Mixed patent and law firm Bardehle Pagenberg is experienced in contentious proceedings and routinely appears in patent infringement actions, nullity actions and opposition proceedings before the EPO. Within its broad professional expertise, the group’s focus is placed on the automotive, telecommunications, software and electronics sectors, which results in a similarly broad client base consisting of large international corporations and medium-sized companies. Johannes Lang handles matters related to computer and electrical engineering and, due to his additional French qualification in patent law, is a key representative in French disputes. Other core members of the practice include Christof Karl (hardware, software, telecommunications), Joachim Mader (mechanical engineering, electrical and process engineering), Tobias Kaufmann (electrical engineering, computer science, medical technology) and Georg Anetsberger (including laser and medical technology, electronics).

With a clear focus on contentious proceedings, BDPE continues to be considered one of the top addresses for patent litigation. The practice also scores points with its thematic focal areas, such as standard-essential patents in connection with mobile communications, power electronics and connected cars, and further complements this with expertise in related trade mark and competition law issues. Such advice is sought by a client base consisting largely of global corporations and offered from both its Düsseldorf and Munich locations. Karl-Ulrich Braun-Dullaeus regularly advises companies in the telecommunications sector and jointly heads the practice with Friedrich Emmerling; both have many years of experience in patent disputes, including opposition and nullity proceedings.

At Dörries Frank-Molnia & Pohlman, contentious proceedings often pertain to the pharmaceutical and mobile communications sectors. Simultaneously, the practice's forensic expertise is combined with an active prosecution practice, therefore enabling clients to receive holistic patent advice from one single source; here, objection and complaint proceedings are just as much part of the service portfolio as nullity and infringement proceedings. Biotechnology and pharmaceuticals matters are primarily handled by Hans Ulrich Dörries, Sandra Pohlman and Annette Hilgendorf, who made partner in February 2023, while David Molnia specialises in telecommunications and medical technology and Dominik Ho covers instructions in the physics, software and communications engineering industries. Other key figures in the team include Elisabeth Greiner (chemistry), Philipp Nordmeyer (applied physics, semiconductor technology, mechanical engineering among others), Oliver Schulz (lighting technology, medical technology, optics, telecommunications), René Okoampah (mechanical engineering, medical and mobile communications technology) and Michael Eder (chemistry and molecular biology).

With a service portfolio that includes both prosecution and litigation, Maikowski & Ninnemann is a popular address for one-stop patent advice. The firm's forensic wing is particularly known for conducting cross-border litigation and regularly acts for clients in the technology sector, although overall it covers a wide range of technical areas, including medical technology, chemistry and telecommunications. Gunnar Baumgärtel is an expert in disputes concerning standard-essential patents, while process engineering and software-based inventions fall into Felix Gross' portfolio. Medical technology and electrical engineering form part of Christoph Schröder's expertise; he also regularly acts in an advisory capacity, as does Fabian Sokolowski who is experienced in life sciences and medical technology.

With offices in Munich and Paris, Grünecker is geographically well positioned to advise on UPC disputes, although it also has a strong presence within Germany via additional locations in Berlin and Cologne and therefore regularly appears in opposition and appeal proceedings before the EPO. On a technical level, the firm covers a variety of industries, including telecommunications, medical technology and life sciences, and has additional expertise in the area of ​​standard essential patents (SEP). The practice is led by a trio consisting of telecommunications and life sciences specialist Bernd Allekotte, Ulrich Blumenröder, who is experienced in IT, medical devices, mechanical engineering and electronics, and Sebastian Ochs, who focuses on electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and medical technology.

Jones Day's patent attorney team distinguishes itself with expertise in multi-jurisdictional disputes involving parallel infringement, invalidity and opposition proceedings. In combination with the firm's global positioning, it is considered one of the first points of contact for large international corporations, although its client base also includes German companies. Olga Bezzubova heads the European patent attorney team in Munich, while Dorothée Weber-Bruls leads the physics practice group. The key contact for the engineering dispute resolution practice is Gerd Jaekel; and Christian Paul heads the forensic team for the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors.

Maiwald GmbH, with headquarters in Munich, is experienced in disputes, particularly in opposition proceedings before the EPO, but also has expertise in nullity and infringement proceedings. Pharma and chemistry are among the practice's central specialist areas, which are covered by Eva Ehlich and Derk Vos among others; both are often instructed by US and Japanese clients. Biotechnology, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering form additional practice pillars; Sophie Ertl and Alexander Schmitz are among the key contacts for the latter.

Vossius & Partner is one of the leading patent firms in Germany, which is not least due to its mixed team of patent attorneys and lawyers. The practice is therefore able to handle the entire range of forensic matters, ranging from nullity and objection proceedings to infringement lawsuits. The team has also proven itself in international disputes involving the US, Asia and Europe and offers expertise in the areas of chemistry and pharmaceuticals, biology and biotechnology as well as physics, engineering and IT. Key contacts include Arnold Asmussen and Raphael Salzer, who are both experienced in medical technology, the two chemistry experts Dirk Harmsen and Natalia Berryman, and Hans-Rainer Jaenichen, who is adept in the biotechnology and pharmaceuticals spheres.

Zimmermann & Partner Patentanwälte mbB is characterised by the representation of various large international companies, which, in addition to forensic patent matters, also seek advice on prosecution as well as on trade mark and design law. Here, the practice mainly focuses on chemistry, IT and engineering as well as medicine, physics and biology. Gerd Zimmermann is one of the key contacts for objection and nullity proceedings in the technical sector, while Joel Nägerl often appears in disputes relating to electrical engineering, telecommunications and semiconductor technology. Medical devices, materials science and energy technology form the core of Frank Steinbach's expertise.

As a mixed law and patent law firm, Boehmert & Boehmert handles disputes seamlessly from a single source and often does so in the context of infringement and nullity proceedings, although opposition and appeal proceedings also form part of its expertise. Main contacts include Christian Appelt (physics, mechanical engineering, electronics, computer technology), Dennis Kretschmann (physics, electrical engineering, optics, IT) and Felix Hermann (communications technology, audio and video coding, software, digital payment systems). At the end of 2022, patent attorneys Nils Schmid, Jan Krauss, David Kuttenkeuler, Florian Malescha and Paul Schieler left to found IP boutique SKM-IP.

In addition to numerous European offices, IP boutique HGF Europe LLP also has an office in Munich, which is strategically important for its patent advice, and as a mixed patent and law firm further impresses with its holistic consulting approach. The practice's management team consists of Markus Zoller (life sciences, pharmaceuticals and genetic engineering), Jan Robert Naefe (materials science) and Bernhard Ganahl (physics and engineering).

Hogan Lovells International LLP's globally well-connected patent practice consists of patent attorneys and lawyers and thus handles disputes at German and international level. The group has particular expertise in matters concerning the telecommunications, biotechnology, consumer goods, automotive and technology sectors, where it is instructed by numerous large corporations. Lawyer and engineer Martin Fähndrich, Alexander Klicznik, who specialises in telecommunications, pharmaceuticals and chemistry, and Andreas Schmid, who primarily handles issues pertaining to technology, are the key contacts.

Lorenz Seidler Gossel is a renowned IP boutique with a good track record in disputes, where it represents large national and international companies as well as start-ups. Key contacts include Wolfgang Behr, who regularly appears in opposition proceedings before the EPO, Dieter Laufhütte, who handles prosecution in addition to patent litigation, and Robert Frick, who frequently acts in chemical-related matters.

Prinz & Partner's broad technical expertise is regularly called upon by global corporations in cross-border disputes. The practice thereby covers technical areas such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemistry and biotechnology and further houses competencies in trade mark and design law. Jochen Sties and Thomas Kitzhofer jointly lead the practice and include mechanics and materials science among their areas of expertise; both regularly appear in nullity and infringement proceedings as well as in opposition and appeal proceedings.

Prüfer & Partner offers extensive expertise in contentious proceedings, particularly in opposition, nullity and infringement actions, in which it regularly appears before German and European authorities such as the EPO, DPMA and Federal Patent Court. The practice head trio consists of Dorothea Hofer (physics, medical technology, semiconductors), Jürgen Feldmeier (automotive, medical and precision engineering) and Andreas Oser (chemistry, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, biotechnology, optics).

US Fortune 500 companies, international and German start-ups, companies, research institutions and universities rely on Uexküll & Stolberg's expertise in patent dispute resolution. Clients are represented before domestic and European offices and courts, such as the DPMA and EPO, and frequently in opposition proceedings. Practice areas are divided according to discipline: Peter Franck signs responsible for chemistry, Bernd Janssen for technology and Albrecht von Menges heads the biotechnology group.