Switzerland

Firm overview

As a leading Swiss business law firm, MLL Legal advises its clients in all traditional areas of commercial law such as M&A, finance, dispute resolution and intellectual property. In particular, MLL Legal stands out for its first-class industry expertise in technically innovative specialist areas such as fintech, blockchain and artificial intelligence, but also in regulated and innovative industries such as life sciences, telecommunications, financial services, real estate, retail and luxury. It is as a recognition for their work in these sectors in particular that MLL Legal’s specialists regularly feature in the most prestigious legal publications and lawyer rankings.

MLL Legal employs 250 people, including 150 lawyers, at its four Swiss offices in Zurich, Geneva, Zug and Lausanne, as well as at its international offices in London and Madrid.

Dedicated full-service IP practice

MLL Legal brings talent, expertise and solution-based teamwork to all IP issues. The members of the IP team rank among the leaders in IP law and have vast experience, primarily in Swiss but also in EU and German law. The firm’s IP specialists have extensive and wide-ranging experience in enforcing trademarks, copyright, designs and patents. The team also offers prosecution services for trademarks, designs and domain names, together with strategic advice and consultation on contracts, including antitrust matters. MLL Legal is a one-stop shop for all IP-related matters (excluding patent applications).

Trademarks, designs and unfair competition

MLL Legal performs the full range of trademark, design and domain name-related services in Switzerland and abroad, including registering, enforcing, opposing and defending these rights. MLL Legal has broad experience in the management of large portfolios and in counterfeiting cases.

The firm can also assist:

• in finding solutions under the new Swissness legislation (legal criteria regulating the use of Swiss goods and services);
• in developing and implementing trademark and design protection strategies;
• with litigation before all Swiss courts and authorities and coordination of international disputes;
• with IP-related arbitration (including domain name dispute arbitration);
• with the comprehensive management of entire IP portfolios;
• with unfair competition, design, trade dress and counterfeiting disputes;
• with the support of creative and design-focused companies, in particular advertising agencies, manufacturers of design products and photographers; and
• in providing sophisticated advice in the growing field of geographical indications.

Patents and the health industry

MLL Legal’s patent litigation team has outstanding expertise and experience in managing complex patent matters nationally, as well as in multiple jurisdictions, litigating before all Swiss courts and coordinating cross-border patent litigation. Advising and representing pharmaceutical companies in regulatory issues is also a primary team focus.

Copyright, technology, media and telecommunications

MLL Legal has been providing support and advice to technology companies and enterprises in the media and telecommunication industries for many years. The team at MLL Legal are also recognised by clients and peers as leading specialists in the area of privacy and data protection in Switzerland. The firm’s clients benefit from the team’s understanding of data protection laws in combination with their knowledge on the digitalisation of business activities and its legal and operative impacts.

The firm’s services comprise the following:

• advising software developers and IT service providers, as well as the users of such products and services (eg, outsourcing and IT security);
• advising on data protection topics in connection with software and mobile applications and cloud computing;
• advising media companies active in the classic media sector (eg, print, radio and television) and the new online media sector;
• supporting telecommunications companies in solving problems and exploiting the opportunities offered by the convergence of fixed-line networks, mobile radio communications and the Internet;
• ensuring compliance with relevant data protection rules of internet businesses, communities and ventures (eg, data protection guidelines, general terms and conditions and privacy policy);
• reviewing technology-focused due diligence;
• assisting with the financing, marketing and sale of technology-based solutions, technology-centric media and telecommunications companies; and
• assisting with the exchange of technology, in particular through licences and R&D agreements.

Languages

MLL Legal’s working languages include German, English, French and Spanish. Some of the firm’s professionals are also fluent in Italian and Portuguese.

Firm overview

Boutique firm IPrime fields a team of leading patent attorneys and attorneys-at-law with extensive experience in dealing with complex national and cross-border intellectual property matters across a broad range of technologies.

Relying on a unique combination of experienced business lawyers and litigators, patent attorneys and technology experts, IPrime is able to offer high-end legal and strategic advice and advocacy services in connection with the protection and commercialization of innovations, investments into technology, as well as complex IP and commercial disputes. Key strengths of the team are its independence and close collaboration between Swiss and European patent attorneys with a profound understanding of technology and science (including AI, robotics, big data, cyberphysical systems and block chain, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, chemicals and biotechnology as well as medical technology), and highly experienced dispute resolution specialists, who routinely represent parties in legal proceedings before courts, authorities and arbitral tribunals. IPrime has for years regularly handled a relevant share of all patent litigation matters in front of the Swiss Federal Patent Court.

As a part-time judge at the Federal Patent Court and experienced patent litigator, Dr. Rudolf A. Rentsch is involved in many high-stake patent cases in various technology sectors, while Dr. Moritz Kälin, Thomas Kretschmer and Martin Willy bring a wealth of experience in their respective scientific fields as well as in all aspects of patent law. Dr. Rudolf A. Rentsch, Dr. Ronny D. Banchik, Dr. Raphael Zingg and Ernst J. Brem are experienced commercial lawyers, advising clients in contract negotiations and representing them particularly in IP disputes. This interdisciplinarity, as well as the many years of experience which its lawyers gained in other firms and in in-house roles in the technology sector, allows IPrime to provide cutting-edge legal and strategic support to domestic and international clients at the intersection of technology and law.

Other key differentiators are the boutique structure and the discretion and substantially reduced risk of conflicts of interest, thanks to which IPrime can provide a broad range of services in contentious matters, from counsel mandates in litigation and arbitration, over strategic advisory in IP matters to settlement facilitation in situations requiring not only legal knowledge but also a thorough understanding of the underlying technical and commercial issues.

IPrime’s IP department covers both patent prosecution and patent litigation cases at Swiss, European and international level, providing strategic and legal advice with respect to the protection of intellectual property, whether under patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, design or unfair competition laws. In particular, IPrime frequently advises IP departments of large leading global high-tech companies as well as SMEs, universities and start-ups in all areas of IP. IPrime also offers comprehensive services for the registration and administration of patent and trademark portfolios throughout Europe and overseas. In addition, IPrime’s patent attorneys and lawyers regularly assist clients in complex IP disputes, particularly in the patent area, and have accompanied a number of companies in patent cases in the U.S., China, Japan as well as many countries within Europe, in particular Germany and England. IPrime also routinely advises on the commercialization of intellectual property and related financing and structuring considerations and has set up a partnership with a large Swiss tax and accounting firm to assist companies in the tax-optimal structuring of patent portfolios, in accordance with the so-called patent boxes into Swiss law. Since many years, IPrime also runs a China desk and has strong connections to Japan.

IPrime has offices each in the heart of the cities of Zurich and Dusseldorf and since summer 2021 in Liechtenstein.

Firm overview

WEINMANN ZIMMERLI is a leading Zurich-based Swiss IP firm specialising in Swiss and international trademark, patent, copyright, licence and design law, as well as unfair competition and antitrust law. The firm is a full-service IP boutique that covers prosecution and litigation matters. WEINMANN ZIMMERLI is known for its unique approach to client relations, which aims to create a level of trust and constant exchange between client and attorney to ensure the best possible legal advice and convincing solutions that are tailored to the clients’ needs. This, combined with our team of excellent legal practitioners, has made WEINMANN ZIMMERLI one of the fastest-growing IP firms in Switzerland.

Philosophy
WEINMANN ZIMMERLI’s professionals have been providing legal advice on IP-related matters and disputes for the past 30 years. They have a well-balanced mix of experience, talent, creativity and innovativeness. They believe in their way of rendering legal services and, therefore, keep a flat hierarchy to ensure and promote the exchange of ideas between partners and associates. WEINMANN ZIMMERLI promotes excellence and strives to be at the cutting edge of factual and legal developments, which is reflected by their professionals’ frequent publications, among other things. This atmosphere enables them to provide their clients with individualised solutions to maximise the value of their IP portfolios and ensure protection and enforcement of their rights in Switzerland, the European Union and worldwide. This is possible because of the close relationship between clients and professionals, which is developed by having a single professional point of contact at WEINMANN ZIMMERLI to handle clients’ issues, who works closely with their legal team and well-established worldwide correspondent network.

IP strategy and prosecution
WEINMANN ZIMMERLI advises and develops, together with its clients, their IP strategy, choosing with them the best option to protect their IP portfolios. They also handle the implementation of such strategies through the registration, monitoring and prosecution of trademarks, designs and patents on a national, European and international level, as well as through portfolio management and the provision of the full range of domain name-related services. Furthermore, WEINMANN ZIMMERLI advises its clients on IT-related matters with a special focus on the legal questions concerning the Internet of things.

IP enforcement
Since its inception, the firm’s specialised litigation team has successfully enforced its clients’ IP rights against infringers, as well as protecting them against unwelcome claims. In particular, WEINMANN ZIMMERLI’s litigation team is specialised in trademark, trade name, trade dress, copyright, design, patent, licensing, unfair competition, trade secret and antitrust conflicts. Additionally, their professionals are experts in mediation and settlement negotiations. They represent clients before all Swiss courts and authorities and coordinate international disputes. This is in addition to offering specialised expertise in anti-counterfeiting actions and taking care of import and export issues for their clients. WEINMANN ZIMMERLI is also known for successfully taking on challenging cases and handling cross-border litigation.

IP valuation and exploitation
Valuation and exploitation of IP rights are cornerstones of creating and upholding IP rights. Accordingly, the firm’s professionals have the necessary expertise to evaluate their clients’ trademarks, patents and designs according to international standards. With respect to the exploitation of IP rights, WEINMANN ZIMMERLI’s team has successfully drafted and negotiated contracts for its clients, such as licence, distribution and sponsorships agreements, as well as contracts between owners and users of art and social media, which also includes terms and conditions for operating online and offline business.

Firm overview

M. Zardi & Co. SA founds its roots in the Swiss town of Lugano in 1999, establishing quite immediately as the IP law firm for prestigious companies. 

Our passion and care for IP lead us to constantly extend our reputation in the worldwide IP market over the last two decades. Today M. Zardi & Co. SA is a highly esteemed partner for many European and overseas firms. 

We live our profession with great enthusiasm and look with attention to the future of intellectual property.

Nowadays innovation often extends in different disciplines and a robust IP protection requires professionals with diverse backgrounds working in synergy with an eye keen to embrace different perspectives.

Fast changes in innovation cycles, technologies and law make strategic handling of IP a key factor for success. 

It is therefore all the more important to have the right partner at your side.

With our international professional network, we are a one-stop centre for high quality IP consulting services and provide a dependable support at every stage of the IP life cycle. 

We assist to protect your patents, trademarks and designs effectively in order to uphold and defend your interests against competitors and counterfeiters. We represent you in proceedings before national and international authorities including the European Patent Office (EPO), the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IGE) and the Swiss federal Patent Court, the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA), the Italian Patent and Trademark Office (UIBM), the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

We offer a team of 9 internationally experienced attorneys with a unique ability to understand the processes and interrelationships of the modern industry. Our attorneys speak your language. 

This makes us a highly competent and unique IP law firm for developing strategically supported solutions for all your needs, exploiting current and future potentials and securing your value.

Last updated 26th May 2020