Philipp Neels
LL.M., ACIArb
Attorney-at-law
Representative before the UPC
Philipp Neels is a patent litigator specializing in the fields of life sciences, medical and information technology and electrical engineering. He represents clients in patent infringement and nullity proceedings before all German courts as well as before the Unified Patent Court (UPC) and in international arbitration proceedings. He also coordinates on an international level infringement and nullity proceedings, which are heard in parallel in several jurisdictions.
His expertise is based on more than one hundred patent infringement and validity proceedings. He advises global corporations, innovative SMEs and patent pools in the fields of life sciences, medical technology, semiconductor technology and telecommunications (in particular on SEPs).
According to Handelsblatt/Best Lawyers, Philipp Neels is one of Germany's best lawyers 2024 in the field of Intellectual Property Law. In The Legal 500 Germany 2023, he is recommended as follows: "Philipp Neels has an incredibly quick grasp and is characterized by his analytical thinking. He is an excellent advisor in procedural matters and knows how to convince with his economic-strategic advice". In the JUVE Patent Ranking 2022 he is listed as a "recommended individual" and IAM Patent recommends him as "deeply skilled at multi-jurisdictional litigation".
He speaks German and English.
Fields of Practice
- Medical devices
- Pharmaceutics
- Semiconductor technology
- Telecommunication
- Standard Essential Patents (SEP)
CV
Studied law at the University of Hamburg; legal traineeship at the Higher Regional Court of Oldenburg, 2005. Master's degree at the University of Sydney with a focus on international IP law, 2007.
Philipp Neels started his career in 2007 as a lawyer at Bird & Bird in Düsseldorf and was a partner in two Munich IP law firms before joining Eisenführ Speiser in 2023.
Case studies
- Representing a German company in UPC patent infringement and nullity proceedings before the Local Chamber Munich and Central Chamber Paris concerning 3D printers
- Representing an international patent pool in various multinational patent infringement proceedings against several smartphone manufacturers, including standard essential patents
- Representing a leading German engine manufacturer in patent infringement proceedings against US competitors
- Representing a German pharmaceutical company in multinational patent litigation against US competitors regarding a cancer therapy drug
- Representing an international patent pool in patent infringement actions against leading car manufacturers regarding patents on semiconductor technology
- Resenting a German manufacturer in numerous patent infringement proceedings concerning sex toys, including enforcement of patent rights at trade fairs and coordination of parallel proceedings in other jurisdictions
- Representing an international pharmaceutical company in the enforcement of patents in PI and main proceedings against numerous generic companies relating to drugs for influencing blood clotting
- Representing a Taiwanese manufacturer of microprocessors in German infringement proceedings in a multinational patent dispute with US competitors
- Representing a US patent pool against numerous leading telecommunications companies in numerous German infringement proceedings
- Representing a leading provider of navigation devices in patent infringement proceedings with Japanese competitors
- Representing an international pharmaceutical company in German infringement proceedings in numerous multi-national patent disputes with generic companies concerning patents and SPCs for several cancer drugs
- Representing a German medical devices manufacturer in patent infringement proceedings concerning thermocycler
- Representing an leading international pharmaceutical company in ICC arbitration proceedings concerning royalties for a number of blockbuster drugs
- Representing a patent pool in infringement proceedings against the leading provider of AI computing regarding semiconductor technology
- Representing a leading Austrian automotive supplier in patent infringement proceedings concerning test facilities for engines
- Representing a German pharmaceutical company in patent infringement proceedings against numerous generic drug companies concerning antihistamines
- Representing a British technology corporation in patent infringement proceedings concerning a telecommunications installation for the Berlin Fan Mile
- Representing a Dutch medical device manufacturer in patent infringement proceedings concerning patient transportation devices
- Representing a German company in patent litigation concerning online identification methods
- Representing a leading German tool manufacturer in patent infringement proceedings concerning power tools and accessories
- Representing a Japanese manufacturer of medical devices in patent infringement proceedings concerning surgical tools for artificial lenses (IOL)
- Representing a patent pool in infringement proceedings against a leading provider of internet telephony
- Representing a German medical device manufacturer in patent infringement proceedings concerning products for local cooling and pain therapy
- Representing a German pharmaceutical company in patent infringement proceedings concerning dialysis bags
- Representing a medical device manufacturer in patent infringement proceedings concerning drug nebulizers
- Representing of a German packaging manufacturer in patent infringement proceedings concerning valve closures for foodstuffs
- Representing a leading international chemical company in patent infringement proceedings concerning coating processes
- Representing a Swiss manufacturer in patent infringement proceedings concerning piezoelectric sensors
- Representing a medical device manufacturer in multi-national patent litigation concerning artificial heart valves and stents
- Representing a German automotive supplier in patent litigation concerning pivotable trailer hitches
Memberships
- German Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (GRUR)
- International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI)
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)
- International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
- German Institution of Arbitration (DIS)
Publications & Presentations
Patent Litigation 2022 - Germany: Law & Practice
Chambers Global Practice Guides, Co-Author
The Patent Infringing Acts in Purpose-Linked Substance Protection
Intellectual Property Magazine (01/2019)
ICC Intellectual Property Roadmap 2020
NPE patent litigation in Germany: recent trends and strategies
Contribution in IAM Yearbook 2017
The German Patent Law System
The Patent Lawyer Magazine, June 2015
Guide to EU Pharmaceutical Regulatory Law
1st Edition, Kluwer Law International, Contributor