As a mixed law and patent law firm, Bardehle Pagenberg is a particularly good choice for infringement proceedings, nullity proceedings and opposition proceedings. The well-tuned team is regularly involved in major infringement proceedings and offers many years of experience in nullity and opposition proceedings, both in Germany and at European level. Thanks to its experience in complex cross-border matters, the practice is particularly popular with large international corporations, but also attracts German medium-sized and smaller companies as well as start-ups. While focusing on the automotive, telecommunications, software and electronics sectors, its diverse case load covers a much broader technical spectrum, including medical technology and mechanical engineering. In Germany, the firm has offices in Munich and Düsseldorf while offices in Paris and Barcelona as well as its collaboration with Singaporean law firm Yusarn Audrey LLC also ensure its international presence. Johannes Heselberger, who is dually qualified as patent lawyer and attorney-at-law, is a key contact along practice heads Christof Karl (semiconductor technology, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering), Johannes Lang (electrical engineering and electronics, telecommunications, IT), Tobias Kaufmann (electrical engineering and electronics, sports, automotive ), Joachim Mader and Georg Anetsberger.

IP boutique BRAUN-DULLAEUS PANNEN EMMERLING acts with a clear focus on contentious patent proceedings. The extremely experienced team is best known for its representation in strategic disputes pertaining to standard-essential patents in mobile communications and its active litigation practice in the connected cars sphere; patents in the power electronics area, particularly solar energy, represent another practice mainstay. The group also represents clients in nullity and opposition proceedings and is regularly called upon in infringement proceedings. In addition to numerous multi-jurisdictional disputes, the team further handles complex German proceedings, especially for German medium-sized companies which frequently instruct the practice with IP prosecution matters. Practice heads Friedrich Emmerling and Karl-Ulrich Braun-Dullaeus as well as Franck Klein (wired communication, electronics, mobile communications) are the key contacts.

Cohausz & Florack, a mixed law and patent law firm with offices in Düsseldorf and Munich, is one of the market's top addresses, particularly for proceedings pertaining to licensing programs for standardized technologies (SEP); here, Gottfried Schüll is the key contact. The team covers both supervision and coordination of infringement and nullity proceedings in SEP as well as in other technical areas, while its second particular strength lies in the life sciences and pharmaceuticals fields, where it applies in-depth expertise in opposition proceedings alongside its wealth of experience in nullity and infringement proceedings; Arwed Burrichter has made an excellent name for himself in this sector. Natalie Kirchhofer, whose expertise includes biochemistry, pharmaceuticals and life sciences, also enjoys a very good reputation. Other key figures include Christoph Walke, who specializes in communications engineering and audio and video processing, and Jochen Kapfenberger, who is primarily active in proceedings related to mechanical engineering and process engineering.

Maikowski & Ninnemann strategic specialisation focuses to equal parts on prosecution and contentious proceedings. The patent law firm with offices in Berlin, Frankfurt, Leipzig and Munich possesses in-depth experience in cross-border disputes and, thanks to its double specialization in prosecution and disputes, is a particularly good choice for clients that also seek assistance with their patents, utility models and employee inventions from a single source. The team is particularly visible in the high tech and electrical engineering/electrics areas but covers a broad technical spectrum nonetheless. Key contacts include Felix Gross  (process engineering, software-based inventions), Fabian Sokolowski (medical technology, life sciences), Christoph Schröder (medical technology, electrotechnology, mobile communications, vehicle technology, mechanics) and Gunnar Baumgärtel (automotive technology, electronics, optics, software, telecommunications) as well as Ralf Emig (vehicle technology, engine technology, telecommunications, software), Andreas Tanner (electrical and semiconductor technology, standard-essential mobile phone technology), Frederick Kramer (vehicle and engine technology, IT, telecommunications, electrical engineering) and Matthias Hoffmann (pharmaceuticals, life sciences, process engineering, material sciences).

As one of the largest prosecution practices in Germany, Hoffmann Eitle is a known figure especially in opposition proceedings, but also has relevant experience in complex infringement and nullity proceedings. The practice has gained a particularly good reputation in the chemistry and biotechnology fields, while its strengths also stand out with regards to mechanical and electrical engineering. Matthias Kindler, Peter Klusmann and Klemens Stratmann are responsible for the chemistry department, the biotechnology team is headed by Leo Polz and Joseph Taormino, Christopher Furlong leads the mechanics group and Georg Siegert oversees the electrical engineering department. Stephan Klaus (chemistry, medical technology, materials science, pharmacy) joined from Wuesthoff &Wuesthoff in October 2021.

Based on the firm's global footprint and mix of patent lawyers and attorneys-at-law, Jones Day is well equipped to handle cross-border disputes. In Germany, the firm is present in Munich where Olga Bezzubova heads the European patent lawyers team, as well as in Frankfurt with the physics team lead Dorothée Weber-Bruls and Andreas Holzwarth-Rochford (physics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering). Christian Paul, who is dual-qualified as a chemist and lawyer, and Gerd Jaekel jointly lead the litigation team from Munich. The team assists numerous international corporations, including German companies, and on an international level, is particularly well versed in proceedings related to the US, Australia and Asian jurisdictions such as Japan and China, as well as in disputes related to France and Great Britain. Munich-based biotechnology, pharmaceutical and chemical specialist Ping Li made partner in January 2022.

In contentious proceedings, Maiwald Intellectual Property particularly impresses with longstanding experience in opposition proceedings before the EPO and subsequent appeal proceedings; here, the team, which is headquartered in Munich, has a track record of achieving groundbreaking judgments. Its forensic practice focuses on life sciences and the pharmaceutical sector, especially with regards to biotechnology and medical devices, and in addition to its EPO practice, also handles nullity and accompanying infringement proceedings, which often entail cross-border aspects. In addition to its powerful litigation team, the boutique also provides a broad registration practice that encompasses strong life sciences expertise alongside sector know-how in mechanical and electrical engineering as well as artificial intelligence. Key contacts among its patent lawyers include Derk Vos (chemistry, pharmacy), Dirk Bühler (pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, personalized therapies, diagnostics), Eva Dörner (chemistry, pharmacy, crop protection), Martin Huenges (biotechnology, pharmacy), Lutz Kietzmann (among electrical engineering, measurement and process engineering, mechanical engineering) and Stefanie Parchmann (pharmacy, biotechnology, biochemistry, chemistry). Biochemistry, biotechnology and pharmaceutical specialist Annelie Wunsch made partner in February 2021.

Uexküll & Stolberg is broadly equipped with three specialized teams. Under the leadership of Peter Franck (chemistry), Bernd Janssen (technology) and Albrecht von Menges (biotechnology), litigation represents one of the firm's central pillars. From the main office in Hamburg and its Munich branch, the practice acts in contentious application proceedings before the DPMA and the EPO and is regularly instructed to assist with nullity and infringement proceedings. The mixed law and patent law firm's client base includes large international corporations, for whom the team's experience in cross-border proceedings is particularly valuable, as well as numerous medium-sized companies and start-ups.

As one of the largest mixed law and patent law firms in Germany, Vossius & Partner continues to be one of the market's top addresses. The firm houses one of the most experienced patent litigation practices in Germany and, in addition to its strong opposition practice, especially before the EPO, is also regarded for its experience in nullity and infringement proceedings. With offices in Munich, Düsseldorf, Berlin and Basel, the group is well positioned both nationally and internationally; for disputes related to other jurisdictions, it can also rely on experienced cooperation partners worldwide. The team is particularly active in disputes relating to the US, Asia and other European jurisdictions, while its range of technical expertise is clearly reflected in the team's structure: specialized teams are available for the areas of chemistry and pharmacology, biology and biotechnology, physics and technology as well as IT. The firm further houses a separate structure for patent disputes and patent infringement proceedings and also offers expertise in soft IP and data protection. The team's key figures include Natalia Berryman (chemistry, pharmacology), the physics, technology and IT experts Raphael Salzer, Arnold Asmussen, Christoph Eisenmann, Christian Sandweg, Rainer Viktor, Thomas Schwarze and Elard Schenck zu Schweinsberg as well as biology and biotechnology specialists Hans-Rainer Jaenichen, Jürgen Meier, Andreas Heiseke, Friederike Stolzenburg and Christian Schlörb. Dirk Harmsen, Stefan Fickert and Peter Hoecherl are among the main contacts for chemistry and pharmacology. Ju Min Kim, who specializes in telecommunications, electronics and computer engineering, made partner in 2022.

Prinz & Partner particularly impresses with its active opposition practice, both before the DPMA and the EPO, but also possesses longstanding experience in product piracy matters, for example in connection with border seizures or at trade fairs. However, the group is also well versed in nullity proceedings as well as in providing patent law advice on infringement proceedings. Practice heads Thomas Kitzhofer and Jochen Sties, both specializing in mechanics and materials science, as well as Tim Hülsheger, who focuses on physics, mechanics, electrical engineering and communications engineering, and senior associate Jürgen Strass, who also primarily acts in the mechanics, electrical engineering and physics fields, are the key contacts.

Prüfer & Partner‘s team is headed by Dorothea Hofer (physics, medical technology, semiconductors, artificial intelligence), Jürgen Feldmeier (automotive technology, precision engineering, sports equipment) and Andreas Oser (chemistry, pharmaceuticals, life sciences) as well as attorney-at-law Andreas Jacob. The experienced team regularly acts in opposition, nullity and infringement proceedings.