CMS' competition practice advises a high-profile client portfolio on strategic matters pertaining to advertising campaigns and internet presence as well as on counterfeit protection and litigation; here, the group is particularly active in the life sciences sector. Further extensive knowledge is provided on trade secrets and by its strong trade mark practice. Markus Deck heads the team and, alongside his competition expertise, also covers the areas of patent, antitrust and distribution law, while Heike Blank has particular expertise in trade secret misappropriation. Matthias Eck (anticompetitive violations) retired at the end of 2022.

Renowned Frankfurt boutique offering Danckelmann & Kerst has earned an excellent reputation through numerous successful landmark proceedings. The group assists a wide range of clients, including large international companies, medium-sized companies as well as associations, and can also rely on a comprehensive international network for cross-border matters. Nikolaus Konstantin Rehart focuses on media and telecommunications law, while Hans-Jürgen Ruhl is particularly well versed in medicinal product advertising and pharmacy law. Jan-Felix Isele is another key contact, who assists with competition law as well as trade mark, design and antitrust issues.

With a focus on the sports, chemicals and cosmetics sectors among others, Arnecke Sibeth Dabelstein's competition practice is an attractive address for clients from regulated industries, whose advice portfolio also covers environmental and comparative advertising. Here, clients can also benefit from the group's expertise in neighbouring legal fields such as food and chemicals law if necessary. Practice head Thomas Körber impresses with in-depth knowledge of the sports sector; this is also a focus for Thomas Hertl, whose expertise further includes media and entertainment law.

Friedrich Graf von Westphalen & Partner offers comprehensive competition expertise, ranging from litigation to advice. The team assists with matters pertaining to counterfeiting, product piracy, licensing agreements and advertising law issues and has further know-how in trade mark, design and copyright law as well as in transaction-related IP issues. Key contacts include Morton Douglas (pharmaceuticals, medical and pharmacy industry) and David Kipping (advertising and fair trade law) as well as soft IP lawyer Norbert Hebeis and copyright and media lawyer Stephan Dittl.

IP boutique Grünecker is experienced in competition law, particularly in the context of anticompetitive counterfeiting, advertising law issues and other contentious and strategic unfair competition matters. The group has further expertise in licensing agreements and various related fields such as copyright and personal rights. Anja Franke frequently assists clients from Asia, while Holger Gauss is primarily active in the fashion, outdoor, pharmaceutical and media sectors. Cornelia Schmitt, who predominantly advises US companies in the technology sector, made associate partner in January 2023.

All of Harmsen Utescher's competition team members are involved in litigation and advisory work, which enables the firm to support clients from conception of advertising and marketing strategies through to competition law proceedings. It is also an attractive choice for clients in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors, including those active at European level. Martin Kefferpütz recently assisted with matters related to environment-related advertising claims, while Matthias Wolter has additional expertise in antitrust issues.

IP boutique Harte-Bavendamm Rechtsanwälte advises across various industries, such as automotive, food and increasingly in the transport sector. Thematically, the practice is particularly active in matters pertaining to counterfeit protection and environmental advertising, while further emphasis is placed on medicinal product advertising law. Michael Goldmann excels in advising on advertising campaigns, while Arne Lambrecht's consulting portfolio includes the legally compliant design of advertising for medicinal products and licensing agreements, among other matters. Cathérine Elkemann (trade mark, competition and medicinal product advertising law) is another key contact for strategic advice and litigation.

Lubberger Lehment is considered one of the leading firms for disputes and places a particular focus on proceedings pertaining to internet-related issues. The team is particularly often instructed by luxury goods manufacturers and start-ups, while companies from the technology and cosmetics sectors also rely on the boutique's expertise. Andreas Lubberger, who is well versed across all IP aspects, also handles antitrust- and distribution law-related matters and often acts for clients from the furniture and consumer goods industries, while product counterfeiting and parallel imports are among Rani Mallick's focus areas. Associate Leonard Pietsch (trade mark, design, copyright and competition law) and senior associate Julian Erfurth (trade mark and competition law) are other key contacts.

Pinsent Masons Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater Solicitors Partnerschaft mbB handles competition law issues from its three German locations in Munich, Frankfurt and Düsseldorf. With a focus on ​​digital marketing, the group is frequently instructed by German and international companies to assist with matters relating to AI, influencer marketing and metaverse. Alongside the automotive, healthcare and life sciences sectors, the practice is further experienced in advising clients from the sports and technology industries. In line with the practice's orientation, practice head Nils Rauer focuses on data-based business models and digitalisation topics, while head of life sciences Marc Holtorf contributes expertise in medicinal product advertising.

Schmitt Teworte-Vey Simon & Schumacher is a Cologne-based boutique that, in addition to providing extensive advice on competition law, also covers related legal areas, such as media, copyright and food law. The practice is experienced in contentious matters as well as in contract drafting and licensing agreements. Jan Schumacher covers the entire soft IP range, including related trade mark, design and copyright issues. Pharmaceutical advertising matters are predominantly handled by Gesa Simon, who also often acts in collision assessments and in proceedings before German and European authorities and courts. Founding partner Christian Schmitt left the firm in March 2023 and joined THS.IP.

SKW Schwarz' firm-wide focus on innovative topics also becomes evident within its competition practice. The group advises – often in close cooperation with its media, entertainment and IT practices– on issues relating to influencer marketing, medical cannabis and e-sports. German and international medium-sized companies and large corporations can further rely on its expertise in environmental advertising. Oliver Stöckel, who took on the practice lead in 2023, regularly acts in infringement cases and competition law proceedings, where he applies his expertise in trade mark, patent and copyright law. Sascha Pres, who previously headed the team, represents companies from the retail, sports and service sectors before German and European offices and courts.

Arnold Ruess Rechtsanwälte PartmbB 's competition advice includes advertising strategies, branding and licensing agreements as well as national litigation, while also coordinating international proceedings in cooperation with partners in other jurisdictions. Under the leadership of trade mark and competition lawyer Peter Ruess, the group is active across a wide range of industries, including food, pharmaceuticals and electronics, as well as across various ancillary areas, including copyright, technical property rights and trade mark law.

Baker McKenzie's competition practice is particularly adept in assisting with trade secret misappropriation, product piracy and border confiscation, where the group frequently acts in an international capacity. This is further complemented by a strong IP transaction practice as well as trade mark and design law capabilities. Michael Fammler, who regularly handles matters concerning licenses and branding, heads the practice. Rembert Niebel (trade mark protection, licensing agreements and IP support for transactions) left the firm in July 2023 and joined SKW Schwarz.

As a European IP boutique, Bardehle Pagenberg is a popular address for internationally active corporations, which the group advises across the entire spectrum of competition issues, ranging from the development of advertising concepts and marketing strategies to representation in cross-border disputes. The practice is jointly headed by Philipe Kutschke, who is experienced across the whole array of soft IP matters, and Claus Eckhartt, who specialises in counterfeit protection, licensing agreements and merchandising. Key contacts also include Pascal Böhner, who often advises clients from the entertainment, fashion and sports sectors and focuses on domain name law and copyright protection under competition law.

Gleiss Lutz' soft IP practice offers comprehensive advice on competition law and advertising issues as well as on trade secrets and e-commerce matters. Further areas of expertise include IP support for M&A transactions, where the group frequently assists clients from the telecommunications and technology sectors. Stefan Weidert, who is particularly active in e-commerce and licensing, and Stefan Völker, who is experienced in competition, copyright and media law, jointly head the practice.

GvW Graf von Westphalen's wide range of competition advice includes both litigation as well as strategic advice and further covers matters pertaining to medicinal advertising law. In addition to trade mark and competition law, practice head Christian Kusulis is also experienced in digitalisation issues.

JONAS Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH's advice ranges from product development to distribution issues and contentious proceedings. Its competition expertise is further complemented by experience in media, press and copyright law. Karl Hamacher regularly reviews marketing measures and assists with sports law, while Martin Viefhues is experienced in pharmaceutical law. Nils Weber, who advises on distribution issues among other matters, and data protection and telecommunications lawyer Markus Robak are other key contacts.

As an integral part of its IP practice, Lexton Rechtsanwälte advises clients on advertising and marketing measures with a particular focus on digital advertising and further defends them in contentious proceedings. The team is a popular address for companies from the e-commerce, consumer goods, advertising and manufacturing industries. Practice head Tilmann Lührig recently acted in several matters pertaining to trade secret protection and rebranding as well as in disputes before the DPMA and the EUIPO. He is supported by associate Sina Kalenberger (trade mark, design and competition law) among others.

Oppenländer Rechtsanwälte is particularly adept in competition matters in the healthcare sector, resulting in a client base that includes drug manufacturers and manufacturers of other healthcare products; recently, the group increasingly assisted with digitalisation- and e-health-related matters. Other key clients stem from the energy industry which rely on the group's expertise in advertising campaigns and trade secret protection. The practice is jointly led by energy expert Markus Köhler as well as Christina Koppe-Zagouras and Timo Kieser, who are both experienced in the healthcare sector.

Orth Kluth Rechtsanwälte assists clients with trade secret protection, advertising and marketing measures and disputes. Ulla Kelp, who assists with competition law, patents, trade marks and copyright, jointly heads the practice with Philipp Mels, who has longstanding experience in the soft IP arena and is additionally well versed in data protection.

Schmidt, von der Osten & Huber covers a wide range of competition issues both forensically and in an advisory capacity, which is not least due to its close cooperation with the trade mark, design and copyright teams. Notker Lützenrath, who acts extensively in the soft IP sector, jointly leads the practice with Cay Fürsen, who often advises on advertising campaigns and licensing agreements as well as acting in injunction, information and damages claim proceedings pertaining to competition violations.