Intellectual Property

The IP team of valfor covers all fields of intellectual property law, namely patent, trademark and design, copyright law, including related practices such as know-how protection, trade secrets and unfair competition. The team advises clients and collaborates with other teams at valfor. It is also regularly involved in pre-contentious work and represents clients in IP litigations. Sectors served by our IP practice extend from traditional industries such as machinery, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics or financial services to information technology, telecommunications, the computing industry, media, biotech, medtech, cleantech and further advanced and emerging technologies. We have been a driving force in advising on business transactions related to the Internet and have actively assisted our clients in a wide range of activities involving the use of IP on the Internet. The IP team also offers administrative services such as trademark and design applications and portfolio management. In addition, the IP team manages large trademark, design and domain name portfolios.

Core Expertise

  • Representing clients in IP cases before the Swiss Federal Supreme Court, the Federal Patent Court, the Federal Administrative Court and cantonal courts across the country
  • Representing clients in IP-related international arbitration
  • Advising on commercial transactions such as licensing, franchising and joint ventures
  • Handling R&D cooperation agreements and technology transfer issues
  • Conducting IP due diligence in M&A matters
  • Assessing IP aspects of new business models
  • Advising companies on trademarks, company names and domain names
  • Advising on geographical indications and Swissness
  • Handling trademark, design and domain name portfolio prosecution and management
  • Advising on copyrights, advertising and entertainment law
  • Assisting clients in IP-related matters regarding sponsorship, franchising, licenses and distributorships
  • Protecting clients against counterfeiting

Main contacts

Zurich Christoph Gasser Attorney-at Law, Dr. iur., LL.M. University of Michigan Law School
Contact

To the team Intellectual Property

New partners. Enhanced expertise.

valfor is pleased to announce the addition of six new partners effective 1 January 2025.

The Lausanne-based law firm Mercuris Avocats, led by partners Olivier Cherpillod, Jean-Michel Clerc, Martine Loertscher, and Maxime Rocafort, will join valfor. Their team, specialising in commercial law, tax, and dispute resolution, will integrate valfor’s Pully/Lausanne office.

Deborah Hondius and Nicolas Gurtner will strengthen valfor’s Geneva office, bringing their expertise in litigation, particularly in white-collar crime and contractual matters.

United by a shared philosophy of delivering value beyond legal advice, they all look forward to combining their skills and resources for the benefit of valfor’s clients. This strategic growth reinforces valfor’s position as one of Switzerland’s leading business law firms, with over 80 lawyers practicing across Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Sion, Zug, Zurich, and Brussels.

With a strong international and interdisciplinary focus, valfor provides tailored legal solutions to meet the specific needs and complexities of each client’s business.

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