Dr. Simon Holzer
Associé, Zurich
T +41 58 552 03 20
simon.holzer@mll-legal.com
Portrait
Simon Holzer est membre de l’équipe Propriété intellectuelle de MLL Legal, département classé parmi les meilleurs de Suisse par ses pairs et les clients. Il dirige par ailleurs l’équipe Brevets et Life Sciences. Il possède une vaste expérience dans tous les domaines du droit de la propriété intellectuelle, avec une spécialisation dans les brevets, les marques, les indications géographiques et la concurrence déloyale. Simon Holzer est également un conseiller de confiance en droit réglementaire dans le secteur pharmaceutique et droit de la concurrence.
Simon Holzer possède une riche expérience dans une large gamme d’industries et technologies, couvrant notamment les produits pharmaceutiques, les dispositifs médicaux, les produits de santé, les télécommunications (y compris les brevets essentiels et licences FRAND), les logiciels, les cosmétiques et les produits alimentaires.
En 2010, le Parlement suisse a nommé Simon Holzer juge adjoint au Tribunal fédéral des brevets. Ce tribunal est compétent pour les litiges en matière de brevets dans toute la Suisse.
Outre son activité d’avocat et de juge à temps partiel, Simon Holzer enseigne le droit de la propriété intellectuelle à l’université de Zurich.
Les clients et ses pairs font l’éloge de Simon Holzer, qu’ils qualifient « de personne compétente et motivée », et de « leader dans le domaine du contentieux », qui est « classé en tête par ses pairs » au sein de « l’excellente » équipe « de haut vol » de la propriété intellectuelle de MLL Legal. Selon les clients, Simon Holzer connait particulièrement bien les domaines des brevets et des produits pharmaceutiques, et ces clients soulignent sa « compréhension technique approfondie ». D’autres sources décrivent Simon Holzer comme « un expert clé en sciences de la vie » et « une superstar du contentieux des brevets » et avec qui « c’est un plaisir de travailler ».
Domaines d'activité
Secteurs d'activité
Prix & Classements
- « He is business-savvy, he is legal-savvy. And then he is simply practical and straightforward. He listens well to the concerns of the client and is able to implement the solution in a prompt and measured way » – IP Stars, 2024
- « Dr. Holzer was a key draw – his experience and insight was welcomed, his calm and thoughtful personality the right fit. That is also his practice: he is insightful, experienced and ready to execute. He also has a good legal team (and equally important support team) working for him » – IP Stars, 2024
- « A leading arbitrator who serves as a part-time judge at the Swiss Federal Patent Court, Simon combines fast-thinking, pragmatic and clear advice with strategic ideas, making him an excellent Swiss litigator, while his level-headed manner and wide experience in contentious patent matters ensure that patrons feel in very safe hands » – IAM Patent 1000, 2024
- « Simon Holzer is one of the leading Swiss IP/patents practitioners. He is always calm and measured, and very responsive when needed. He is very easy to work with and he provides excellent legal and commercial advice. I would highly recommend him. Louisa Galbraith is a rising star »– Legal 500 EMEA, Healthcare and Life Sciences, 2024
- « The team around Simon Holzer is one of the best to advise on patent matters in Switzerland, especially in the life sciences field. Ulrike Ciesla and Kilian Schärli are also outstanding. They are always great to work with in pan-European litigation projects » – Legal 500 EMEA, Healthcare and Life Sciences, 2024
- « Well-rounded practitioner Simon Holzer is a highly strategic thinker who handles major prosecution projects with a deft touch and has a talent for crafting bullet-proof arguments in opposition proceedings as well as in the courtroom » – World Trademark Review 1000, 2024
- « Simon Holzer is simply excellent. Seamless cooperation, technical excellence, a strategic approach and being great to work with are just a few of the great characteristics of Holzer. A creative legal mind, he is happy to think about new strategies and adjust his work, even under time constraints » – IAM Patent 1000, 2023
- « Mr. Simon Holzer is a gifted lawyer for litigation in the field of intellectual property. In addition to his comprehensive and above-average professional knowledge, he has a great deal of experience in his field. He knows how to win cases in favor of his clients through creativity and unconventional ideas. His pleadings are an exceptionally good mixture of thoughtful technical presentation as well as subliminally aggressive style, which convince the court. Last but not least, he knows how to gather a young and dedicated team around him, which is hungry to win cases » – Legal 500 EMEA, Intellectual Property, 2023
- « Impressed by Simon Holzer’s knowledge in the field of Swiss regulatory law as well as regulatory law in general. He was extremely responsive and diligent in his work and very nice to communicate with. Whenever I will have a question related to Swiss regulatory law, I will first reach out to him » – Legal 500 EMEA, Intellectual Property, 2023
- « Simon Holzer – a great strategist and tactician. He communicates effectively and precisely. Unflappable under pressure. Very sound advice taking into account practical implications and commercial imperatives » – Legal 500 EMEA, Healthcare and Life Sciences, 2023
- « Simon Holzer is a first-rate lawyer with very strong technical and interpersonal skills » – Legal 500 EMEA, Healthcare and Life Sciences, 2023
- « He is one of the top patent litigators in Switzerland. He’s fantastic and I would recommend him to anybody » – Chambers and Partners Europe, Life Sciences: Patent Litigation, 2023
- « He is a very reliable and great team player. His pleading in court was very focused and very impressive » – Chambers and Partners Europe, Life Sciences: Patent Litigation, 2023
- « He is very accessible, commercial and pragmatic » – Chambers and Partners Europe, Life Sciences: Patent Litigation, 2023
- « He was very responsive, and the advice was provided in a very timely manner » – Chambers and Partners Europe, IP, 2023
- « Simon is unbelievably client-oriented and a friendly, reliable professional, who is very prompt in his responses. He thinks outside the box and has exceptionally strong analytical and strategic skills » – World Trademark Review 1000, 2023
- « Simon is an excellent litigator with a good knowledge of the pharmaceutical sector » – Chambers and Partners, Patent Litigation, 2022
- Simon Holzer is widely endorsed as « one of the best and biggest names in the field », with sources adding, « He is a brilliant patent lawyer » – Who’s Who Legal, National Leader Patents, 2022
- « Simon Holzer is a go-to IP practitioner in the Swiss market, who excels at advising life sciences clients in complex trademark matters » – Who’s Who Legal, National Leader Life Sciences, 2022
- « Simon Holzer is a brilliant legal mind and an absolute pleasure to work with. Very experienced practitioner whom we trust wholly » – Legal 500 EMEA, Healthcare and Life Sciences, 2022
- The “brilliant” Simon Holzer ranks highly among peers who herald him as “one of the best” in patent litigation spanning standard-essential patents and FRAND disputes – Who’s Who Legal, Global Leader Patents, 2022
- « Simon Holzer is highly sought after by clients from the life sciences and telecoms sector thanks to his profound expertise in international IP law » – Who’s Who Legal, Thought Leader Global Elite Patents, 2022
- « Simon Holzer is an impressive practitioner who comes highly recommended by peers for his outstanding work in complex trademark and patent law issues » – Who’s Who Legal, Global Leader Trademarks, 2022
- « Simon Holzer is a really impressive lawyer who leads an excellent team (Louisa Galbraith and others) and has consistently delivered outstanding results. He is highly skilled and experienced and immediately gives the impression that the case is in good hands. He is enthusiastic and quick to get up to speed with the details of the case. He delivers clear, concise and commercial advice and has always been a pleasure to work with » – Legal 500 EMEA, Healthcare and Life Sciences, 2022
- « 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 1000, 2021
- Simon Holzer consistently produces “excellent patents work” and is widely regarded as a leading figure in the Swiss life sciences sector – Who’s Who Legal, Thought Leader Life Sciences, 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 » – Legal 500 EMEA, Intellectual Property, 2021
Transactions & Affaires
- Représentation réussie de Cocoa Luxury, une société suisse de chocolat basée à Zug, dans le cadre d’une procédure PI contre la marque 3D TOBLERONE de Kraft Foods et de demandes au titre de la loi sur la concurrence déloyale
- Représentation réussie de Lipomed AG et Lipomed GmbH dans les procédures d’opposition en matière de brevets devant les chambres de recours de l’Office européen des brevets et coordination des litiges internationaux en matière de brevets concernant l’activité déféripron des clients
- Représentation de Shinsegae International, Corée du Sud, dans l’acquisition d’un groupe de sociétés basées en Suisse actif dans l’industrie des cosmétiques de luxe
- Il a défendu avec succès le certificat complémentaire de protection de Gilead pour l’association de l’Emtricitabine et du Ténofovir Disoproxil dans un litige d’un nouveau genre devant le Tribunal fédéral des brevets et le Tribunal fédérale.
- Il a représenté le titulaire américain de plusieurs brevets essentiels dans le cadre de deux procédures de litige parallèles devant le Tribunal fédéral des brevets et dans les négociations FRAND.
Éducation
- Admission au barreau en Suisse (2005)
- Université de Berne, Dr iur. (2004)
- Université de Berne, Master en droit (1998)
Associations et mandats publics
- European Patent Lawyers Association (EPLAW)
- Licensing Executives Society (LES)
- Association Internationale pour la Protection de la Propriété Intellectuelle (AIPPI)
- Swiss Association for Intellectual Property Law (INGRES)
- Ordre des avocats de Zurich (ZAV)
- Groupe de pratique de la propriété intellectuelle de ZAV
- Groupe de pratique de la propriété intellectuelle de bavaab
Langues
- allemand
- anglais
- français
Publications
Assistante
Publications
Firm News
«Simon is an excellent litigator with a good knowledge of the pharmaceutical sector»