Intellectual Property | Europe

Schoenherr is an outstanding law firm offering all-inclusive IP advice. The team has a strong focus on contentious IP matters, including patent, trade mark, design and enforcement litigation. The practice possesses further strength in transaction-related IP issues as well as trade mark portfolio management, frequently coordinating measures across its broad network of offices in the CEE region. Schoenherr additionally has a notable presence in trade secret and unfair competition mandates. Its clientele hails from a range of sectors including pharmaceutical, food and drink, technology and media.

DORDA is an established practice with notable strength in unfair competition disputes, as well as IT-related copyright issues. The team has further experience in contentious trade mark and patent matters, such as opposition and infringement proceedings. DORDA also offers assistance with trade mark portfolio work, covering management, large-scale outsourcings and licensing agreements. The team acts for clients from a range of sectors, including technology, banking and finance, life sciences and media.

BINDER GRÖSSWANG has a noteworthy practice primarily advising on trade marks, including licensing, registration, enforcement, counterfeit issues and protection. The team further assists with unfair competition, trade secrets and copyright infringement. The law firm is home to clients from a wide range of industries, including traditional Austrian clients as well as multinationals and their Austrian subsidiaries from the luxury goods, media, banking and technology sectors.

CMS is best known for its significant focus on trade marks, with a particular strength in litigation, including trade secrets disputes and infringement and cancellation proceedings. The team displays further experience in the areas of design law, licensing agreements, unfair competition and copyright issues. The firm's clientele stems from a range of industries such as food and drink, life sciences, manufacturing and technology, as well as public institutions. The Austrian IP team of CMS frequently works in cooperation with its international network on cases with parallel proceedings in other jurisdictions.

Wolf Theiss is a well-reputed firm with a key IP practice, assisting domestic and international clients, including technology, pharmaceutical and media companies, as well as medical product manufacturers. The practice regularly advises on patent, copyright, unfair competition and trade mark mandates. Wolf Theiss shows particular strength in contentious issues, including infringement, cancellation and opposition proceedings before Austrian courts and the Austrian Patent Office. The firm frequently acts as local counsel on mandates that have parallel proceedings abroad.

Anwälte Burger & Partner has a solid presence in the IP market with a strong focus on patents, including filings and infringement negotiations, as well as opposition and nullity proceedings. The team assists with trade mark applications, protection and infringement disputes, while also having experience in licensing and copyright issues. The law firm acts before Austrian and EU authorities and coordinates multi-jurisdictional proceedings for clients in cooperation with foreign law firms.

Baker McKenzie focuses on trade mark portfolio management and enforcement matters. The team assists with IP-related M&A transactions, labelling and advertising issues and coexistence agreements. The law firm also advises on licensing and infringement issues and represents clients in IP-related litigation. Baker McKenzie is active in the real estate, automotive and technology fields. The practice enjoys a strong cross-border reach thanks to the firm's global network.

Brauneis Rechtsanwälte focuses on trade mark matters, with notable expertise in portfolio management and searches. The team also advises on trade mark, design and image protection, representing clients in infringement proceedings, product counterfeiting and unfair competition mandates. The law firm assists domestic and multinational clients from a range of industries, including luxury goods, food and drinks and technology.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer advises on unfair competition and trade secret matters, as well as licensing and cooperation agreements and trade mark issues. The law firm acts for large multinational companies on the IP aspects of transactions and its practice also covers contentious mandates. The team is especially active in the automotive industry, but also advises clients from the technology, manufacturing and insurance sectors. Its international office network makes the law firm a strong choice for cross-border mandates.

KWR is best known for its work on advertising and marketing mandates. The team also assists with trade mark and copyright matters, with particular expertise in portfolio management and infringement proceedings. The practice's further strengths include distribution cases, unfair competition, royalties, licensing, design issues and trade secrets. Clients include well-known corporates from the technology, consumer goods and pharmaceutical industries.

Taylor Wessing assists with various trade mark matters, including registrations, unfair competition and opposition proceedings. The team also advises on licences, design and copyright issues. The law firm has additionally strengthened its capacity to handle patent-related matters, with notable expertise in patent infringement cases. Clients hail from a range of sectors including food, technology, pharmaceuticals and retail.