Meyerlustenberger is another firm that has been boosting its litigation department and gained recognition in the market, moving up a Tier in patent litigation. One patent litigator says: "A couple of lawyers left but its quality is still very good. Undoubtedly a Tier two firm." The firm hired five associates this year to replace the total of three who left. They included: Michèle Siekmann, Heike Schulz, Samuel Ljubic, Sebastian Huber and Reto Hossle. Heading up the IP department is the president of Ingres, Michael Ritscher, who has advised on a series of domestic and cross-boarder cases in IP. The firm has also been regularly involved in the advertising side of IP and has dealt with several international trade mark and design portfolios. On the copyright side, the firm has been advising several art museums.