Chambers Europe TMT: Information Technology (2022)
GEISTWERT is a boutique firm offering dependable expertise in IT and related IP matters. The practice is noted for high-quality work in software contracts and game development. It additionally handles related IP aspects, especially copyright and trade mark matters. GEISTWERT’s further areas of activity include data protection and regulatory advice for tech companies. It is often seen advising technology startups as well as numerous clients in the media, entertainment and electronics industries. The team represents state-owned and private companies on both domestic and multi-jurisdictional matters.
JUVE Austria IP (2021)
Leading names in IP: Rainer Schultes for patent law.
Often recommended: Rainer Schultes; in patent law, partners […] and Rainer Schultes have earned an excellent reputation for their litigation representation.
JUVE Austria IP (2021)
Comment: In the seven years since it was founded, Geistwert has not only managed to include its fancy name as part of the firm’s name in the company register, but has also established itself as one of the market-leading firms in trademark and competition law. […]
The five partners of the Vienna boutique have become strong challengers to the market leaders. Competitors highlight the team’s large presence in IP litigation. A recent highlight was the representation of Red Bull against Bullsone, which led to a substantial extension of trademark rights and a Union-wide injunction. Another example is the representation of the Russian optics producer Krasnogorsky Zavod against Lomografische AG to enforce an arbitration award obtained and a counterclaim under unfair competition law. Partner Messner most recently acted internationally as chair of the arbitration tribunal in Milan in an international trade mark infringement case involving a luxury fashion brand.
The law firm scored a success on its own account with a landmark decision before the Supreme Court, which allowed it to register its fancy name Geistwert as a law firm in the company register. […] The firm plays in the top league especially in pharmaceutical lawsuits and represents, for example, Genentech and Hoffmann La Roche against Sandoz in the international dispute over the cancer drug Rituximab. The team is also involved in several SPC proceedings. Recently, it has also been involved in major international proceedings through its good contacts with leading patent teams in Germany and the UK.
Since its foundation, the partner-centred approach and close cooperation between the partners have been trademarks of the firm. Whether this concept will bear fruit in the long term or slow down the dynamic development so far remains to be seen. Geistwert has so far used the time that other firms invest in promoting young talent to develop IT solutions for their clients.
Strengths: Consistent focus on IP issues with a partner-centric approach; infringement litigation around pharma patents.
Practice areas: Extensive advice on trademark, design and competition law. Focus on patent infringement litigation in the pharmaceutical and mechanical engineering sectors. Also advises the tourism and automotive sectors. Also trademark administration (almost 900 trademarks).
iam Patent 1000 (2021)
Trailblazer GEISTWERT is hailed as “a ground-breaking firm that has changed the face of the market. There is no other comparable set-up, where five innovative partners are all stars in the IP field”. “The firm works on a partner level, which gives clients utmost confidence in its super-clear results. Its response times are ultra-quick and its entrepreneurship allows the team to fully see and understand each company’s commercial goals.”
trend Lawyer’s Ranking 2020
Four GEISTWERT partners were individually ranked again in the Austrian „trend“ Ranking (2021), Max Mosing even twice, namely: Max Mosing for Media Law and Data Protection/Privacy Law, Rainer Schultes for (Unfair) Competition Law, Constantin Kletzer for Trademark-, Copyright- and Patent-Law and Julia Messner for her start-up advisory services.
Legal 500 (IP, 2021)
IP, IT and TMT boutique firm GEISTWERT fields five dedicated partners with a strong focus on patent and trade mark litigation, design law and copyright law. In terms of patent litigation, the team is particularly adept at representing clients in the biochemistry, biotech, chemistry and pharmaceutical industries. The group also has notable strength in trade mark portfolio management and makes use of its own legal tech applications to facilitate such projects. Founding partners Constantin Kletzer, Juliane Messner, Max Mosing, Alexander Schnider and Rainer Schultes are the key names. Testimonials: “GEISTWERT is the coolest IP/IT law firm in Austria. With 5 partners handling all matters by themselves, you get a unique think tank and one or more lawyers handling your agendas with great experience, not only from a legal but also from a business perspective. In contrast to firms using (senior) associates, salary partners and other staff who are not entrepreneurs themselves, this is priceless for me.”; “Very nice good and pragmatic people, not very old-fashioned Austrian. Very informal good advice for international clients.”; “Alexander Schnider continues to impress since the day we started working together. Alexander’s most important strength is that he does not only know all the legal details and case law about Austrian IP and IT matters, but more importantly also the video game business as such and therefore, most importantly, also the positions and desires of the stakeholders in the industry and thus also of our contract partners. This is tremendously helpful when negotiating contracts as you simply cannot achieve the best results when you don’t know about the business goals and needs of the companies that are involved in a video game deal.” Constantin Kletzer, Max Mosing and Rainer Schultes are explicitly mentioned as “Leading Individuals” in IP.
Legal 500 (Privacy & Data Protection, 2021)
TMT, IP and data privacy boutique GEISTWERT has a strong track record in data protection that extends beyond the introduction of GDPR. Jointly led by Juliane Messner, Max Mosing, Alexander Schnider, Rainer Schultes and Constantin Kletzer, the practice is particularly experienced in advising finance, pharmaceutical and life sciences clients. To assist with GDPR implementation, the firm is able to call on its home-grown GDPR-tool. The fully bilingual and dual-qualified Messner is also in charge of the dedicated Italy desk, and Mosing is a CIS-certified Data Privacy Officer. Testimonials: “Communication is fast, competent and uncomplicated is probably the “secret of success” for GEISTWERT on the Austrian market. It is undoubtedly unique in Austria that so many partners in a law firm can serve the same area of law at such a high level – really a pleasure working with the GEISTWERT team”; “All partners are easy to reach, competent, uncomplicated and have at least basic knowledge of the projects of the other partners. That is definitely unique in Austria.” Juliane Messner is explicitly mentioned as “Leading Individual” in Data Privacy And Data Protection.
Legal 500 (TMT, 2021)
The team at IP and IT boutique GEISTWERT has a core focus on classic media, internet communication and high-tech matters with a strong presence in software and technology development, licensing and e-commerce. Constantin Kletzer, Juliane Messner, Max Mosing, Alexander Schnider and Rainer Schultes are equally involved in TMT work, with the dual-admitted Messner also in charge of the firm’s Italy Desk, which often assists publishing houses and tourism clients. Testimonials: “All partners are easy to reach, competent, uncomplicated and have at least basic knowledge of the projects of the other partners. That is definitely unique in Austria!’“; “My primary GEISTWERT contact is Max Mosing. However, it is impressive how the other partners from GEISTWERT can take over immediately if needed; the GEISTWERT internal communication seems to work just great.”’
Chambers Europe IP (2021)
Rainer Schultes is best known for his work on patent litigation, typically representing pharmaceutical companies. Schultes also assists with trade mark and licensing matters. One client endorses his clarity, stating: “I am impressed by how he can explain legal arguments so that we can understand them and learn to apply them on our own.”
Chambers Europe IP (2021)
Ranked in Gold Tier: What the team is known for: Increasingly visible firm, moving up to the top ranking due to its IP service comprising patent and trade mark-related advice, including portfolio management and infringement litigation. Additional experience in domain name as well as licence agreements and copyright disputes. Also assists with counterfeiting and customs measures. Attracts clients from various industries, including fintech, food and drink, life sciences and construction. Strengths: Source endorse the firm’s efficiency, stating: “All the partners are helpful, and in terms of responsiveness they deserve a gold medal. They also guarantee high quality.” One client enthuses: “It is a think-tank of great and curious minds which no other firm can offer at this level.”
Chambers Europe TMT (2021)
What the team is known for: TMT boutique offering dependable expertise in IT and related IP matters. Noted for high-quality work in software contracts and game development. Additionally handles related IP aspects, especially copyright and trade mark matters. Further areas of activity include data protection, international e-commerce and IT outsourcing. Often seen advising technology startups as well as numerous clients in the media, entertainment and electronics industries. Represents state-owned and private companies on both domestic and multi-jurisdictional matters. Strengths: A client describes the team as “dedicated, hard-working but fun, and always up to date. They recognise trends and set standards.” Another satisfied client enthuses: “In any area that we need legal advice for, their expertise seems highly profound and state-of-the-art. If some matters are somewhat unrelated to their specialisation, their international network allows them to easily reach out to other law firms to enquire about their view on the matter.”
Chambers Global IP (2021)
Rainer Schultes improves his ranking thanks to strong market feedback and a high level of activity in leading high-profile IP proceedings. He advises both claimants and defendants before domestic and EU courts, with regard to patent and trade mark as well as trade secret and unfair competition disputes. Clients especially appreciate that “he has a technical background, which is exactly what we need. He always seems to be personally concerned with winning a case and approaches the matters with a lot of dedication.”
Chambers Global IP (2021)
What the team is known for: Offers a well-regarded comprehensive IP service with a particular focus on patent and trade mark-related advice, including portfolio management and infringement litigation. Additional experience in domain name and co-existence matters as well as licence agreements and copyright disputes. Also assists with counterfeiting and customs measures. Attracts clients of various industries, including fintech, food and drink, life sciences and construction.
WTR 1000 (2021)
“A go-to for any and all trademark matters, GEISTWERT changed the face of the Austrian legal landscape when it was set up. Its unique strength comes from its five highly experienced, innovative and ambitious founding partners, who are all absolute stars in their respective specialisations. Their entrepreneurial spirit, ultra-quick response times and the results they achieve instil clients with utmost confidence.” First on the team sheet, “Alexander Schnider is an extremely clever strategist, skilled negotiator and logical thinker, and his courtroom presence is absolutely striking. The great thing about Alexander is that he never sees problems – only solutions. He cuts straight through any white noise and gets right to the heart of the issue”. “Both Rainer Schultes and Constantin Kletzer are extremely knowledgeable, quick and easy to work with. They know what rights holders need even before they do.” Schultes is a technology whizz who handles high-profile cases with ease; while Kletzer “combines a thorough knowledge of statutory and case law with a great business acumen, all to the benefit of his clients”. Max Mosing also comes in for particular praise: “He is a renaissance man in the area of intellectual property and somehow still manages to surprise with the breadth of his knowledge and forward thinking. As a practical and commercially minded litigator, he knows all the tricks when it comes to enforcing marks, while providing a comfortable environment for his clients. He is super-friendly, easy to reach, dispenses with the legalese and is always fun to work with.” Completing the line-up is Juliane Messner: “An outstanding negotiator, she drafts bulletproof contracts and handles corporate matters with great diligence. Her advice gets to the crux of each issue and her solutions are hands-on and business oriented.” Juliane is the first-choice for start-ups as well as established companies in the life sciences and ITsectors.
The Global IP Awards presented by iam and WTR
Global IP Awards – IP Firm of the Year 2020 – Austria