Zimmermann & Partner Patentanwälte mbB

Dr. Benedikt Neuburger, who became Managing Partner of Zimmermann & Partner Patentanwälte mbB in 2025, discusses the firm’s strategic direction, its approach to complex patent matters, and the evolving European patent landscape.   What do you see as the main points that differentiate Zimmermann & Partner Patentanwälte mbB from your competitors? Zimmermann & Partner Patentanwälte mbB distinguishes itself through a combination of deep technical expertise, a strategic approach to patent prosecution, and extensive experience in patent disputes, in particular in complex patent litigation. Depending on the case at hand, we specifically select the most suitable attorneys who will then work together in teams of equals, irrespective of each team member’s position within the firm. We encourage the open exchange of thoughts and ideas, and we request everyone to come up with controversial opinions. When preparing for oral proceedings, we place particular emphasis on rigorous internal debate and the testing of opposing arguments. The level of scrutiny in these discussions often exceeds what we face in the courtroom. Further, our attorneys work closely with inventors and in-house IP teams to understand the underlying technology and the commercial objectives behind an invention. This enables us to draft and prosecute patent applications that provide meaningful protection and support the client’s broader innovation strategy. Our firm’s significant experience in patent disputes provides valuable insight into how patents are interpreted and challenged in contentious proceedings, which in turn informs the way we approach patent drafting and prosecution. We are proud to be handling a substantial number of high-value UPC litigation cases, giving us extensive first-hand experience. These insights are directly leveraged by our prosecution team in patent drafting and examination. A further distinguishing factor is our long-standing work with international clients and our experience coordinating patent protection across multiple jurisdictions. By combining technical expertise, strategic prosecution and litigation insight, Zimmermann & Partner Patentanwälte mbB is able to provide advice that supports clients throughout the full lifecycle of their intellectual property. Together, these elements allow Zimmermann & Partner Patentanwälte mbB to provide advice that goes beyond the formal aspects of patent prosecution and contributes directly to the long-term value of our clients’ intellectual property. We believe in our power and strength as team of highly qualified attorneys and admins who, together, are able to resolve the most demanding situations and cases.   Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?  Patent prosecution and portfolio strategy remain central areas of activity, particularly as companies continue to invest heavily in research and development across a range of technology sectors. On the other hand, we can recognize that the steady quality and success of our litigation team does not go unnoticed in the market, and we are increasingly asked for support in large cross-boarder litigation law suits. Zimmermann & Partner Patentanwälte mbB will therefore continue to grow with a healthy pace that guarantees our excellence in what we do. In particular, we will continue to decline additional work where we believe it could compromise the quality of our services or the trust of our existing clients. The introduction of the Unified Patent Court and the Unitary Patent has had as had a significant impact on prosecution work. Clients are increasingly aware that the way patents are drafted and prosecuted today can have significant consequences if those patents are later enforced before the UPC. As a result, we see growing demand for advice that integrates prosecution strategy with a broader view of potential enforcement scenarios. This includes careful claim drafting and portfolio structuring to ensure that key inventions are protected in a way that provides flexibility in the future. With our unique experience in national litigation cases and UPC cases, we are ideally positioned to support our clients in all IP related matters.   What's the main change you've made in the firm that will benefit clients?  Having taken on the role of Managing Partner of Zimmermann & Partner Patentanwälte mbB in December 2025, my focus so far has been on gaining a broad overview of the firm’s internal processes and identifying areas where we can further improve efficiency and collaboration. Patent work today involves large volumes of technical information and increasingly complex portfolios, so clear communication and effective knowledge sharing within teams are essential. One of my priorities is therefore to continue strengthening internal coordination so that our attorneys can draw more effectively on the firm’s collective expertise when advising clients. Looking ahead, I am particularly interested in how new technologies, including developments in artificial intelligence, may support certain aspects of patent practice, for example in prior art analysis or internal knowledge management. While these tools will not replace the technical and strategic expertise of patent attorneys, they may offer opportunities to further streamline processes and enhance the services we provide to our clients.   Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them? Digital communication tools have made collaboration with clients and inventors significantly easier, particularly when working with international teams. We offer a full support of our clients’ admin needs, including the full docketing at the clients’ side. We are constantly improving our tools to offer interfaces and the possibility of automatic data exchange. Technical discussions that previously required extensive travel can now often take place quickly and efficiently via video meetings. At the same time, the core of patent prosecution remains the careful analysis of technical inventions and the development of clear and robust patent claims. From our cross-border litigation proceedings and also international patent prosecution we additionally understand that the patent description can tip the scale. While digital tools may support certain aspects of the process, our firm fundamentally believes the essential work of understanding complex technologies and translating them into effective patent protection continues to rely on human expertise. Artificial intelligence is increasingly discussed in this context. We understand the importance of being part of the AI journey and have a dedicated AI team that is constantly testing AI tool developments available on the market. We do so with the goal to further enhance our quality of work for our clients’ benefit. However, while AI may increasingly support certain research or drafting-related tasks in the future, the strategic aspects of patent prosecution will continue to require experienced patent attorneys.   Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?  As we handle the full scope of patent prosecution for a number of our larger clients, we develop a depth of familiarity with their portfolios that often exceeds that of internal patent departments. his is particularly the case where, alongside in-house counsel, we work closely with inventors, technical experts and commercial teams across drafting, prosecution, opposition and litigation. For one international client operating in a highly profitable yet competitive market, this depth of expertise led them to entrust us with monitoring both their patent portfolio and relevant market developments. We report our findings in biweekly meetings with in-house counsel, as well as technical and commercial teams, to assess whether further action is required. As one in-house contact remarked: “We have no idea how you manage to have deeper knowledge of our products and IP than we have - it is scary and awesome at the same time!”   Clients are looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms - where do you see the firm in three years’ time? In complex patent matters, clients place great value on reliability and long-term cooperation with the teams supporting their intellectual property work. A deep understanding of both the technology and the client’s business environment is essential in this context. At Zimmermann & Partner Patentanwälte mbB, we have always and will continue to offer high quality work. Most of our client relationships have developed over several decades and most of our new clients choose us because of recommendations from existing clients. Clients rely on our team of experienced patent attorneys, technical experts and highly trained admins to provide consistent guidance as their technologies evolve and their patent portfolios grow. We allow our firm to grow only with a pace that guarantees this approach. As Managing Partner, my focus is on ensuring that the firm continues to build on these strengths by maintaining our high technical standards and fostering close collaboration within our team. I am convinced that it is the variety and diversity of opinions that make discussions valuable and allow us to reach the best possible outcome. We believe that a collaborative, open-minded and non-hierarchical workplace culture enables our team to deliver its best work. Equally important is a modern and efficient technical environment, which allows each of us the time to focus on delivering our best work. In the next three years, Zimmermann & Partner Patentanwälte mbB will continue strengthening its role in strategic patent prosecution and complex patent disputes, while continuing to support clients as the European patent landscape evolves. Our focus will remain on delivering consistently high-quality advice and building long-term client relationships.

Dr. Joel Naegerl shares how Zimmermann & Partner’s deep industry knowledge, strategic focus, and client-first approach continue to deliver value for its clients. What do you see as the main points that differentiate Zimmermann & Partner Patentanwälte mbB from your competitors? At Zimmermann & Partner our extensive work with international clients gives us, as patent attorneys, a distinctive edge. We manage a particularly large volume of high-profile litigation cases, providing us with exceptional insight into national and international litigation contexts and a deep understanding of what clients need. This familiarity allows us to handle cases with efficiency and precision, ensuring alignment with the clients’ broader business and technological objectives. Our expertise goes beyond legal knowledge. Most importantly, we have a comprehensive and profound understanding of the underlying technology and industry landscape. This enables us to anticipate challenges, optimize case management, and provide strategic guidance that is both legally robust and commercially impactful. By combining legal acumen with technical depth, we offer our clients a level of service that extends beyond traditional legal counsel and is sought after even for foreign litigation contexts. A key differentiator is the strong personal relationships we build with our clients and within our team, which helps create an atmosphere of trusting cooperation, to which all team members contribute with their best efforts and capabilities. While we appreciate the value of video conferencing, we recognize the importance of face-to-face meetings in strengthening trust, improving communication, and encouraging open discussions - all of which enhance productivity and contribute to successful outcomes.   Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that? We have been entrusted with handling numerous new litigation cases this year, reflecting the broader trend of patent litigation becoming increasingly important. One key driver is the emergence of the new Unified Patent Court system, which has introduced new litigation strategies in Europe. Additionally, the number of non-producing entities (NPEs) has grown in recent years, indicating that substantial financial resources are being directed toward investments in the secondary patent market - further driving litigation activity.   What's the main change you've made in the firm that will benefit clients? One of the key improvements I have implemented is a more structured approach to information management within the team and with the client. Given the sheer volume of communications circulating in our field, I make a conscious effort to shield team members from unnecessary distractions by filtering and disseminating only the relevant and actionable information. This allows them to remain focused on their core work without being overwhelmed or side-tracked by a constant influx of updates. With regard to the client, I strive to keep communications concise, avoiding unnecessary questions while clearly flagging the important ones. This approach helps clients focus their resources on what truly matters. As a result, our team operates faster and with greater efficiency and precision. By prioritizing clarity and focus, we drive better outcomes for our clients.   Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them? While video conferencing has made communication more convenient, it has not fundamentally changed the way we interact with our clients or the services we provide. Nothing can replace the value of in-person meetings, particularly when handling complex and high-stakes cases. Face-to-face discussions foster stronger relationships, encourage more dynamic problem-solving, and enable a level of creativity that is difficult to replicate in a virtual setting. Sometimes, it is the silence in these discussions that creates the moment where a new creative thought emerges. As for AI, while it has not yet had a direct impact on my day-to-day work, I recognize its potential to contribute to the field in the future. As AI tools evolve, they may enhance certain aspects of legal research and case management. However, the core of our work - strategic thinking, advocacy, and client relationships - will always rely on human expertise.   Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business? There have been cases where we identified a key piece of prior art that significantly impacted the patentability of a claim asserted against our client, as well as cases where we established a subtle line of technical argument that had not been previously considered by the opposing party. By taking a comprehensive approach - analyzing both prior art and the legal and technical arguments with regard to both the validity of the patent and its potential infringement while finding a good balance between these aspects - we have repeatedly developed highly successful strategies. This approach has proved highly effective, as litigation disputes often conclude with settlement agreements. With our contributions, these settlements have frequently resulted in far more favorable outcomes than initially expected.   Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms - where do you see the firm in three years’ time? International clients of ours, such as Samsung, highly value continuity and stability, particularly in complex, high-stakes matters. Over time, we have developed a deep understanding of our clients’ specific needs, expectations, and the broader technological landscape in which they operate. Our clients appreciate not only our technical and legal expertise but also, the efficiency and thoroughness with which we handle their cases. Our ability to anticipate challenges and provide strategic guidance gives them confidence that their matters are in capable hands. Looking ahead, I see our firm continuing to strengthen these relationships by maintaining the high level of service and insight that our clients rely on. As patent litigation and prosecution become increasingly complex, our focus will remain on refining our expertise, streamlining processes, and ensuring that we provide even greater value through efficiency and strategic foresight. While technology and legal frameworks will continue to evolve, the fundamental principles of trust, consistency, and deep client understanding will remain central to our approach.

What do you see as the main points that differentiate Zimmermann & Partner from your competitors? We at Zimmermann & Partner understand patents as a tool of doing business. Therefore, we have a strong focus on our client’s commercial interests. On the other hand, we also understand that patents are about technology and that digging deeper is the key to success here. Therefore, we are very selective in hiring highly skilled people and strongly believe in constant training and learning. At the same time, we maintain a relaxed and flexible work environment with a flat hierarchy to enable our people to tap their full creative potential. A particular strength of Zimmermann & Partner is to build teams which bring together the resources that perfectly match the client’s needs. Which practices in your member firm do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that? We expect that Zimmermann & Partner’s litigation and opposition business will enjoy considerable growth within the next year. While being already very active in high-profile litigation in the telecommunications area, we constantly diversify our litigation and opposition practice. A clear driver for this growth is our continuously high success rate in litigation and opposition. In the end, it’s the success that matters and which attracts more and more clients to use Zimmermann & Partner for inter-partes proceedings. What is the main change you have made in your firm that will benefit clients? One of the main changes was to focus our organization on the paralegal work. Most of our daily exchange with inhouse patent departments is on the paralegal level, and even more so if we are actively involved in our client’s docketing. Due to our reorganization, our clients enjoy a stable relationship with a single point of contact whereas, at the attorney level, we only create work if an attorney’s knowledge is really required. Our clients benefit from this more efficient structure by lower costs and reduced administrative complexity. Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients and the services you can provide them? Technology is at the heart of Zimmermann & Partner’s services for clients. We have gathered an abundance of experience with numerous standard external administrative software programs such as Anaqua, Tymetrix etc., so as to directly interface with our client's in-house patent departments. Because of this know-how, we are frequently asked to assist, or even completely handle, the internal docketing process for our clients. In addition, our internal IT structure allows us to provide very flexible and complex portfolio reporting services. Our fully electronic docketing system allows us to seamlessly work in teams including people from different offices. Thus, we can always build the team which provides most added value for the client in a particular case. Can you give us a practical example of how you helped a client add value to their business? Zimmermann & Partner devised a patent portfolio strategy for an S&P 100 company entering a new business. Our holistic approach integrated competitor monitoring, prosecution, opposition work, litigation and monetization, supporting the client in expanding a small in-licensed portfolio to a patent portfolio which helps to secure market leadership for our client. One main factor in making the portfolio strategy work was our understanding of not only of the technology but also of the business models of our client and the competitors. Thus, Zimmermann & Partner was able to deliver patents that matter. Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms – where do you see the firm in three year's time? Stable relationships are very important for both clients and patent attorneys. Only after some time you fully understand a client’s business and what role patents play or can play in it. This is why we at Zimmermann & Partner are proud of our very low staff turnover which is a key ingredient in building long-lasting and stable relationships with clients. We further see that clients are more and more asking Zimmermann & Partner for advice on strategic questions like the participation in political processes. This part of our practice will become more important in the future. Three years from now, Zimmermann & Partner will have enjoyed further reasonable growth, offering our high quality work to even more clients.