Thierry Calame
Managing Partner, Co-Head of Intellectual Property
Dr. iur., Attorney at Law, Dipl. Nat.sc. ETH
|
Managing Partner, Co-Head of Intellectual Property Dr. iur., Attorney at Law, Dipl. Nat.sc. ETH +41 58 450 80 00 thierry.calame@lenzstaehelin.com |
Zurich Brandschenkestrasse 24 CH-8027 Zurich www.lenzstaehelin.com |
-
Expertise
Dr. Thierry Calame is the firm's managing partner based in Zurich and a leading expert in intellectual property law, with a particular focus on patent law and IP-related dispute resolution. He has extensive experience as counsel in patent, trademark, unfair competition and copyright litigation, as well as in IP-related arbitration, and regularly sits as arbitrator in IP-related matters. He is also included on the list of arbitrators of the Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre (PMAC).
Thierry also advises on licensing, the intellectual property aspects of a wide range of other transactions and pharmaceutical law, including regulatory and advertising issues. He holds master’s degrees in both chemistry and law and is a permanent lecturer at the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property. Thierry has published widely on intellectual property topics and is a past president of the European Patent Lawyers Association (EPLAW). From 2010 to 2014, he served as Reporter General of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI).
-
Practices
-
Specialist Areas
Intellectual Property, Litigation and Arbitration, Patent, Copyright, Trademark and other IP-related Litigation, Licensing, Unfair Competition, Technology, Media & Telecoms -
Professional Experience and Education
and Education
2002 Partner, Lenz & Staehelin 1996 Associate, Lenz & Staehelin 2001 University of St.Gallen (Dr. iur.) 1998 University of Santa Clara (USA) 1996 Swiss Bar Admission 1995 Max Planck Institute for Intellectual Property, Competition and Tax Law (Germany) 1994 University of St.Gallen (lic. iur.) 1991 Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETHZ (Dipl. nat. sc. ETH) -
Languages
English, German, French -
Memberships
European Patent Lawyers Association (EPLAW), International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI), Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA), International Trademark Association (INTA), Licensing Executives Society (LES), International Bar Association (IBA), Swiss Bar Association (SAV), Zurich Bar Association (ZAV), Deutsche Vereinigung für gewerblichen Rechtsschutz und Urheberrecht (GRUR), Institut für gewerblichen Rechtsschutz (INGRES), Schweizer Forum für Kommunikationsrecht (SF-FS) -
Selected Publications
- Calame T., Ling P., Arbitrating SEP/FRAND and Other Royalty Disputes, in: GAR – The Guide to IP Arbitration, 4th Edition, May 2026
- Calame T., Patent Protection for Second Medical Uses, in: Bühling (ed.), AIPPI Law Series, 3rd Edition, May 2026
- Calame T., Ling P., Life Sciences & Pharma IP Litigation 2023 - Switzerland: Law and Practice, in: Chambers Global Practice Guides, March 2023
- Calame T., Ling P., Trade Secrets 2022 - Switzerland: Law and Practice, in: Chambers Global Practice Guides, April 2022
- Calame T., Aebi M., Enforceability, in: Halket (ed.), Arbitration of International Intellectual Property Disputes, 2nd edition, 2021
- Calame T., Ling P., Patent Enforcement in Switzerland, in: Patent Enforcement in Europe, European Patent Academy (ed.), 2020
- Calame T., Compulsory Licensing in Switzerland, in: Compulsory Licensing in Europe, European Patent Academy (ed.), 2019
- Calame T., Sterpi ., Copyright Litigation, Jurisdictional Comparisons, 3rd ed., London 2018
- Calame T., Genuine Use of Trademarks, Gaspar (ed.), AIPPI Law Series, 2018
- Calame T., Sterpi ., Patent Litigation, Jurisdictional Comparisons, 4th ed., London 2018
- Calame T., Hess-Blumer ., Stieger ., Patentgerichtsgesetz (PatGG), Commentary on the Patent Court Act, Basel 2013
- Calame T., Sterpi ., Trade Mark Litigation, Jurisdictional Comparisons, 2nd ed., London 2013
-
Other Activities
Listed Arbitrator, Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre (PMAC)
Lecturer, Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property
Co-Chair, AIPPI Committee on Unitary Patent / Unified Patent Court
Member, EPLAW ADR Committee
Past President, EPLAW (European Patent Lawyers Association)
Former Reporter General of AIPPI and former member of Board of Swiss group of AIPPI
Former member of Board of Directors, Innosuisse
-
Contact details
-
Assistant
-
Other Activities
Listed Arbitrator, Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre (PMAC)
Lecturer, Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property
Co-Chair, AIPPI Committee on Unitary Patent / Unified Patent Court
Member, EPLAW ADR Committee
Past President, EPLAW (European Patent Lawyers Association)
Former Reporter General of AIPPI and former member of Board of Swiss group of AIPPI
Former member of Board of Directors, Innosuisse
-
References
Thierry Calame is the absolute rockstar of Swiss patent litigation. There is no one else I would trust to advise on heavy-ticket patent disputes.
Chambers & Partners, 2026Thierry Calame remains a leading name in the market and assists with patent nullity proceedings and infringement litigation for a portfolio of significant Swiss and international pharmaceutical companies.
Chambers & Partners, 2026Thierry Calame offers great advocacy. He remains calm and is decisive in high pressure situations.
The Legal 500, 2026Thierry Calame is a smart lawyer who has a good way of explaining matters and good legal writing.
Chambers & Partners, 2026Thierry Calame is an outstanding patent specialist with extensive experience especially before the Swiss patent court. Moreover, he has a deep understanding of technology, specifically in the field of life sciences.
The Legal 500, 2024Thierry Calame is well renowned for his expertise in intellectual property matters. He is a leading arbitrator in IP disputes, as well as an unrivalled expert on patent law.
Who's Who Legal, 2024Thierry Calame is a highly experienced patent litigator who comes highly regarded as "one of the best" in the market.
Who's Who Legal, 2024Thierry Calame is celebrated as an authority on IP-related arbitration.
Who's Who Legal, 2022
Publications
-
Arbitrating SEP/FRAND and Other Royalty Disputes
in: GAR – The Guide to IP Arbitration, 4th Edition, May 2026
-
Patent Protection for Second Medical Uses
in: Bühling (ed.), AIPPI Law Series, 3rd Edition, May 2026