Switzerland

Firm overview

ThomannFischer was founded in 1998. All the partners have a long history of professional experience and comprehensive knowledge in their areas of practice. Our spacious offices and modern infrastructure meet the highest standards.

We work with a network of selected, highly qualified foreign firms of lawyers and advisers and with various international banks in order to ensure that international transactions are conducted successfully and cross-border legal transactions handled professionally.

Firm overview

P&TS, one of Switzerland’s premier patent law firms, has broadened its scope beyond traditional IP and patent work to become a full‑service provider in innovation law, with a particular emphasis on software law.

In 2024 we welcomed Professor Daniel Kraus—co‑founder and director of the Chair of Intellectual Property at the University of Neuchâtel—to lead the development of this new practice area. Under his guidance, we now advise companies on a wide spectrum of software‑related legal matters, including:

   Artificial‑intelligence regulation and compliance
   Software copyright and licensing
   Open‑source strategy and risk management

At the same time, we have strengthened our core IP capabilities. Our team continues to deliver comprehensive patent and trademark prosecution, as well as robust litigation services. Notably, we now have three deputy judges serving on the Swiss Patent Court, further enhancing our expertise and influence within the national IP ecosystem.

Firm overview

Murgitroyd is a rapidly growing firm with innovation at its heart.

For nearly 50 years we’ve built a reputation as one of the world’s leading strategic IP firms. Trusted by global innovators and businesses to realise and protect the true value of their intellectual assets. History we may have, but we instead face forward. Our success lies in the positive relationships we build and our unrivalled breadth of expertise – from an unmatched technical knowledge to a proven commercial awareness.

We’re more than legal experts – we’re a strategic IP solutions firm with an unrivalled breadth of expertise. Our UK and European patent, trade mark and design attorneys bring together solid legal foundations, unmatched technical knowledge, and a commercial awareness that can drive growth and accelerate success.

We build relationships – globally. Our job is to protect and unlock the full potential of your innovations and ideas – not just in your country, but around the world. Our global team of specialists have an unrivalled knowledge in local laws and practices that provide a benchmark for advice and expertise wherever it’s needed to help you grow your business in markets you never thought possible, in ways you never imagined.

Our global office network spans Europe, North America and Asia. With over 440 employees (including over 120 attorneys) worldwide, our people have leading IP expertise across many industries including automotive, engineering & energy; consumer brands & services; chemistry & materials; life sciences & healthcare; and technology, media & telecoms.

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.