Interview with: Lior Cohn, Founding Partner
Cohn, de Vries, Stadler & Co (CDS-LUTHI Group)
What do you see as the main points that differentiate Cohn, de Vries, Stadler & Co. from your competitors?
(i) We provide a holistic package for our clients. Our approach begins with our ability to develop and implement sophisticated IP strategies, ensuring their effective application not only within the intellectual property sphere but also in broader business contexts. This is supported by a professional network we have carefully built in recent years, enabling us to provide clients with insightful and practical guidance. By using this network, we support our clients in monetizing their IP assets. (ii) we provide uncompromising professionalism to our clients, assuring the quality of work of all levels of patent attorneys. The professional work comes along with a top-notch paralegal service that is not less important.
Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?
I believe that we will see some sustainability-related technologies evolving over the next year as there is a significant demand for wider exploitation of the resources of our planet. Along with this, we will definitely see the continued spike in AI-driven inventions. Furthermore, given the growing instability across the world, an increase in the development and deployment of defense technologies is likely.
What’s the main change you’ve made in the firm that will benefit clients?
We have established alliances with key business partners to create a robust network that helps clients maximize the commercial potential of their IP assets. This network facilitates access to industry expertise, investment opportunities, and market channels, ensuring that intellectual property is not only protected but also effectively leveraged for business growth.
Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?
There is no doubt that the use of AI technology is growing also in our field, and we cannot fall behind. Hardly a week goes by without us evaluating new tools to enhance our work, improve efficiency, and reduce costs for our clients. Each tool undergoes a rigorous assessment to ensure its suitability, both in terms of functionality and its impact on our processes. Our priority is to integrate solutions that optimize our services without compromising quality or negatively affecting the client experience.
Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?
Our primary objective is to create tangible value for our clients. If our IP work does not contribute to their success, we have not fulfilled our role. This commitment is reflected in practical outcomes, such as: (i) Conducting in-depth invention mining with a client ahead of a meeting with a strategic partner. Through this process, we identified a key invention requiring patent protection, filed it immediately, and as a result, the meeting concluded with a licensing request for the invention (ii) Leveraging our business network to establish connections between our clients and major technology companies, opening valuable commercial opportunities that extend beyond traditional IP protection.