Legal 500 EMEA 2022

https://www.legal500.com/c/germany/intellectual-property/patent-litigation/

Intellectual Property: Trade Marks – Tier 1

https://www.legal500.com/firms/11439-klaka-rechtsanwalte/12235-munich-germany/

Design law - TIER 1
Trade marks - TIER 1

IP boutique KLAKA Rechtsanwälte is renowned for its expertise in comprehensive contentious proceedings before the courts, the DPMA and the EUIPO. Particularly practice head Ralf Hackbarth is well-known for advising on major trade mark and design law disputes in the automotive sector, among others. The client roster includes numerous well-known German corporations and international players, including from other European countries as well as Japan and the US. Florian Schmidt-Sauerhöfer, Carola Onken, Oliver Rauscher, Stefan Abel, Susanne Schackert and Andreas Schulz are experienced in soft IP matters and all based in Munich. The firm also has an office in Düsseldorf.

Leading individuals
Ralf Hackbarth - KLAKA Rechtsanwälte

Next Generation Partners
Carola Onken - KLAKA Rechtsanwälte

Practice head(s):
Ralf Hackbarth

Other key lawyers:
Florian Schmidt-Sauerhöfer; Andreas Schulz; Susanne Schackert; Stefan Abel; Carola Onken; Oliver Rauscher

Testimonials

‘Excellently positioned team that has been stable for years and complement each other perfectly with extensive knowledge of trademark law.’

‘Fast, flexible, competent and solution-oriented advice on trademark law, which is tailored to the specific needs of the client.’

‘Extremely pleasant and for years very successful cooperation that is second to none.’

‘Ralf Hackbarth is technically excellent and offers targeted and well thought-out solutions. Due to his many years of experience and his extensive knowledge of trademark law, he maneuvers the client through even the most complex procedures with an overview and a clever strategy. Working with Mr. Hackbarth is extremely pleasant and uncomplicated and characterized by mutual trust.’

‘The Ralf Hackbarth /Florian Schmidt-Sauerhöfer team is unbeatable in interaction. Mr. Schmidt-Sauerhöfer is well versed in trademark law and provides professional, competent and solution-oriented advice. The cooperation is extremely constructive and pleasant. ‘

‘KLAKA Rechtsanwälte has a team of impressive litigators, proactive and incredibly effective. The knowledge of German and European law is outstanding and their responsiveness and precision in handling each case are greatly appreciated.’

‘Carola Onken and Andreas Schulz are very efficient and goal-oriented.’

‘Many years of experience in trademark and competition law, good and quick assessment of the protectability of an intended trademark, uncomplicated processing of trademark applications worldwide – large global network of corresponding attorneys for trademark applications all over the world, even in more remote countries.’

Intellectual Property: Unfair Competition – Tier 2

https://www.legal500.com/firms/11439-klaka-rechtsanwalte/12235-munich-germany/

The competition law practice of KLAKA Rechtsanwälte, a boutique based in Munich, maintains close links to its renowned trade mark practice, but the activity for the Centre for Protection against Unfair Competition constitutes the firm’s second cornerstone. Practice head Ralf Hackbarth and his team, including Stefan Abel, Wolfgang Straub, Carola Onken, Andreas Schulz, Stefan Eck and Ralf-Michael Burkhardt, are among the best-known litigators in Germany.

Practice head(s):
Ralf Hackbarth

Other key lawyers:
Stefan Eck; Stefan Abel; Carola Onken; Ralf-Michael Burkhardt; Andreas Schulz; Wolfgang Straub

Testimonials

‘Fast, precise assessment of the legal situation and offering possible solutions, putting yourself in the client’s shoes, easily accessible.’

‘Ralf Hackbarth has many years of experience in the legal field, precise elaboration of problems and development of possible solutions, easily accessible. Forensically skilled.’

‘The partners have very good knowledge of competition law. The work is consistently good even when prepared by a representative or associate. Everyone is very committed, you don’t just deal with complaints, you contribute your own ideas. Briefs are carefully prepared and well structured. You always feel well looked after and in good hands.’

‘Stefan Eck: Committed, works very carefully and thoroughly, always up-to-date in terms of competition law, objective and at the same time convincing appearance in court, great procedural knowledge, excellent presentations, very pleasant personal interaction.’

‘It just fits, no matter who is addressed. ‘

‘We would like to point out that Ralf-Michael Burkhardt, Andreas Schulz and Carola Onken are very competent.’

Intellectual Property (Trademarks) & Unfair Competition:

https://www.legal500.com/firms/11439-klaka-rechtsanwalte/12235-munich-germany/

The firm’s strong trademark litigation practice is headed by partners Dr. Andreas Schulz and Dr. Ralf Hackbarth in Munich. The firm is involved in trademark and trade name infringement cases before the competent German courts, as well as counselling and the conducting of international litigation, in particular with strategies for pan- European litigation proceedings. The enforcement of design protection, by design law and unfair competition law, is also an increasingly important task for the firm’s design experts in the international IP litigation practice. The trademark prosecution department is headed by Oliver Rauscher. KLAKA prosecutes and maintains worldwide trademark portfolios for a number of clients and is active in the conducting of infringement suits and offering legal advice in the fields of copyright law, design patents, unfair competition law, press and media law, IT and internet law, and food and drug law. A number of the firm’s lawyers also have experience in the field of antitrust law.

Patent Litigation & Advice, Utility Models:

https://www.legal500.com/firms/11439-klaka-rechtsanwalte/12235-munich-germany/

Patent law at KLAKA is represented by the partners Olaf Giebe, Dr. Wolfgang Götz, Dr. Stefan Eck and Dr. Constantin Kurtz in Munich. Founding partner and renowned patent expert Dr. Michael Nieder is still actively involved in patent litigation matters as of counsel. In defending clients against actions based on SEPs Dr. Wolfgang Straub is joining the team contributing his experience in antitrust law when raising the FRAND defense. The excellence of the KLAKA law firm in this field is based on a profound understand- ing of technologically and economically interrelated themes as well as on comprehensive experience in enforcing claims before the specialised German patent courts. This includes infringement suits before the competent German courts, especially in Düsseldorf, Munich, and Mannheim, and, in co-operation with external patent attorney firms, opposition and nullity (revocation) proceedings before the German and European Patent Offices, the Federal Patent Court and the Federal Supreme Court; the firm also provides legal advice in these fields, as well as co-operating or co-ordinating multinational cases.

Clients: The KLAKA law firm continues to strengthen its leading position in patent and trademark law in Germany. Alongside providing legal advice to German companies, another main area of activity is the representation of international groups, predominantly from Europe, the United States and Japan.
 

Intellectual Property: Patent Litigation: Solicitors Germany – Tier 3

https://www.legal500.com/firms/11439-klaka-rechtsanwalte/12235-munich-germany/

KLAKA Rechtsanwälte offers a renowned litigation team with experience in infringement and nullity proceedings. Practice head Olaf Giebe is particularly well-known, but also Wolfgang Götz, Stefan Eck, Constantin Kurtz and of counsel Michael Nieder is also very active before the German courts and the Federal Patent Court. The expertise in opposition and nullity proceedings before the patent authorities complements the forensic practice. In 2020/2021, numerous new automotive, chemicals, mechanical and plastics technology clients were added to the portfolio. The group also assists with complex proceedings in  the biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and electronics sectors. The advice on licensing agreements, including on research and development contracts, is another key area.

Hall of Fame
Olaf Giebe –KLAKA Rechtsanwälte

Practice head(s):
Olaf Giebe

Other key lawyers:
Constantin Kurtz; Stefan Eck; Wolfgang Götz; Michael Nieder

Testimonials

‘Focus on the essentials; not every legally possible argument, but only those that lead to the goal are discussed; up-to-date on each court’s approach/preferences.’

‘Stefan Eck takes the necessary time to convey the issue of the dispute to the interlocutor in an appropriate manner; has the technical understanding in addition to excellent legal expertise; is flexible in time. Olaf Giebe sums things up; knows the court; works straight towards the goal; remarkably quick familiarization with a new topic. Both are very collegial, especially with other lawyers of the same party.’

‘Very high professional competence, very good technical understanding and willingness to familiarize yourself deeply with the underlying technology. The law firm is always up-to-date with the case law of German and European courts.’

‘Constantin Kurtz is characterized by excellent commitment to the client and a very high degree of responsiveness. He works reliably at the highest professional level. His pleadings convince with the clarity and stringency of the arguments.’

’boutique law firm; individual and fast service; assertive in patent and trademark disputes; responsive in injunction proceedings.’

‘Stefan Eck: Very experienced in patent disputes, good technical understanding, quick and effective processing.’

‘Extremely competent, high degree of induction; extraordinarily good technical and legal understanding.’

Olaf Giebe: Very strong litigator. Stefan Eck: Good technical and procedural understanding. Wolfgang Götz: Very present in the courtroom.’