Bird & Bird has advised businesses operating in the electronics sector for over a century and our International Electronics Group now spends much of its time advising the world’s leading technology companies on strategic, high-value and complex issues.
Our extensive sector experience, alongside our expertise in intellectual property, communications and IT law allows us quickly to cut to the core of our clients’ problems and to develop the best for solution for each client.
Heads of Group: Mark Heaney and Oliver Jan Jüngst
Recent highlights of work
● Acting for LG Electronics in various patent litigation matters across Europe, including Dutch patent litigation regarding FRAND licenses on Blu-ray technology and coordinating pan-European patent litigation.
● Advising Microsoft on various matters, especially in the context of its ongoing international dispute with Motorola Mobility, providing strategic advice on the use of the German and UK courts and successfully defending Microsoft in the UK courts.
● Providing strategic advice to Broadcom, a leader in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications.
● Advising Lenovo on its acquisition of Medion, the first public takeover by a Chinese company in Germany.
● Acting for Nokia in patent litigation against IPCom in Germany, the UK and Italy and against HTC in Germany and the UK and in arbitration and patent litigation against RIM.
● Work for Sonepar, the world’s largest distributor of electrical and electronic equipment including acting as a “virtual general counsel” and advising on a series of technology-related acquisitions and disposals in China, Hong Kong and throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
● Advising an international hardware manufacturer on disputes with the German Federal Networks Agency over alleged violations of the German Electromagnetic Compatibility Act.
● Advising a major technology company on its copyright levies dispute with a large collecting society before the CJEU and representing the PC industry via the German ITC association BITKOM in the master proceedings regarding PC copyright levies.
● Advising a leading multinational consumer electronics and software company on the strategic trade mark portfolio management of all of its house marks and derived trade marks in Hong Kong.
Latest accolades and awards
TMT Team of the Year winner
Legal Business Awards 2013
TMT Team of the Year finalist
Legal Week's The British Legal Awards 2012
"… excellent firm … at the forefront of the IP market… a highly sophisticated service… Their level of service is excellent; they are proactive and able to think commercially, not just from a legal point of view"
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2012
"A very practical, business-oriented firm which understand the needs of the client in a commercial environment…It has the coverage and the depth to be considered a true European firm…Quick, clear and objective in its explanations and works very well with its team across Europe."
Chambers Global 2012
"They listen to your needs, get the job done and are cost-effective."
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2012
"Renowned for its sector-specific knowledge, Bird & Bird draws on a tight-knit network of offices to offer support on Europe-wide TMT projects."
Chambers Global 2012
"[Bird & Bird] continues to enjoy an outstanding reputation as one of the most prestigious IP practices in Europe…The team is considered specialist in a diverse range of industries, with many partners holding second or third degrees in areas such as biochemistry, engineering and electronics and computing."
Chambers Global 2012
“Bird & Bird seems unassailable in its position as one of the broadest and deepest IT firms nationwide. In addition, its London office is at the heart of a strong, integrated IT team throughout Europe.”
Chambers UK, 2013