Bardehle Pagenberg is particularly known for its strength in the automotive, telecommunications, software and electronics industries, but has also gained a very good reputation in the mechanical engineering, medical technology, pharmaceuticals and sporting goods sectors. The IP boutique, headquartered in Munich and with additional offices in Düsseldorf, Paris and Barcelona, provides patent law and attorney-at-law advice from a single source, which, in addition to its highly regarded expertise in prosecution matters, also equips the firm with particular clout in infringement proceedings. The team assists with patents, utility models and employee inventions and also offers many years of experience in design protection. The range of services further includes strategic portfolio advice and representation in proceedings before German and international patent offices, especially in opposition and nullity proceedings. Hereby, the team is just as well versed in handling purely German instructions as its is in advising on cross-border patent prosecution, in the context of which it can also rely on established international partner law firms. The practice is particularly active in matters relating to the US and Asia, while its cooperation with Singapore law firm Yusarn Audrey LLC underlines the firm's international orientation. Johannes Lang (computer and electrical engineering, telecommunications, semiconductor technology), Christof Karl (computer hardware and software), Joachim Mader (mechanical engineering and process engineering), Tobias Kaufmann (electrical engineering, IT, medical technology) and Georg Anetsberger (lasers – and semiconductor physics among others) jointly lead the team.

Based in Düsseldorf and Munich, Cohausz & Florack's IP specialists are just as popular with international corporations as they are with German medium-sized companies. The boutique offers a one-stop shop for IP, covering patents and utility models as well as employee inventions and soft IP. The range of services includes the drafting and registration of IP applications as well as representation in patent granting procedures before the DPMA and the EPO. License agreements, freedom-to-operate research and contentious proceedings represent additional mainstays. The technically versatile team is well equipped to assist with mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, information and communication technology matters as well as in the chemistry and life sciences industries. In addition to its strong German and European prosecution practice, the team also impresses with expertise in international matters with a focus on US, Chinese and South Korean clients. Arwed Burrichter (chemistry, life sciences), Natalie Kirchhofer (chemistry, biochemistry, pharmaceuticals, life sciences), Hendrik Bücker (communications engineering, medical technology, software, materials engineering, regenerative energy technology), Christoph Walke (communications engineering, audio and video processing), Jochen Kapfenberger (process engineering and mechanical engineering) and Mathias Karlhuber (electronic program guides, medical technology, chassis technology) are among the key contacts. Johannes Simons retired at the end of 2021.

Hoffmann Eitle continues to be one of the best addresses on the market, particularly with regards to the chemistry and biotechnology industries which is also mirrored in the team's composition: With Matthias Kindler, Peter Klusmann and Klemens Stratmann as heads of the chemistry team and the joint biotechnology leadership of Leo Polz and Joseph Taormino, the firm has a clear focus on the life sciences sector while mechanics, headed by Christopher Furlong, and electrical engineering, led by Georg Siegert, form two further practice pillars. Hereby, the group distinctively focuses on international matters,  which is reflected by offices in London, Milan, Madrid, Barcelona and Amsterdam on one hand and the team's international composition, including patent lawyers from the US, Japan, South Korea and China, on the other. The practice also has particularly in-depth experience in assisting Japanese clients, while China is developing into a fourth geographic focus alongside the US and South Korea. Stephan Klaus (chemistry, medical technology, materials science, pharmaceuticals), formerly at Wuesthoff &Wuesthoff, joined the firm in October 2021.

Vossius & Partner broadly covers the patent sphere with four specialized teams: chemistry and pharmacology, biology and biotechnology, physics, and technology and IT. The practice's particular strength in the life sciences sector is clearly visible in its team structure, while its size also allows for other industries such as automotive, telecommunications and aviation to be extensively covered; the group possesses further longstanding experience in robotics and AI. Hereby, the mixed patent and law firm provides prosecution and litigation advice from a single source and assists with patent, utility model and employee invention matters as well as with adjacent issues pertaining to competition, data protection, food and cosmetics law. Clients include large and medium-sized companies as well as start-ups and academic and scientific institutions. Key contacts are Elard Schenck zu Schweinsberg (mechanical engineering, mechanics, physics, IT), Christian Sandweg (physics), Jürgen Meier (biology), Arnold Asmussen (medical technology, vehicle technology, consumer goods), Natalia Berryman (chemistry), Hans-Rainer Jaenichen (biotechnology and pharmaceuticals), Raphael Salzer (medical technology, mechanical engineering), Christian Schlörb (biology, biochemistry), Friederike Stolzenburg (plant biotechnology, pharmaceuticals), Rainer Viktor (electrical engineering, IT, medical technology), Gerhard Hermann (physics), Rudolf Weinberger ( chemistry), Christoph Eisenmann (including physics, materials science, optics) and Thomas Schwarze (including electrical engineering, optics, telecommunications).

Maikowski & Ninnemann stands out on the market as a pure patent law firm that focuses on prosecution and litigation. The experience in both areas makes the practice a popular choice for complex national and international matters, thereby often providing support from a single source. The team is regularly instructed to assist with international, strategically important patent disputes with prosecution clients also benefitting from its experience in contentious proceedings. From its headquarters in Berlin and additional offices in Munich, Frankfurt and Leipzig, the group provides many years of experience, especially in mechanical engineering, physics, communications and electrical engineering as well as life sciences and chemistry. Key contacts are Gunnar Baumgärtel (vehicle technology, electronics, optics, software, telecommunications), Felix Gross (process engineering, software-based inventions), Christoph Schröder (medical technology, electrical engineering, mobile communications, vehicle technology, mechanics), Fabian Sokolowski (medical technology, life Sciences), Ralf Emig (vehicle technology, engine technology, telecommunications, software) in Berlin as well as Andreas Tanner (electrical and semiconductor technology, standard-essential mobile phone technology) in Munich, Matthias Hoffmann (pharmaceuticals, life sciences, process engineering, materials science) in Leipzig and Frederick Kramer (vehicle and engine technology, IT, telecommunications, electrical engineering) in Frankfurt.

Maiwald Intellectual Property particularly impresses with its successful opposition practice before the European Patent Office, many years of litigation experience in nullity and infringement proceedings, which are often handled in cooperation with the firm's own lawyers, and its sector specialization. The practice has particular experience in the life sciences and pharmaceuticals sectors, but has also gained a good reputation in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and computer-based inventions, as the constantly growing clientele in these areas proves. Notably, its advice on artificial intelligence and digitization has also been expanding. In addition to numerous established German companies, the team also assists clients from the US, Japan, China, Switzerland and the UK which also instruct the team with transactions. Eva Dörner (chemistry, pharmacy, crop protection), Andreas Ledl (pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, biochemistry), Christian Pioch (software, semiconductors, medical technology), Alexander Ortlieb (physics, medical technology, computer-implemented inventions), Alexander Schmitz (electrical engineering, IT, mechanics, mechanical engineering), Lutz Kietzmann (renewable energies), Dirk Bühler (pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, personalized therapies, diagnostics), Martin Huenges (biotechnology, pharmaceuticals), Angela Zumstein (pharmaceuticals, chemistry), Eva Ehlich (drug delivery, pharmaceutical technology, medical applications), Sophie Ertl (mechanical engineering, medical technology, materials technology, vehicle and aircraft construction), Stefan Bianchin (double qualification as solicitor and patent lawyer), Naho Fujimoto (pharmaceuticals, chemistry) and Christian Schäflein (sensor technology, data processing, aircraft construction, image processing, medical technology) are the key contacts. Annelie Wunsch, who specialises in biotechnology, biochemistry and pharmacy, made partner in February 2021. The firm has its headquarters in Munich and an additional office in Düsseldorf.

With nine locations in Germany and a mixed patent and legal team, Meissner Bolte Patentanwälte Rechtsanwälte Partnerschaft mbB attracts both German and international clients, including numerous large corporations as well as medium-sized companies, small companies and start-ups. The team is particularly active in the mechanical engineering and electrical engineering spheres, but also handles a substantial volume of instructions in the chemistry and instruments fields. For computer-implemented inventions, the firm houses a team of specialists led by Julian Würmser and Florian Meyer. In addition to drafting and filing patent applications in Germany, Europe and internationally, the expertise portfolio further includes representation in opposition proceedings, in particular before the EPO, and opposition appeal proceedings. The Munich-based Florian Henke, whose wealth of experience includes contentious proceedings, joined the partnership in January 2022. The team is headed by Jochen Kilchert (Munich), Kay Rupprecht in Düsseldorf, Jasper Werhahn in Gera, Ole Trinks in Augsburg, Markus Schlögl in Nuremberg, Nils Ellberg in Bremen and Henrik Bolte in Hamburg. The firm also has an office in England.

Uexküll & Stolberg has in-depth expertise in the drafting and filing of patent and utility model applications and in representing clients in patent grant proceedings before the DPMA and the EPO. The IP boutique with offices in Hamburg and Munich counts numerous international corporations among its clients, who regularly entrust the team with prosecution matters as well as contentious proceedings. For cross-border matters, the group can rely on a well-established network of correspondent law firms abroad. The firm specializes in chemistry and pharmacology, biotechnology and life sciences, and electronics and mechanical engineering. Peter Franck leads the chemistry team, Bernd Janssen signs responsible for the technical practice and Albrecht von Menges heads the biotech team.

Jones Day's team of patent lawyers is embedded within the US firm's global network and is therefore a particularly good choice for complex cross-border matters, especially in the context of large-scale litigation. Olga Bezzubova in Munich specializes in pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and biotechnology and heads the European patent attorney team. The Frankfurt-based Dorothée Weber-Bruls is responsible for the physics practice, while Andreas Holzwarth-Rochford possesses extensive experience in physics, including mechanics, laser technology and semiconductor technology. The Munich-based litigation team is jointly led by mechanical engineering specialist Gerd Jaekel and chemical and pharmaceutical expert Christian Paul.

In addition to its well-established prosecution practice, Prinz & Partner also has many years of experience in contentious matters including nullity and infringement proceedings both in Germany and internationally, for example before the European Patent Office. The group regularly applies its strength in product piracy issues at trade fairs and in border seizures, while also assisting with freedom-to-operate research, transaction due diligence and unfair competition, domain law, copyright and trade mark matters. Notably, the team also has particular expertise in advising start-ups. Practice heads Jochen Sties and Thomas Kitzhofer are the key contacts in Munich, alongside Werner Sulzbach (chemistry, materials science, mechanics), Tim Hülsheger (physics, mechanics, electrical engineering, communications engineering) and senior associate Jürgen Strass (mechanics, electrical engineering, physics). Pharmaceutical specialist Ute Feldmann is the main contact in Berlin.

Prüfer & Partner impresses with many years of experience in the prosecution of patents which are intended to be registered in the US after their DPMA or EPO grant. From its Munich office, the group assists with a wide range of international matters in addition to a substantial German practice, and is hereby particularly well equipped for instructions relating to Japan, China and Korea, due to a combination of established partner law firms in these countries and its own in-house patent specialists and native speakers. The practice recently succeeded in further expanding its domestic business by attracting new direct instructions including advice on strategic issues. The Munich IP boutique is further familiar with the drafting of patent and utility model applications in a wide range of technologies. Dorothea Hofer is responsible for the electrical engineering, IT and physics,while Jürgen Feldmeier focuses on automotive and mechanical engineering and Andreas Oser covers chemistry, pharmaceuticals and life sciences.

As an IP boutique with a high level of litigation experience, BRAUN-DULLAEUS PANNEN EMMERLING applies its wealth of expertise in opposition, nullity and infringement proceedings also in prosecution matters. The boutique offering manages patent applications before the DPMA, the EPO and internationally and enjoys the trust of numerous international and national corporations, also with regards to strategically important patent portfolio management. The practice focus thereby focuses on telecommunications and electrical engineering. Karl-Ulrich Braun-Dullaeus, Friedrich Emmerling and Franck Klein in Munich as well as Markus Kreuzberg in Düsseldorf are the key contacts.