National and international rankings

Prinz & Partner is recommended on a regular basis in the major national and international legal directories. We have listed a few of the especially positive entries about our law firm, our team and some of our attorneys.

What the legal press says

Financial Times - 2024: Europe's Leading Patent Law Firms

The Financial Times has conducted its ranking of the best European patent law firms in 2024, too, in which the law firms could be recommended in six different technical areas. Prinz & Partner achieved the following results, which are based on the medal principle:

Biotechnology, Food & Healthcare: Bronze (recommended)
Chemistry & Pharmacy: Silver (frequently recommended)
Electrical Engineering & Physics: Gold (very frequently recommended)
IT & Software: Bronze (recommended)
Materials & Nano Technology: Silver (frequently recommended)
Mechanical Engineering: Gold (very frequently recommended)

Chambers Europe - 2024: Patent Prosecution

Prinz & Partner has been again ranked in the field of Patent Prosecution in the Chambers Europe Ranking. In addition, Jochen Sties has been awarded with Band 1 and Thomas Kitzhofer with Band 3 for Lawyers in the field of Patent Prosecution.

The Legal 500 Deutschland - 2024: Patent Law

"At Prinz & Partner domestic and European clients benefit from the firm's broad expertise in patent applications (...)."

World Trademark Review (WTR) 1000 - 2024: Recommended Firm

"For nearly 100 years under the same name, IP boutique Prinz & Partner has provided specialist advice on all facets of trademark, design and patent law in Germany and worldwide."

"(...) manages thousands of trademarks around the globe and distinguishes itself by its flexibility and client-centric ethos."

Juve Firm Rankings 2023/24: Patent Filing, Litigation

"The patent attorneys at this Munich IP firm are well positioned for all-round patent prosecution and litigation including EPO oppositions and national nullity suits. Despite its broad technical set-up, Prinz & Partner is best known for its experience in mechanics and electrical engineering."

Chambers Europe - 2023: Patent Prosecution

IAM Strategy 300 / IAM Strategy 300 Global Leaders - 2023

Reference: "We are delighted that Ute Feldmann, Partner at Prinz & Partner mbB, has now been recognised in the IAM Strategy 300 Global Leaders Report for developing and implementing strategies to optimise the value of IP portfolios. She was previously recommended in the IAM Strategy 300 report in September 2023."

The Legal 500 Deutschland - 2023: Patent Law

Reference: "Prinz & Partner's customer-orientated approach and expertise is unique. They can familiarise themselves quickly and competently with new areas of technology and are also very patient with our inventors."

Reference: "Our contact persons think of everything, grasp the situations completely and give valuable advice." 

World Trademark Review (WTR) 1000 - 2023: Recommended Firm

Reference: "Werner Sulzbach is (...) responsive, reliable, persistent and his overall level of client service is excellent."

Reference: "Adrian Kleinheyer is an excellent trademark lawyer who consistently delivers timely results. He has exceptional expertise, is a great communicator and his judgement is top notch."

Juve Patent - 2022/23: Patent Filing and Litigation - Patent Attorneys

Strengths: Litigation regarding engineering patents. Patent prosecution regarding automotive, electronics and mechnical engineering.

Financial Times - 2022: Europe's Leading Patent Law Firms

Prinz & Partner is again listed among the 30 best patent law firms in Europe.

Handelsblatt - 2022: Best IP Lawyers in Germany

World Trademark Review (WTR) 1000 - 2022: Recommended Firm

In the words of one client: "We highly appreciate the dependability, availability and excellent service of Prinz & Partner. Its team is committed to understanding our needs and we assign great importance to the advice it gives." 

Chambers Europe - 2022: Intellectual Property

Strengths: A client praises Prinz & Partner lawyers as "very transparent in their analysis, they point out the weaknesses of the case but do what is necessary to overcome them."
"The international knowledge at Prinz & Partner is quite broad," reports another source, adding that the lawyers are "friendly and very responsive."

Juve Handbuch - 2021/2022: Patentrecht sowie Marken- und Wettbewerbsrecht


Leaders League - 2021: Intellectual Property

Patent prosecution: "Excellent"
Patent litigation: "Recommended"
Trademark prosecution: "Highly recommended"

Chambers Europe - 2021: Intellectual Property

Strengths: One satisfied client states: "They do excellent work and are very reliable and fast. We have a lot of success with them." Another client describes the lawyers as "precise and sharp-minded."

World Trademark Review (WTR) 1000 - 2021: Recommended Firm

"Prinz & Partner’s history on the German trademark scene stretches back to 1928. Today, it stands out for its proficiency in litigation, though it also tends to an enviable collection of portfolios ..."

Financial Times - 2021: Europe's Leading Patent Law Firms

The Financial Times has conducted its ranking of the leading 168 European patent law firms in 2021 for the third time. Prinz & Partner again performs very well and is listed among the 30 best patent law firms.

The Legal 500 Deutschland - 2021: Patentrecht

Reference: "High competence, flexible, fast, close cooperation."

Juve Handbuch - 2020/2021: Patentrecht sowie Marken- und Wettbewerbsrecht

Financial Times - 2020: Europe's Leading Patent Law Firms

The Financial Times has conducted its ranking of the 160 best European patent law firms for the second time in 2020. In the list of "Europe's Leading Patent Law Firms" Prinz & Partner take third place. The ranking is based on recommendations made by over 2,900 clients and peers. The law firms could be recommended in six different technical areas. Prinz & Partner achieved the following results, which are based on the medal principle:

Materials & Nanotechnology: gold (very frequently recommended)
Chemistry & Pharmaceuticals: silver (frequently recommended)
Mechanical Engineering: gold (very frequently recommended)
Biotechnology & Food: silver (frequently recommended)
Electrical Engineering: gold (very frequently recommended)
IT & Software: silver (frequently recommended)

Handelsblatt - 2020: Best IP Lawyers in Germany
 

Chambers Europe - 2020: Intellectual Property

Strengths: "The advice is comprehensive, the implementation is forward-looking and the result is absolutely satisfactory", says one impressed client. Another interviewee highlights the team's "excellently organised and attentive service for us as clients".

The Legal 500 Deutschland - 2020: Patentrecht
 

Juve Handbuch - 2019/2020: Patentrecht sowie Marken- und Wettbewerbsrecht
 

Leaders League - 2020: Intellectual Property

Patent prosecution: "Highly recommended"
Trademark prosecution: "Recommended"

Chambers Global - 2019: Intellectual Property

"Clients are impressed with the lawyers' communication skills, stating: 'They advise us in a thoroughly strategic way and express themselves clearly.'"

The Legal 500 Deutschland - 2019: Patentrecht

"Das Team von Prinz & Partner genießt den Ruf 'sehr kreativ beim Finden von Lösungen und außergewöhnlich ansprechbar' zu sein. Mit den beiden Praxisgruppenleitern Thomas Kitzhofer und Jochen Sties ist man insbesondere im Maschinenbau sehr gut aufgestellt, beät aber breitgefächert auch in zahlreichen anderen Sektoren."

Financial Times - 2019: Europe's Leading Patent Law Firms
 

Juve Handbuch - 2018/2019: Marken- und Wettbewerbsrecht

"Viele ihrer Mandanten berät die gemischte IP-Kanzlei teils seit Jahrzehnten im formellen Markenrecht ... neben diesem traditionellen Schwerpunkt kommen zunehmend auch die Rechtsanwälte regelmäßig in design- und wettbewerbsrechtlichen Prozessen zum Einsatz." 

Chambers Europe - 2018: Intellectual Property

"Sources like the team's efficient approach and ability to grasp an issue ... 'They recognise the client's needs and it's a very uncomplicated co-operation - an attorney will call you quickly and explain something'."

Leaders League - 2018: Intellectual Property

Patent prosecution: "Highly recommended"
Trademark prosecution: "Recommended"

Chambers Global - 2017: Intellectual Property

"Represents clients in cross-border patent opposition and infringement proceedings, while handling patent filings across all technical fields. Regularly involved in China-based cases, working closely with a network of local attorneys. Also acts for numerous renowned US clients."

Chambers Europe - 2017: Intellectual Property

"Mid-sized boutique firm which attracts praise for its experience in the technical side of patent opposition and infringement proceedings. Regularly handles patent filings and applications across all technical fields, including engineering, electronics and physics. Additionally focuses on trade mark and unfair competition matters, with particular expertise in infringement actions and trade fairs. Particularly fond of the attorneys' demeanour, one client states: 'I appreciate their negotiation skills and capacity to show empathy when it comes to settling things amicably.' Another source says: 'The attorneys are always approachable and always try to answer questions with the aim of finding a solution.'"

The Legal 500 Deutschland - 2017: Patentrecht

"Das 'sehr schnelle' Team von Prinz & Partner ist 'sehr breit aufgestellt, geht äußerst flexibel auf Mandantenwünsche ein' und wird zudem für ein 'kostenbewusstes Vorgehen' geschätzt. Mit einem Schwerpunkt im Bereich Mechanik stammen eine beachtliche Anzahl an Mandanten aus dem Automobilbau und der Automobilzuliefererbranche. Am Münchner Hauptstandort wird Jochen Sties für 'gute und unkomplizierte Beratung' geschätzt und Thomas Kitzhofer wird auch empfohlen." 

Juve German Commercial Law Firms - 2017: Patents

"From a strong filing practice, this pure patent attorney firm respected in patents is also developing an active litigation practice. In the advancement of its prosecution practice, P&P is banking on a digital analysis tool for assessing its clients' patent strategies. Strengths: Prosecution and litigation for automotive, engineering and elcectronics patents."

Juve German Commercial Law Firms - 2017: Trademarks and unfair competition

"Alongside patents, trademarks and unfair competition are gaining in importance for this Munich IP boutique."

Chambers Global - 2016: Intellectual Property

"Represents several international companies in patent prosecution, with particular ties to the USA, Japan and China."

Chambers Europe - 2016: Intellectual Property

"The lawyers have a very high standard of client care; you feel like you are the first priority. They offer a broad range of expertise in different fields and work together to reach the best possible result for the client."

The Legal 500 Deutschland - 2016: Patentrecht

"Das 'gut eingespielte' Team von Prinz & Partner ist 'technisch äußerst kompetent, sehr breit aufgestellt' und bietet zudem ein 'sehr gutes Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis'. Ein Schwerpunkt liegt im Bereich Mechanik und das stärkste Wachstum gab es im Automobilsektor. Am Münchner Hauptstandort werden der 'äußerst kompetente, schnelle, zuverlässige und mandantenorientierte' Jochen Sties und der 'wirtschaftlich denkende Stratege' Thomas Kitzhofer empfohlen." 

Juve German Commercial Law Firms - 2016: Patents

"This firm respected in patents developed its prosecution work within existing client relationships. The filing practice is strong in terms of the number of patents filed at the German Patent and Trademark Office and EPO and forms the basis for litigation work. The patent attorneys were very active in nullity suits and infringement proceedings – mostly for auto manufacturers and suppliers."

Chambers Europe - 2015: Intellectual Property

"Highly active and successful patent prosecution practice with a growing profile in Germany, where it drafts and prosecutes patent applications on a national, European and international level. Clients say: 'Technically speaking the firm has very broad expertise. Not only the lawyers but also their assistants respond to our queries very quickly and take the neccessary time to clarify anything that is unclear. You get the sense that client care is really emphasised at Prinz & Partner."

The Legal 500 - 2015: Patentrecht

"Prinz & Partner kennzeichnet sich durch eine 'effiziente Vorgehensweise' bei der Erstellung von Anmeldeunterlagen'. Ein Schwerpunkt liegt im Bereich Mechanik, Wachstum gab es insbesondere im Automobilsektor, aber auch Medizintechnik wurde nun zum eigenständigen Bereich designiert. Das Team kombiniert 'umfassende, aktuelle Kenntnisse mit der Fähigkeit, komplexe Angelegenheiten rasch nachvollziehbar zu machen'."