LUTHI & Co., CDS-LUTHI GROUP

Luthi & Co., of the CDS-LUTHI Group, is one of Israel’s top intellectual property (IP) law firms. The firm, founded in 1986 by Adv. Richard Luthi, specializes in complex IP litigation and IP-transactions: patents, trademarks, passing off, industrial design rights, copyrights, trade secrets, etc. The firm is instrumental in helping clients protect their most important assets, such as groundbreaking technologies, novel drugs, international brands, art, designs, and inventions. The firm is consistently ranked in the top tier of Israel and international IP law firm rankings such as Chambers, Legal 500, D&B, and IP-Stars.

Domination in the Israeli Market

The firm’s expertise encompasses litigation and IP- transactions of all types of Intellectual Property rights, and it is particularly renowned for its patent litigation expertise. As a leading IP firm, Luthi & Co. has been involved in many of Israel’s most significant IP cases, patent cases in particular, and it plays an important role in advancing precedent and legislation in the field. The firm is headed by Adv. Richard Luthi, who is considered by many to be Israel’s leading patent litigator. In addition to litigation, the firm also handles the registration of trademarks, designs, and plant breeders’ rights; provides legal opinions concerning the validity and infringement of IP rights; drafts licensing and joint venture agreements; conducts due diligence and IP rights valuations; manages regulatory proceedings for pharmaceuticals, and much more.

International Reputation

Luthi & Co. is one of the most well-known firms in Israel and it often represents Government entities and leading Israeli companies from every sector of the economy, including the defense industry, high-tech and startups, consumer products, retail, agriculture, and more. The firm’s dominance in the Israeli market has built its widespread international reputation. As a result, the firm represents numerous multinational corporations in their Israeli operations, particularly in the pharmaceuticals and high-tech industries. In addition to the litigation services that the firm provides before the Israeli courts and tribunals, it is often hired to manage litigation and develop strategies for multinational and Israeli entities in other countries.

Establishment of the CDS-LUTHI Group

In October 2022, Luthi & Co. established a new intellectual property group called CDS-LUTHI in collaboration with leading patent law firm Cohn, de Vries, Stadler & Co. (CDS). Following the founding of the new CDS-LUTHI group, Cohn, de Vries, Stadler & Co. (CDS) serves as the group’s patent drafting department and Luthi & Co. handles the group’s litigation department. The combination of forces allows clients to benefit from high-quality litigation and patent drafting services.

The Firm’s Team

Adv. Richard Luthi, Managing Partner, and Founder - Adv. Luthi was born in Switzerland, earned an LL.B. (with honors) from Southampton University in England, and won the Winston Churchill Award for his academic achievements. Over the past 35 years, Adv. Luthi has managed countless IP cases in Israel and abroad and has played a pivotal role in advancing rulings and legislation in this field in Israel. He served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Haifa, where he taught Patent Law (2010-2012), and at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he taught Advanced Patent Law and Litigation Management (2016-2020). Together with the late Adv. Christopher Bryce, his longtime partner, wrote the chapter “Protection of Inventions in Medicinal Chemistry” in the renowned book “The Practice of Medicinal Chemistry” which was published in the summer of 2015 and received much praise from both scientists and lawyers.

Adv. Daniel Lerner, Partner - Adv. Lerner holds academic degrees in Law and Physics, and his work as an IP lawyer enabled him to combine his passions for both science and law. Adv. Lerner joined the firm in 1995 and became a partner in 2003. His practice covers every aspect of IP law, with a particular emphasis on patent litigation in the fields of pharmaceuticals, high-tech, and defense-related inventions. He serves as the leading attorney in numerous cases, for both local and foreign clients.

Adv. Martin Binnes, Partner - In addition to his legal degrees, Adv. Binnes holds a B. Pharm. degree from Bradford University and a Clinical Pharmacology certificate from Tel Aviv University. Adv. Binnes worked for more than two decades in the pharmaceutical industry, mainly in development and regulatory roles. His expertise enables him to dive in and analyze each case, with an emphasis on complex pharmaceutical cases, and reach a level of understanding and analysis of the case’s scientific and technological aspects, of which very few lawyers in Israel are capable.

Adv. Rotem Cohen, Senior Associate - Adv. Cohen is one of the firm’s longtime members. She holds an MBA in addition to her law degree and participates in the management of complex patent cases as well as trademark and brand protection cases. Adv. Cohen counsels a wide variety of clients, with a focus on high-tech companies, regarding the full spectrum of IP issues, including trademarks, designs, copyrights and brand protection with a particular specialization in service inventions and employer-employee IP disputes.

Adv. Motar Pelled, Associate - In addition to his law degree, Adv. Pelled holds a B. Pharm. Degree, as well as an LL.M. with a specialization in Intellectual Property and Pharmaceuticals from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Adv. Pelled is involved in complex intellectual property cases, with an emphasis on patent cases in the field of pharmaceuticals and life sciences.

Adv. Lin Safadi, Associate - Adv. Safadi holds an LL.B. and a B.Sc. in Biomedical Sciences from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Adv. Safadi is involved in complex intellectual property cases, with an emphasis on patent cases in the life sciences. In addition, Adv. Safadi advises a wide variety of clients on various issues in the field of intellectual property, with an emphasis on trademark registration and brand protection.

Adv. Omer Naim, Associate - Adv. Naim holds an LL.B as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, both from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Omer is involved in a variety of intellectual property cases, with an emphasis on patent cases.

Interns and Administrators

In addition to our attorneys, the firm’s team is also comprised of interns and administrative staff, all of whom play prominent roles in the firm’s operations. The firm believes that each team member is very important, and strives to create a unique familial atmosphere, unlike most Israeli firms. For interns, Luthi is a school for learning IP law, and it is the first step in the career of many outstanding students interested in specializing in IP law and joining a leading firm. For more information about internships please visit the dedicated website for interns at www.luthi-interns.co.il