Switzerland

Firm overview

P&TS was established in 1998 in Neuchâtel as a patent and trademark law firm. P&TS experienced dramatic growth and quickly became an important player in the intellectual property scene in Switzerland. In 2014, the company won the Prix de l’Entreprise Romande (Prix SVC) which rewards the most dynamic companies in Western Switzerland– in all fields of activity. 

P&TS offers full service for IP prosecution and litigation.

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

PRINS with its mixed team of patent attorneys, trademark attorneys and attorneys-at-law (admitted to all Swiss Courts) is one of the few IP law firms in Switzerland that can offer full-service advice in all fields of intellectual property. Together with our clients, we develop tailor-made IP strategies to strengthen relevant business areas, achieve strategic goals and successfully implement change.

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.