Intellectual Property

Lenz & Staehelin's Intellectual Property group is renowned for its longstanding practice and excellent track record in every field of intellectual property (patent law, trademark and design law, and copyright law), including related areas such as unfair competition. We offer full services in trademark and design prosecution, represent clients in IP litigation (before the Swiss Federal Supreme Court, the Federal Patent Court, the Federal Administrative Court and cantonal courts across the country), and in IP-related international arbitration. In addition, we advise on complex commercial transactions such as licensing, franchising, joint ventures, R&D cooperations, all kind of technology transfer issues, and IP due diligence in M&A matters.

Lenz & Staehelin has a transaction-oriented approach to intellectual property, and always focuses on immediate client benefit. The breadth and depth of expertise available in-house translates into higher productivity and better services for clients. Because we – unlike most other law firms – also offer administrative services such as trademark and design applications and portfolio management, we can provide a one-stop shop for all IP-related matters (excluding patent applications).

Current clients include the following sectors: pharmaceuticals, chemicals, medical devices, biotechnology, household equipment, machinery, textiles, footwear and sporting goods, software, semiconductors, navigation equipment, telecoms, agriculture, dairy, food and beverages, cosmetics, postal services, financial services (including securitization of IP rights), banking, consulting, sports associations, museums, art collections, universities (including spin-offs), government, governmental agencies and trade associations.

We are at the forefront of European IP development, and have successfully turned various business models into proprietary rights. Lenz & Staehelin's intellectual property practice achieves the highest rankings in all significant publications. Correspondingly, our senior lawyers are considered leading practitioners in the field and receive plaudits from clients and peers.