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Key contacts
Biotechnology: Leonard L. Werner-Jones
Chemistry: Morten Garberg
Electrical Engineering and Digital Technologies: Lorenz von Kurowski
Mechanical Engineering: Christopher Furlong
Trademarks & Designs: Michaela Ring
Litigation: Dirk Schüßler-Langeheine
Quick facts
Network Memberships

EPI, FICPI, INTA, AIPLA, ECTA, GRUR, AIPPI, LES, CIPA, German Patent Bar Association, Munich Bar Association, Science Based Targets initiative

Languages Spoken at the Firm

English, German, Chinese, French, Japanese, Spanish, Italian, Korean, Dutch, Portugese, Russian, Polish, Czech, Danish, Swedish, Macedonian, Bulgarian

Total Number of IP Practitioners

140

Number of Partners

46

Firm - Year of Establishment

1892

Key practice areas
Intellectual property
Trade mark
Patent
Trade mark - patent & trade mark attorney firms
Patent disputes - law firms
Patent disputes - patent & trade mark attorney firms
UPC litigation
Firm overview

HOFFMANN EITLE is a leading European intellectual property (IP) boutique firm with over 140 in-house IP professionals across eight locations: Munich, London, Milan, Madrid, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Barcelona and Amsterdam. The firm is headquartered in Munich, where the majority of its attorneys are based.

Established in 1892, HOFFMANN EITLE has evolved from a single founding member to one of Europe's largest and most distinguished law firms. This growth has been driven by a blend of a long-standing tradition of excellence and a contemporary approach to IP consultation, earning the firm high client satisfaction. The firm's dedication to quality and expertise is reflected in numerous industry awards and top rankings in major industry guides.

HOFFMANN EITLE offers comprehensive European IP services and competent advice in all technical and legal areas. Its team of more than 110 patent attorneys with European and national qualifications and various technical backgrounds files in excess of 4,000 patent applications each year. HOFFMANN EITLE is the market leader in European Patent Office opposition work, being involved in over 5% of opposition cases.

HOFFMANN EITLE is also very active in patent litigation, both in the coordination of multi-jurisdictional disputes and proceedings at the UPC and German courts. In addition, its litigation and contracts team is on hand to provide advice on other IP-related issues, such as competition law, contract law and licensing.

Trademark and design work is another major field of expertise at HOFFMANN EITLE. The firm has a dedicated team of in-house attorneys at law with specialized knowledge in trademark prosecution and litigation.

HOFFMANN EITLE is a multinational firm. Its IP professionals come from a number of countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark as well as from several countries outside of Europe, including the United States, Japan, China and Korea. This means that the attorneys of HOFFMANN EITLE are able to advise clients in many languages, with an understanding of local legal traditions and a network of contacts in their attorneys’ respective home countries.

In addition to HOFFMANN EITLE’s extensive in-house talent, the firm has built up over the years a regional and global network of associate lawyers and law firms which provide HOFFMANN EITLE with any assistance it may require to competently coordinate multinational prosecution and litigation projects for its clients.

The firm’s international client base includes many well-known large corporations as well as small and medium-sized firms from Japan, Korea, China, the United States and Europe.

Practice Areas & Sector Specialisations

Key IP Areas

Designs, Intellectual property (contentious), Intellectual property (prosecution), IP transactions, Life sciences IP, Patent, Patent contentious, Patent prosecution, Trade mark, Trade mark contentious, Trade mark prosecution

Key Sector Expertise

Aerospace, Artificial intelligence, Automotive, Biotechnology, Chemical, Computer technology & services, Construction & materials, Electrical, Electronics, Fashion & luxury goods, Defence, Food & beverage, Industrials, Instruments, Life sciences, Mechanical, Medical device, Optics & photonics, Mining, Nanotechnology, Pharmaceutical, Renewable energy, Semiconductors, Robotics, Technology hardware, Telecommunication, Tobacco, Transport, Universities & research, Utilities

Address:
Arabellastr. 30
81925 Munich
Tel:+4989924090 Fax:+4989918356 Email:Contact Us Web Address:https://www.hoffmanneitle.com/en

IPS Sponsored

  • Sponsored by Hoffmann Eitle
  • Sponsored by Hoffmann Eitle
2026 Edition
Patent disputes - patent & trade mark attorney firms
Tier 1
23 firms ranked
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Tier 1

Bardehle Pagenberg
10 practice areas
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Cohausz & Florack
6 practice areas
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Hoffmann Eitle
7 practice areas
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Vossius & Partner
8 practice areas
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df-mp
5 practice areas
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Tier 2

Boehmert & Boehmert
17 practice areas
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Eisenführ Speiser
7 practice areas
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Grünecker
6 practice areas
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Maikowski & Ninnemann
6 practice areas
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Maiwald
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Meissner Bolte
7 practice areas
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Samson & Partner
9 practice areas
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Tier 3

Braun-Dullaeus Pannen Emmerling
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Peterreins Schley
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Ter Meer Steinmeister & Partner
4 practice areas
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Thum & Partner
6 practice areas
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Tier 2

Bardehle Pagenberg
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Tier 3

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Tier 3
13 firms ranked
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Tier 1

Bardehle Pagenberg
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Boehmert & Boehmert
17 practice areas
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Grünecker
6 practice areas
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Meissner Bolte
7 practice areas
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Vossius & Partner
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Tier 2

Eisenführ Speiser
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Tier 3

Hoffmann Eitle
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Maiwald
7 practice areas
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Weickmann
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D Young & Co
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Tier 1

Bardehle Pagenberg
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8 practice areas
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A&O Shearman
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Tier 2

Arnold Ruess
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Overview

Hoffmann Eitle is highly respected across Europe for patent drafting, prosecution and office proceedings. It is a name often seen in instructive EPO decisions. The firm has a strong team of European patent attorneys in technical fields such as chemistry, biotechnology, and mechanical engineering. The patent attorney team is supported by an experienced team of lawyers who also deal with trade mark work. The firm has expanded its presence in Europe with a London office.

Notable patent attorneys: Thorsten Bausch, Peter Klusmann, Anne Schön, Andreas Görg, Markus G Müller, Morten Garberg, Joachim Renken, Leonard Werner-Jones, James Ogle, C Thomas Becher, and Henrik Vocke.

Notable patent litigators: Clemens Tobias Steins, Holger Stratmann, and Dirk Schüßler-Langeheine.

Notable trade mark practitioners: Michaela Ring and Isabelle Kuschel.

Testimonials

2026

"Very well prepared technically (which is good), but most of all, prepared to explain the particularities of the German Legal system in a clear way. Very good to work with."

Jan-Hendrik Spilgies

"Jan-Hendrik is a stellar IP prosecutor and an outstanding European patent attorney who consistently delivers work of the highest quality. He combines a deep and precise understanding of European patent law with a strong grasp of our commercial objectives and the ability to navigate complex scientific and technical subject matter with ease. A highly skilled analyst, Jan-Hendrik provides clear, strategic advice that is both legally sound and business-focused. Beyond his technical excellence, he is exceptionally reliable and a true pleasure to work with, making him a trusted adviser for our sophisticated and demanding IP portfolios."

 

2025

"We work with Andreas Stefferl, Lasse Weinmann, and Elisabeth Engelhard. They are all really excellent counsel and a great team."

"Hoffmann Eitle is one of our reliable business partners, and we have been maintaining a good business relationship for a long time.Therefore, whenever we need professional advice, we always ask the firm."

"They deliver high-quality and accurate work in a timely manner."

"What I appreciate most about Hoffmann Eitle's IP service is the team's dedication to providing tailored, client-focused solutions, as well as their commitment to ongoing communication and feedback. The firm’s emphasis on understanding each client’s unique needs and offering bespoke strategies ensures high-quality, effective results."

"I’ve been impressed by Hoffmann Eitle’s proactive approach to keeping clients informed throughout the process. The follow-up feedback mechanisms demonstrate not only professionalism but also a genuine commitment to continuous improvement and client satisfaction. This level of engagement builds trust and fosters long-term partnerships."

"The expertise and collaborative spirit within the team are exceptional. The opportunity to work alongside professionals who combine deep technical knowledge with legal proficiency is inspiring, and it reflects the firm's commitment to excellence. These qualities make Hoffmann Eitle’s IP services and team truly outstanding."

"[They] listen to and act upon our instructions diligently."

"Mike Gruber, Neils Hölder and Anne Schön have sharp minds and are very good strategists. They have all the details of the case on the tips of their fingers."

A client values the team's "expertise, easy accessibility, and friendliness".

"They are technically excellent, and they are nice too."

"They provide excellent service, tailored to the needs of the customer. Their communication is succinct and clear, and their advice is very practical and honest."

 

2023

"They are very experienced and knowledgeable."

"We appreciate their creative and tenacious nature. Hoffmann Eitle represented us in a difficult case, and we kept going until we managed to invalidate the patent."

"They are highly experienced, excellent advocates knowledgeable in all areas of patent law, EPO proceedings and German litigation and in the interplay between those legal proceedings and the regulatory pharmaceutical environment. Their English is excellent, and they are all really nice people."

"The firm offers us a wide range of services and flexibility of services in the ever-changing IP world. The advice from the attorneys is precise and thoughtful."

Linked Reviews
Trade mark

Case studies show EU and national trade mark counselling, filing and portfolio management work in different sectors. Clients include VL London, Flucorrex, Implen, Rain Bird Corporation, and Ravenpack.

Patent

Case studies show extensive patent work, including EPO proceedings and patent litigation in the UPC and national courts. Clients include DexCom, Moderna, Astellas, IMS Robotics, Ericsson, Sanofi, Regeneron, Celltrion, and Myriad Genetics.

Biotechnology patent attorney David Miller joined the firm's London office in January 2023. Miller's arrival from Mathys & Squire strengthened the firm's UK practice, which now has more than 10 patent attorneys with expertise across fields like engineering and biotechnology.

In 2025, the firm's life sciences practice was further strengthened by the arrival of König Szynka Tilmann von Renesse's Düsseldorf team, led by Gregor König, Dorothea von Renesse, and Carla Roth. Former Sandoz head of patents Bernd Kröger has left the firm. Niels Hölder and Mike Gruber agreed to leave the firm in 2025. The firm announced the hire of Thomas Gniadek from Simmons & Simmons in 2025.

21 results21 results
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As UPC activity continues to drive strategic hiring and expansion, recent rulings have delivered a notable win for Samsung, and further uncertainty in the long-running GSK-Pfizer vaccine battle
A settlement involving Disney and another ruling concerning a lawyer’s request for access to documents were also among the big developments
The new court has drastically changed the German legal market, and the Munich-based firm, with two recent partner hires, is among those responding
Bird & Bird, Brinkhof and Bardehle Pagenberg were successful at the Court of Appeal, while there was a partial victory for Amazon in a case concerning audio recordings
A dispute involving semiconductor technology and a partner's move from Hoffman Eitle to Hoyng Rokh Monegier were also among the top talking points
In major recent developments, a confidentiality request was rejected, Samsung and its representative A&O Shearman secured a partial win, and EIP made a new hire
A seminal decision concerning second medical use patents and questions over confidentiality were among the top talking points this fortnight
An injunction concerning head lice treatment, a positive ruling on access to documents, a German firm splitting, and moves involving Finnegan and Morgan Lewis were among the top stories
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