Profile
André’s clients are mainly large and mid-sized Asian, US and European companies in the fields of biotechnology, chemistry, computer hardware and software, consumer goods, electronics, automotive engineering, pharmaceuticals, medical technology and telecommunications.
In patent law, André is chiefly involved in litigating in infringement proceedings. He appears before the national courts and the Unified Patent Court (UPC). Together with patent attorneys, he also represents his clients in the associated opposition and nullity proceedings. Through his work, André is familiar with many technical fields. Thanks to his keen interest and technical understanding, he is able quickly to familiarize himself with complex technical matters. In this respect, it is very helpful that André has a double qualification. As well as his law degree, he also has a degree in physics (with a minor in computer science). The cases for which André has been retained have given him wide-ranging insights into such technical fields as mobile telecommunications (3G through 5G), battery technology, organic chemistry, cryptography, medical engineering, pharmaceuticals, genetic engineering and optics.
A second, important focus of his work is design law. He represents clients in infringement proceedings before national courts and the European courts, as well as before the German Patent and Trademark Office and the EUIPO. André is an expert on unregistered Community designs and, in this context, has obtained a landmark decision before the European Court of Justice.
A further core area of André’s practice is on combating product piracy. He enforces trademark and design rights for high-profile luxury labels, especially at international trade fairs, by means of temporary legal protection and injunctions, and in cooperation with the local courts, bailiffs and customs authorities.
For his bachelor thesis in Physics, André used a scanning tunnelling microscope to investigate the behaviour of nanostructures when deposited on crystalline surfaces.
In his dissertation, André conducted research at the interface between technology and law. The dissertation was published by Mohr Siebeck with the title «Patents on Nanotechnological Inventions» and was awarded the Faculty Prize of the Law Faculty at Leibniz University in Hanover.
As a student, André held a scholarship from the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes (German National Academic Foundation).
André was called to the bar as lawyer (Germany) in 2014 and became a partner in 2022.
Key cases
- AMO/Johnson&Johnson ./. Alcon (laser ophthalmic surgical systems)
- Biogen ./. Forward Pharma (Multiple sclerosis medicines)
- Data Scape ./. Riverbed (data synchronization)
- Ericsson ./. Samsung Electronics (mobile telecommunications and semiconductor technology / chip design)
- Ferrari ./. Mansory (tuning kits)
- Illumina ./. MGI (Next Generation Sequencing)
- Mundipharma ./. various generics manufacturers (pain medication)
- Samsung Electronics ./. various owners of Standard Essential Patent portfolios (FRAND, mobile telecommunications [3G – 5G], voice coding etc.)
- Stapelstein ./. Aldi/Rewe/Penny (multiple activity toys)
Education
2003 – 2009 Leibniz University, Hanover (Law and Physics)
2012 – 2014 Traineeship at the Celle Higher Regional Court and the Federal Constitutional Court
2013 Doctorate degree at Leibniz University, Hanover, Institute for Legal Informatics, Prof. Dr. Axel Metzger
Connections & Networks
GRUR, VPP
Awards & Recognitions
IP Stars: Rising Star 2022, Rising Star 2023
Juve Patent: One to watch in German patent litigation 2023
Faculty Award (Faculty of Law, Leibniz University Hanover)
Alkidamas Award for Rhetoric and Didactics (Faculty of Law, Leibniz University Hanover)
Graduation Award (Commerzbank)
Award by the Presidential Board (Leibniz University Hanover)
Study Scholarship of the German National Academic Foundation (Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes)
