfair competition matters.’
‘Anne-Virginie is not only very good with legal analysis and advice, but she is also very results-orientated: she is always trying to find practical solutions for us, and she quickly understands our needs and our concerns, as well as our limitations regarding the budget. She is very responsive and always give us a quick return if needed.’
Principaux dossiers
- Advised a worldwide market leader in the food and beverage industry in two parallel arbitrations involving alleged breaches of worldwide trade mark licence agreements in connection with the exploitation of restaurants in airports and train stations.
- Advised a major player in the watch industry on two procedures for preliminary injunctions involving imitations of iconic watch collections.
- Defending the Swiss affiliate of a large foreign watchmaking group in a court action based on parasitic imitation (unfair competition), in the context of a multi-jurisdictional dispute.
CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd.
Hailed for their ‘responsiveness’, the lawyers at CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. are well versed in the whole spectrum of trade mark protection, regulatory issues, and unfair competition proceedings. Operating out of Zurich, the practice is particularly active in the media, pharma, and tech industries, with joint heads Simone Brauchbar Birkhäuser and Dirk Spacek each specialising in the enforcement of trade mark portfolios and complex patent disputes. Julia Nitschke is a cybersecurity expert, whilst Olivia Zingg predominantly focuses on copyright matters.
Responsables de la pratique:
Simone Brauchbar Birkhäuser; Dirk Spacek
Autres avocats clés:
Julia Nitschke; Olivia Zingg
Les références
‘Very easy to reach, good availability, quick support.’
‘Cover all areas of expertise needed.’
‘Well connected on Swiss market.’
Principaux clients
Better Cotton Initiative
Aon Schweiz AG
N-Dream AG
Near Foundation
Designwerk Technologies AG
Barilla
Lab 14 GmbH
Bruker
UCB
Gadget abc Entertainment Group
Balsiger Textil AG
Dieci AG
Principaux dossiers
- Advising Bruker Corporation, a NASDAQ-listed US tech company, on all legal IP aspects of its acquisition of Chemspeed Technologies AG, a Swiss provider of vendor-agnostic automated laboratory R&D and QC workflow solutions.
- Advising pharma company UCB on the enforcement of its claims in an unfair competition dispute with a competitor.
- Advising Gadget abc Entertainment Group on the acquisition of a majority stake in Stars in Town AG, including all IP and licensing-related matters.
HOUSE attorneys
Representing domestic and international clients from across the retail, automotive, and media sectors, the ‘highly specialised’ HOUSE attorneys practice has vast expertise in trade mark and copyright affairs. Located in Geneva, the ‘very knowledgeable’ Frédéric Serra leads the practice, primarily focusing on film production agreements and technology transfers, while Melina Haralabopoulos is highly knowledgeable in unfair competition and branding strategy matters.
Responsables de la pratique:
Frédéric Serra
Autres avocats clés:
Melina Haralabopoulos
Les références
‘They are extremely focused and passionate about our case, guiding us not only in strategy but also in key details.’
‘Frédéric Serra and Melina Haralabopoulos are distinguished experts in Swiss trademark law. Their professionalism, proactivity, and passion have been evident. I highly recommend them for intellectual property cases, particularly for non-traditional trademark cases in Switzerland.’
‘Highly specialised in IP and incredible knowledge of the luxury goods market.’
Principaux clients
Christian Louboutin
Bentley Motors Ltd
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Christian Louboutin on registering the red sole trade mark in Switzerland based on acquired distinctiveness.
Id Est Avocats Sàrl
Standing out for its knowledge of trade mark protection strategies and software licensing matters, id est avocats sàrl is especially active in the IT, watchmaking, and music industries. The firm has strong links with Swiss start-up companies, with the practice leads Juliette Ancelle and Michel Jaccard both being experts in unfair competition and AI proceedings from their base in Lausanne. Alexandre Jotterand is also highlighted as key.
Responsables de la pratique:
Juliette Ancelle; Michel Jaccard
Autres avocats clés:
Alexandre Jotterand
Principaux dossiers
Kellerhals Carrard
Kellerhals Carrard, a team that is recommended for its ‘practical commercial experience’ and ‘strong collaborative dynamics’, is especially knowledgeable in relation to commercial contracts alongside distribution strategies and development agreements. Four key players lead the group: Daniel Alder, whose substantive skillset is comprised of protection, enforcement and exploitation matters; Daniel Emch; Nicolas Mosimann, who is fully immersed in the tech, software and life sciences areas; and Stefano Perucchi, who is well-versed on the contractual and strategic side of the IP arena. Ralph Gramigna, Christophe Rapin and Virginie Rodieux are other recommended lawyers in the practice.
Responsables de la pratique:
Daniel Alder; Daniel Emch; Nicolas Mosimann; Stefano Perucchi
Autres avocats clés:
Ralph Gramigna; Christophe Rapin; Virginie Rodieux
Les références
‘This practice is unique because the team demonstrates deep knowledge not only in corporate law but also in IP law, combined with real world practical commercial experience.’
‘They are always solution focused and as a team they demonstrate strong collaborative dynamics with seamless cross-disciplinary collaboration within the firm.’
‘I work closely with Virginie Rodieux who always approaches our issues and questions in a well-rounded and comprehensive manner, whilst strongly anchored in a deep knowledge of not only Swiss but also international IP law. She always contributes unique insights.’
Principaux clients
Magnolia International AG
Bloom Biorenewables Ltd
Montreux Jazz Festival
Principaux dossiers
- Advised on the structuring of all IP strategy and protection for Magnolia International AG.
- Assisted Bloom Biorenewables Ltd in the negotiation and drafting of a joint development agreement with DSM Firmenich.
- Assisted the Montreux Jazz Festival in various matters including copyright and production matters with respect to video recordings of the concert of the Festival, copyright regarding advertising posters of the Festival, and use of video recordings of the Festival in the context of AI.
LALIVE
The ‘excellent’ Thomas Widmer operates at the forefront of the IP offering at LALIVE, which is highly experienced in a varied litany of trade mark, design, domain name and copyright disputes, providing substantive advice to corporates, NGOs and individual clients operating in the sectors of tech, luxury goods and entertainment. Widmer excels across the full gamut of IP issues.
Responsables de la pratique:
Thomas Widmer
Les références
‘Lalive’s advice is practical and actionable.’
‘Thomas Widmer leads with experience and a calm demeanour. His advice is practical and business oriented.’
‘Lalive understands quickly the situation and provides wise and practical advice. Straightforward approach.’
Principaux dossiers
- Represented a multinational computer, technology and IT consulting corporation in civil proceedings against a Swiss bank which is inter alia claiming access to the source code of various software interfaces developed by the client in the frame of a global IT service agreement.
- Advised a non-profit organisation funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on drafting and negotiating several contractual agreements, which include IP issues.
- Advised a Swiss jewellery company on the management of its trade marks and designs worldwide.
Niederer Kraft Frey AG
The ‘very knowledgeable’ Niederer Kraft Frey AG is well-positioned to advise on a host of strategic litigation, research and development, as well as brand protection strategies, and pairs this with its diverse experience across the consumer goods, IT and electronics sectors, to name a few. Practice leader Nicolas Birkhäuser‘s strengths range from patent litigation to commercial contracts. The ‘exceptional’ Janine Reudt-Demont is a strong choice for e-commerce clients, and Michaela Zehnder bolsters the practice with her skills in the trade mark area.
Responsables de la pratique:
Nicolas Birkhäuser
Autres avocats clés:
Janine Reudt-Demont; Michaela Zehnder
Les références
‘Very good at keeping the client constantly informed. Very good at giving practical advice.’
‘Both Michaela Zehnder and Nicolas Birkhäuser are great practitioners who are able to deliver information in a concise and understandable manner.’
‘Very knowledgeable team.’
Principaux clients
Procter & Gamble
SkySale Schweiz GmbH (“Apfelkiste.ch”)
Thomson Reuters
Capvis AG
FibroGen Inc.
Josef Binkert AG
The Body Shop
Selecta
ASSA ABLOY AB
HANDELSVERBAND.swiss
Flatfox AG
Navistar International
Principaux dossiers
- Assisted Procter & Gamble in taking action against the sale of products by two competitors, which was held, among others, to amount to unfair competition.
- Defended SkySale Schweiz against attacks by Apple and has already pushed back a significant part of them.
- Assisted Capvis in transactions covering a wide range of different issues, including, among others, the due diligence review of IP portfolios (patents, trademarks, designs), copyrights including in particular software (open source and other), know-how and business secrets.
Rentsch Partner AG
Considered a ‘very professional and highly skilled team’, Rentsch Partner AG is a solid choice for start-ups with its strengths in establishing portfolios and patent protection. Maria Iskic has a comprehensive practice that includes IP, IT and competition matters, and the ‘extremely diligent and knowledgeable’ Christian Hilti litigates a considerable volume of patent, trade mark and design cases. The ‘exceptional’ Dany Vogel enjoys a niche expertise in relation to computer-implemented inventions.
Autres avocats clés:
Maria Iskic; Christian Hilti; Dany Vogel
Les références
‘Full coverage on legal and technical issues in one firm at the highest level.’
‘Christian Hilti is an extremely diligent and knowledgeable lawyer; his legal analyses are impeccable. He is a great fighter for his clients.’
‘I worked closely with Dany Vogel. Mr. Vogel’s communication and efficiency during our collaboration were top-notch. I was particularly impressed with his technical depth in very specific subject areas (subfields of machine learning, such as deep neural networks) and ability to quickly grasp new material and write about it in a clear yet precise and correct way. This went far beyond my previous experiences of working with legal counsel on IP issues.’
Principaux clients
precisionED AG
Diwisa SA
Zehnder Group International AG
itschner connect AG
Sanetics
Qnami AG
Linkster Therapeutics
MvM Enterprises GmbH
Principaux dossiers
Valfor Attorneys-at-law
Christoph Gasser leads the offering at Valfor Attorneys-at-law with his extensive capabilities in advising clients active within the sectors of pharma, fashion, telecoms and financial services, and the team continues to expand upon its trade mark and design prosecution skillset. Gasser is well-versed in trade mark prosecution and portfolio management, counting medical devices, nutrition and toy companies among his key roster of clients.
Responsables de la pratique:
Christoph Gasser
Autres avocats clés:
Cyrill Süess
Les références
‘The practice provides very responsive and reliable advice on the spot. One can count on them when needed without exception.’
‘Christoph Gasser: Outstanding memory about detail and impressively accessible.’
‘I have been cooperating with Christoph Gasser for many years now and I must say that he is absolutely reliable, uncompromisingly professional and a very nice person to work with.’
Principaux clients
Canada Goose
AVIA
Micro Mobility
Tiktok
Solex
FRAM Liner
Bumble
KTM
Medtronic
Jungfraubahnen
medi
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Avia International on its global trade mark strategy to protect its brand in the field of new technologies.
- Represented solex Germany successfully in preliminary injunction proceedings related to alleged trade mark infringement against the competitor Sola Switzerland GmbH before the Court of Commerce of the Swiss canton of Argovia.
- Represented Microlino AG in the context of its worldwide commercialisation.
WEINMANN ZIMMERLI
A team that produces an ‘excellent quality of work’, WEINMANN ZIMMERLI is highly capable across a varied spread of trade mark, patent, copyright, and design law and is also notably experienced on the licensing side. The practice is jointly helmed by Madeleine Schim Van Der Loeff, a filing and prosecution expert with specific knowledge regarding trade mark, design and Internet issues, and Marco Handle, who maintains an active presence on both the contentious and non-contentious sides of the IP space. The ‘highly knowledgeable’ Fabian Wigger bolsters the practice with his extensive disputes expertise.
Responsables de la pratique:
Madeleine Schim van der Loeff; Marco Handle
Autres avocats clés:
Fabian Wigger
Les références
‘Excellent quality of work.’
‘Highly specialised team covering the entire range of IP.’
‘Fabian Wigger is a real copyright expert.’
Principaux dossiers
Wenger Plattner
The ‘well established’ and ‘exceptional’ Wenger Plattner is particularly knowledgeable across an array of contractual issues, arbitration and trade mark matters, with notable capabilities in managing IP licence contracts in the life sciences, healthcare and sports industries. Damian Schai, who is especially adept at handling protection, defence, and legal enforcement of trade marks, and ‘art law expert’ Peter Mosimann, who counts private and public sector arts and cultural organisations among his key roster of clients, co-lead the department. Daniel Zimmerli excels in the infrastructure and healthcare industries.
Responsables de la pratique:
Damian Schai; Peter Mosimann
Autres avocats clés:
Daniel Zimmerli
Les références
‘They think outside of the box.’
‘Wenger Plattner excels in copyright and art law. Peter Mosimann is an art law expert.’
‘The firm owes its status in particular to the excellent Peter Mosimann, one of the best art law lawyers of the country, but also to its great network in the cultural scene. This allows for outstanding advice that goes far beyond legal issues in the narrower sense.’
Principaux clients
Swiss Rockets AG
Audi AG
Anne Frank-Fonds
Stiftung Sinfonieorchester Basel (SOB)
Schweizerische Stiftung für die Photographie (SSF)
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Swiss Rockets AG on various aspects of a contractual matter with a focus on patent licensing issues.
- Advised the Anne Frank-Fonds on all matters relating to copyright, trade mark, IT, multimedia and art law.
- Represented the Swiss Foundation for Photography on copyright and trade mark issues for all collections of photography.
Wenger Vieli Ltd
Possessing ‘great expertise’ in this arena, Wenger Vieli Ltd fields a strong practice that is comprised of IT, AI and trade mark portfolio elements. Steering the practice is the ‘extremely dynamic’ Claudia Keller, who principally focuses on trade mark law, brand management and entertainment law issues. Matthias Langenegger advises on international internet regulation.
Responsables de la pratique:
Claudia Keller
Autres avocats clés:
Matthias Langenegger
Les références
‘The firm is a comparatively large firm in Switzerland with great expertise in IP and IT.’
‘Claudia Keller is a very experienced IP attorney with a very good sense for economic solutions.’
‘Claudia Keller is an extremely dynamic person who, thanks to her expertise, quickly recognises her clients’ needs and therefore always provides efficient solutions’
Principaux clients
Moneyland
Inner Mongolia Mengtai Group
MQF Melina Scheuber
Ascent
Axa
digitalswitzerland
Fox Williams
Basellandschaftliche Kantonalbank
The Swiss Times (UltraSwiss AG)
Principaux dossiers
- Advised the shareholders of Moneyland on IP-related matters in the sale to SMG Swiss Marketplace Group.
- Advised Inner Mongolia Mengtai Group on the IP aspects in the cross-border acquisition of Alu Menziken Extrusion.
- Advised MQF and Melina Scheuber on the IP aspects of their investment consulting business.