Locations
Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP announces today that it will be expanding in Germany with the opening of new offices in Munich and Düsseldorf. The German offices, including the firm’s existing Hamburg office, will be managed by leading IP partner Dr Joachim Feldges, formerly Managing Partner of Howrey’s Munich and Düsseldorf offices.
The Fieldfisher offices are expected to open in April with four partners, four associates and a number of support staff who all join the firm from Howrey. The move is part of Fieldfisher’s strategy to focus on IP & technology, regulatory and corporate, servicing businesses that are highly regulated and those with business models driven by IP and technology.
The initial focus of the new offices will be on IP and patent litigation in particular, with further plans to grow in line with the firm’s strategy.
The new partners are:
- Dr Joachim Feldges (Munich)
- Dr Thomas Adam (Munich)
- Dr Christoph Lenz (Düsseldorf)
- Dr Jochen Herr (Munich)
The team has a leading reputation in patent litigation, advising on complex multinational cases with a particular emphasis on the pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, high tech and telecommunications sectors.
The offices in Munich, where the European Patent Office is based, and Düsseldorf, home of Germany’s most important court for patent infringement proceedings, will boost Fieldfisher’s pan-European IP capability and enable the firm to expand its patent litigation practice to match its leading reputation in other areas of IP such as trade marks.
The move follows the hire of London IP partner Mark Hodgson earlier this month. Mark is one of Europe’s leading patent litigators and was formerly managing partner in Howrey’s London office.
Moira Gilmour, Managing Partner at Fieldfisher, said: “The new offices in Germany are part of a very focused plan for growth in the UK and Europe that we began in April 2010. Led by Joachim, who has a leading reputation in the patent field, the new offices will boost the firm’s multi-jurisdictional IP capability – a key aspect of the firm’s strategy. Over time we plan further growth bringing in additional expertise across our Corporate, IP & Technology and Regulatory practices.”
Dr Joachim Feldges said: "Fieldfisher has a leading reputation in the media and technology sectors, with a strong regulatory practice and a growing life sciences capability that prove an excellent fit with our patent litigation practice. The projects to build a multinational patent practice for Fieldfisher and to strengthen the operations of that firm in Europe’s largest economy represent both exciting and highly demanding challenges. I am delighted to be joining the firm and look forward to working closely with the teams across Europe as well as with my partners in the Hamburg office to make these projects successful."
Nick Rose, partner and head of Fieldfisher’s IP & Technology Litigation Group said: “This is an exciting development for the firm and for the growth of our European IP capability, which will total 27 partners and 40 other lawyers once Joachim and the team join. Germany has strengthened its position as the favoured forum for patent litigation and over 80% of all patent cases fought in Germany are heard in Düsseldorf and Munich. Expanding the firm’s reach there will allow us to attract further work, particularly from international clients in Europe, the US and Asia."
For further press information, please contact:
Louise Eckersley, PR Manager on +44 (0)20 7861 4120