Dr. Simon Holzer
Partner, Zurich
T +41 58 552 03 20
simon.holzer@mll-legal.com
Profile
Simon Holzer is a member of MLL’s IP team, which is consistently ranked as one of the top Swiss IP teams by peers and clients, and heads the firm’s Patent and Life Sciences team. He has extensive experience in all areas of IP law, with a focus on patents, trademarks, geographical indications and unfair competition. Simon Holzer is also a trusted advisor in the field of pharmaceutical regulatory law and competition law.
Simon Holzer is an experienced IP practitioner across a wide range of industries and technologies, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, telecommunications (including Standard-Essential Patents and FRAND cases), software, cosmetics and foodstuffs.
In 2010 the Swiss Parliament appointed Simon Holzer as an adjunct judge of the Swiss Federal Patent Court. This court has jurisdiction over patent disputes throughout Switzerland.
Simon Holzer is praised by clients and peers as a “skilled and driven individual” and “a leader in the contentious sphere” who is “top-ranked by peers” within the “excellent” and “high-flying” IP team of MLL. According to clients, Simon Holzer is particularly well versed in the areas of patents and pharma and clients highlight his “in-depth technical understanding”. Other sources describe Simon Holzer as a “key life sciences expert” and a “superstar in patent litigation” as well as a “pleasure to work with”.
Practice Areas
Rankings & Awards
- “Immensely experienced, knowledgeable and pragmatic, Simon always works really hard, stays calm under pressure and produces excellent results” – IAM Patent 1000, 2022
- “Simon Holzer is really skilled, but also friendly and professional, and goes out of his way to satisfy clients’ needs” – World Trademark Review, 2021
- Simon Holzer consistently produces “excellent patents work” and is widely regarded as a leading figure in the Swiss life sciences sector – WWL, Switzerland, Life Sciences 2021
- Simon Holzer consistently produces “excellent patents work” and is widely regarded as a leading figure in the Swiss life sciences sector – WWL, Thought Leaders Switzerland, Life Sciences 2021
- Simon Holzer won the award in the category “Intellectual Property – Patents” – Client Choice Awards 2021
- “Simon Holzer is an excellent lawyer for complex litigation and contract matters. Able to give very well thought out, pragmatic and focused advice on complex patent / trade mark / geographical indications matters” – The Legal 500, Intellectual Property 2021
- Simon Holzer is “highly recommended” as one of Switzerland’s top names for patent law, with particular skill as a litigator – WWL, Life Sciences 2020 – Patent Litigation
- The “remarkable” Simon Holzer “stands out” from his peers for pharmaceutical-related work – Legal 500, 2020
- “Simon Holzer is remarkable by his understanding of the issues at stake, his availability and responsiveness. He provides practical and clear advice which is very much appreciated when time is of the essence.” – Legal 500, 2020
- “He stands out in all aspects I’ve mentioned in the above section (knowledge, competence, professionalism, customer orientation, availability and engagement), but also when it comes to translating very difficult matters into a non-legally/non-IP trained senior executive language. He is the reason why I dared to change the legal support firm in my role as CEO in a my new company after not being convinced on the quality of the former law company dealing with IP matters.” – Legal 500, 2020
- “Exceptionally thorough and thoughtful but easy approach and work with, Simon Holzer has a lot of momentum in patent litigation right now. Unfazed by complex new technologies and deeply immersed in legal, policy and business developments affecting his clients, his strategies are contemporary and always effective” – IAM Global Leaders, 2020
Deals & Cases
- Successfully represented Cocoa Luxury, a Swiss chocolate company based in Zug, in PI proceedings against Kraft Foods’ 3D TOBLERONE trademark and claims under the Unfair Competition Act
- Successfully represented Lipomed AG and Lipomed GmbH in patent opposition proceedings before the Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office and coordinating international patent litigation concerning the clients’ deferiprone business
- Advised Shinsegae International, South-Korea, in its acquisition of a group of Swiss based companies active in the luxury cosmetic industry
- Successfully enforced Gilead’s SPC for the combination of emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxile in groundbreaking litigation before the Swiss Federal Patent Court and the Federal Supreme Court
- Represented the U.S. owner of several standard essential patents in two parallel patent litigation proceedings before the Federal Patent Court and in FRAND negotiations
Education & Admission
- Admitted to the bar in Switzerland (2005)
- University of Berne, Dr. iur. (2004)
- University of Berne, lic. iur. (1998)
Memberships and public offices
- European Patent Lawyers Association (EPLAW)
- Licensing Executives Society (LES)
- International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI)
- Swiss Institute for IP rights (INGRES)
- Zurich Bar Association (ZAV)
- IP practice group of Zurich Bar Association
- IP practice group of Bernese Bar Association
Languages
- German
- English
- French
Publications
Publications
News Portal
Firm News
“Simon Holzer is remarkable by his understanding of the issues at stake, his availability and responsiveness. He provides practical and clear advice which is very much appreciated when time is of the essence.”
