

Dr. Simon Holzer
Partner, Zürich
T +41 58 552 03 20
simon.holzer@mll-legal.com
Profil
Simon Holzer ist Mitglied des IP-Teams bei MLL Legal, das von Kollegen und Mandanten regelmässig als eines der besten Schweizer IP-Teams angesehen wird. Er leitet das Patent- und Life-Science-Team der Kanzlei. Er verfügt über weitreichende Erfahrung in allen Bereichen des gewerblichen Rechtsschutzes, wobei sein Schwerpunkt auf dem Patentrecht, Markenrecht, geografischen Herkunftsangaben und unlauterem Wettbewerb liegt. Simon Holzer ist zudem ein versierter Berater im Bereich des Arzneimittelrechts.
Simon Holzer vefügt über grosse Erfahrung in verschiedenen Branchen und Technologien, insbesondere in den Bereichen Pharma und Arzneimittel, Medizinprodukte, Telekommunikation (einschliesslich standardessentieller Patente und FRAND-Lizenzen), Software, Kosmetik und Lebensmittel.
Im Jahr 2010 ernannte das Schweizer Parlament Simon Holzer zum nebenamtlichen Richter des schweizerischen Bundespatentgerichtes. Dieses Gericht ist für Patentstreitigkeiten in der gesamten Schweiz zuständig.
Neben seiner Tätigkeit als Anwalt und als nebenamtlicher Richter hat Simon Holzer auch einen Lehrauftrag für Immaterialgüterrecht an der Universität Zürich.
Simon Holzer wird von Mandanten und Kollegen als „kompetenter und engagierter Anwalt“ und als „einer der führenden Köpfe im IP-Rechtsbereich“ gelobt. Er hält laut Kollegen eine Spitzenposition im „exzellenten“ und „hochrangigen“ IP-Team von MLL Legal inne. Nach Angaben von Mandanten ist Simon Holzer besonders versiert im Umgang mit Patenten sowie Pharma, und Mandanten heben besonders sein „ausgeprägtes technisches Know-how“ hervor. Andere Quellen beschreiben Simon Holzer als einen „bedeutenden Experten für Life Sciences“ und einen „Superstar in Patentstreitigkeiten“ und empfinden „die Zusammenarbeit mit ihm als besonders angenehm“.
Fachgruppen
Industriegruppen
Auszeichnungen







































- «Simon Holzer embodies tenacity in litigation and finesse in negotiations as he brings invaluable geographical indication insight to the table. He has carved a niche for himself among those seeking the Swiss mark» – World Trademark Review 1000, 2025
- «Simon Holzer is a go-to IP practitioner in the Swiss market, who excels at advising life sciences clients in complex trademark matters» – Lexology index: Global Elite Thought Leader, Switzerland, 2024
- «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
Deals & Cases
- Verteidigte erfolgreich das schweizerische Ergänzende Schutzzertifikat von Bristol-Myers Squibb für Apixaban in Nichtigkeitsverfahren vor dem schweizerischen Bundespatentgericht und dem schweizerischen Bundesgericht. Das ESZ von BMS schützt das Blockbuster-Arzneimittel Eliquis, ein wichtiger Blutgerinnungshemmer der Mandantin. Das Verfahren betrifft ein Präjudiz bei der Umsetzung der beiden Entscheidungen der Grossen Beschwerdekammer des EPA in den Sachen G 1/22 und G 2/21.
- Setzte für Bayer erfolgreich den schweizerischen Teil des EP 2 305 255 durch. Das Patent betrifft das Tosylatsalz des Wirkstoffs Sorafenib. Dieser Wirkstoff bildet die Basis des Arzneimittels Nexavar von Bayer.
- Erfolgreiche Verteidigung und Durchsetzung des ESZ von Gilead für die Kombination von Emtricitabin und Tenofovirdisoproxil in zwei richtungsweisenden Verfahren vor dem Bundespatentgericht und dem schweizerischen Bundesgerichts
- Vertretung eines US-Inhabers von standardessentiellen Patenten in zwei parallelen Patentstreitverfahren vor dem Bundespatentgericht und in FRAND-Verhandlungen
Ausbildung
- Anwaltszulassung für die Schweiz (2005)
- Universität Bern, Dr. iur. (2004)
- Gerichtsschreiber in der Justiz des Kantons Bern (2000–2001)
- Universität Bern, lic. iur. (1998)
Mitgliedschaften
- European Patent Lawyers Association (EPLAW)
- Licensing Executives Society (LES)
- International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI)
- Schweizer Institut für den gewerblichen Rechtsschutz (INGRES)
- Zürcher Anwaltsverband (ZAV)
- IP-Praxisgruppe des Zürcher Anwaltsverbands
- IP-Praxisgruppe des Berner Anwaltsverbands
Sprachen
- Deutsch
- Englisch
- Französisch
Publikationen
- Chambers and Partners – Switzerland: Patent Litigation 2025 | 19.02.2025
- Swiss Federal Supreme Court confirms validity of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s SPC for apixaban | 03.01.2025
- Legal 500: Patent Litigation Comparative Guide | 30.10.2024
- Research Handbook on Intellectual Property Rights and Arbitration | 24.06.2024
Alle Publikationen von Simon Holzer finden Sie auf unserer Website mll-legal.com.
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«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»