Sonn & Partner's reputation as Austria's strongest contentious outfit was confirmed with another year at the top of the tree in both patents and trade marks. Thanks to its strong position in the communities of the FICPI, AIPPI and EPI the IP attorney office has a book of contacts all over the world that has given Sonn & Partner a strong client list, particularly among international pharmaceutical companies. One pharmaceutical client notes that the agency "is very good when it comes to chemistry", Peter Pawloy and Daniel Alge, who specialise in pharmaceuticals and biotech respectively, are referred to as "the best in the business" by another client. In one case, Pawloy advised Ratiopharm against Alza in a patent dispute that has now been addressed by the Higher Regional Court, Supreme Court and Court of Commerce. The case concerned two utility models that branched off the initial patent, creating an endless chain of appeals. Although Alza's initial request of a preliminary injunction was overturned by the Supreme Court, the injunction was finally given by the Regional Court. Alge was the attorney on the Austrian side of the Johnson & Johnson multinational contact lenses dispute (one of Managing IP's cases of the year), which involved proceedings in the US, UK and several other European jurisdictions.