The Patent 1000 focuses exclusively on patent practice and has firmly established itself as the definitive 'go-to' resource for those seeking world-class legal patent expertise.
Bronze - Individuals: prosecution and nullity
Stuttgart-based IP patent boutique DREISS is commended by patrons for “its highly professional approach. The attorneys collaborate very well together as a team and are pleasant to work with. Their advice is always on point and well prepared. Undoubtedly, they are a top choice among German patent attorney firms.” The outfit is headed by David Sinz, a highly regarded prosecutor who is well versed in opposition and invalidity proceedings in a wide range of technologies. He and Andreas Pfund co-lead the contentious practice and are often involved in high-profile invalidity proceedings. They team up for a major global player in the heated tobacco space in EPO oppositions. Pfund has a knack for multinational coordination, and draws on a large network of local patent practitioners around the globe. Electrical engineer Michael Kröhnert turns out top-notch patent applications with ease. He has a penetrating knowledge of a wide array of complex technological areas, including artificial intelligence, telecoms and automotive systems, not to mention general electronic components. Thomas Knapp has a doctorate in aerospace engineering – his technical expertise in mechanical and general engineering matters knows no bounds. He can pick up the most salient details with ease and drafts high-quality patent applications. New to the IAM Patent 1000 this year is Alexander Bulling, a skilled portfolio manager whose strategic and commercially savvy counsel is in high demand from a wide range of clients. His expertise in the legal side of patents is evident in his appointment to an honorary professorship at the University of Stuttgart. He and Knapp worked side by side to win the entire patent portfolio of BPW Bergische Achsen Kommanditgesellschaft.
Alexander Bulling is a partner at DREISS Patentanwälte and a European and German patent and trademark attorney. He holds a university diploma in mechanical engineering and a juris doctor degree from Humboldt University Berlin. He is also honorary professor for IP-Law of the University of Stuttgart, lecturing patent, design and trademark law.
His areas of practice include patent prosecution, opposition and appeal proceedings before the European Patent Office, the German Patent and Trademark Office and the German Federal Patent Court. Alexander has put particular focus on his work in patent litigation and patent nullity proceedings, where he collaborates with Germany’s top-tier attorneys at law in a variety of cases.
His clients are active in a variety of technical fields, including biomedical engineering and medical devices, automotive technology, industrial handling and robot technology, general mechanical and apparatus engineering and manufacturing technology. The clients he advises range from small and medium-sized technology leaders to multinational corporations.
He was and is active in various institutions on an honorary basis, for example, as a member of the examination committee of the studies 'Law for patent attorneys' at the University of Hagen, a member of the Special Committee 'Design Law' of the Society for the Protection of Intellectual Property and Copyright (GRUR) (Chairman 2016–2023), a member of the Special Committee 'Patent and Utility Model Law' of GRUR, a member of the 'Science Committee' of GRUR, member of the Committee for Design Law of the Chamber of German Patent Attorneys (Patentanwaltskammer), a board member of the Chamber of German Patent Attorneys (2008-2019) and a board member of the Kurt-Haertel-Institut for IP Law at the University of Hagen (2010-2021).
Alexander is of the opinion that one can only advise the client in a competent and appropriate manner if one can put oneself in the client's situation and understand the client's field of technology. He works tirelessly on this to achieve the optimum for the client.
DREISS Patentanwälte PartG mbB is one of the largest IP law firms in the highly innovative and dynamic industrial region of Stuttgart, southwest Germany. The DREISS team, which comprises about 20 IP attorneys, has been growing rapidly in the past few years, illustrating the success of the firm. Clients value the tailored advice they receive.
Expertise
DREISS provides the full spectrum of IP services in Germany and Europe. Its clients range from large multinationals (mainly from Germany, the United States, Korea and China) to small and medium-sized enterprises. DREISS also advises a number of highly specialised enterprises that are world leaders in their respective technical niche. All IP professionals at DREISS are experts in their specific fields from both an IP and a technology perspective. High staff retention enables the firm to develop and grow with its clients. DREISS attorneys are supported by a highly trained and specialised team of about 50 multilingual and responsive paralegals. This strong back office helps the DREISS team not only in prosecution work, but also in the national and international litigation cases that the DREISS attorneys are frequently engaged in. Instead of basing its capacities on expensive overheads, DREISS employs a strategy of competence within the firm, in combination with excellent international connections to top-tier firms around the globe. This is Swabian IP management: quality and efficiency at a good cost-to-value ratio without unnecessary frills.
Philosophy
DREISS is structured to foster close cooperation and the sharing of expertise and experience between its attorneys. This enables the firm to easily tackle large-scale projects across disciplines. At daily roundtable meetings DREISS professionals address their clients’ most challenging questions and needs. Every client is assigned at least one dedicated attorney who is familiar with the client’s individual needs and is an expert in the relevant field of technology. DREISS clients value this comprehensive approach. Specific projects (eg, large litigation and nullity proceedings) are managed by teams of professionals best suited to the task through both technical background and legal experience. The experienced litigation teams cooperate closely with Germany’s top attorneys at law to successfully enforce the interests of DREISS’ clients in nullity and infringement actions. While the firm’s attorneys do not shy away from conflict, they have an impressive track record of brokering beneficial settlement and licence agreements for clients. DREISS also prides itself in its commitment to rapidly answer any queries clients may have, taking to heart the saying ‘the worst advice is advice given too late’.
Practices and services
DREISS specialises in:
- patent prosecution
- patent invalidation
- patent litigation
- trademark prosecution
- trademark invalidation
- trademark litigation
- design right prosecution
- design right invalidation
- design right litigation
- domain rights
- counterfeiting and piracy
- IP portfolio management and optimisation
- searches and monitoring
- licensing
- validity and infringement opinions
- freedom-to-operate opinions
- employee inventors’ law (from a company perspective)
DREISS covers the following key technical areas:
- mechanical engineering
- control technology
- electrical engineering
- computer and software sciences
- information and telecoms
- material sciences
- process engineering
- medical devices and technology
- optical technologies
- nanotechnology
DREISS works with clients in the following industries, among others:
- automotive
- machine tools
- laser
- fluid technology
- communication
- automation
- artificial intelligence
- semi-conductors
- nanotechnology
- handling
- optical technologies
- construction
- medical
- material
- sanitary engineering
- aerospace
- consumer products
- commerce
- fashion
- food