Chambers Global – Profile:

THE FIRM:
KLAKA is a highly specialised law firm. With its 13 lawyers, it concentrates nearly exclusively on intellectual property. In this field of expertise, the firm is highly regarded nationally and internationally for its dedicated, experienced work in court and out of court. By contributing in expert committees, by lectures, and by publications, the firm’s attorneys have their share in shaping the future of the profession. The firm was founded in the early 1980s by Rainer Klaka who brought in a large client base and the experience of many years in the field. Since then, the firm’s standing has continually been strengthened while keeping the structure of a small, independent, individual law firm.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Many of the firm’s cases, especially in the patent and trademark fields, have an international background, such as cross-border litigation, or questions of foreign and international law arising in counselling or litigation. The firm therefore is used to co-ordinate and/or conduct cases of international significance.

MAIN INTERNATIONAL AREAS OF PRACTICE:

Patent & Utility Model Law:
This includes infringement suits before all relevant German courts, especially the courts of Duesseldorf, Munich, and Mannheim as well as in co-operation with external patent attorney firm’s opposition and nullity (revocation) proceedings before the German and European patent offices and the Federal Patents Court, furthermore counselling in these fields, and co-operating or co-ordinating in multinational cases.

Trademark Law:
The firm’s Trademark Department prosecutes and maintains worldwide trademark portfolios for a number of clients. Furthermore, the firm conducts trademark and trade name infringement cases before all relevant German courts, as well as counselling and conducting international litigation. Furthermore, the firm is active with conducting infringement suits and counselling in the fields of copyright law, design patents, unfair competition law, press and media law, it and internet law, food and drug laws. Some of the firm’s attorneys additionally have experience in the fields of antitrust and public procurement law, energy supply law and company and commercial as well as banking law.

LANGUAGES:
English, German and French.

CLIENTS:
The firm’s client base includes large and medium-sized companies from Germany, Europe, the US, and Japan, as well as smaller companies from a broad range of fields including the automotive, pharmaceutical, apparel, and food industries as well as banking and insurance.

Chambers Europe – Profile:

Rankings:
Intellectual Property: Patent Litigation (Band 2)

THE FIRM:
This Munich-based IP boutique is renowned in the market for its patent and trade mark practice. The team acts for an impressive stable of clients, including BMW, which it has advised for many years on a broad range of design model infringements and unfair competition issues. A recent highlight for the team was representing Winthrop, a sanofi-aventis company, in a large patent infringement suit against Eli Lilly relating to the drug Olanzapine.

Sources Say: "Very innovative, open-minded and experienced lawyers."

KEY INDIVIDUALS:
Olaf Giebe is praised by clients for his quick grasp of technical issues, while Michael Nieder is noted for his wealth of experience in patent litigation.

Michael Nieder (Band 2)

Olaf Giebe (Band 1)

Intellectual Property: Trade Mark & Unfair Competition (Band 3)

THE FIRM:
This Munich-based IP boutique is renowned in the market for its patent and trade mark practice. The team acts for an impressive stable of clients, including BMW, which it has advised for many years on a broad range of design model infringements and unfair competition issues. A recent highlight for the team was representing Winthrop, a sanofi-aventis company, in a large patent infringement suit against Eli Lilly relating to the drug Olanzapine.

Sources Say: "Very innovative, open-minded and experienced lawyers."

KEY INDIVIDUALS:
Olaf Giebe is praised by clients for his quick grasp of technical issues, while Michael Nieder is noted for his wealth of experience in patent litigation.

Lawyers
Ranked Individuals:

Olaf Giebe

Michael Nieder