Dr. Alexander Reetz, LL.M. IP, Partner
Dr. Alexander Reetz, LL.M. has been practicing intellectual property law since his admission to the bar in 2008. His practice focuses on litigation in infringement and validity proceedings in the field of technical IP rights (patents, utility models) and the coordination of litigation campaigns for the enforcement of larger IP portfolios as well as the defense against them.
Since his admission to the bar, Dr. Reetz has, inter alia, successfully represented leading companies from the telecommunications sector in a large number of patent disputes in court, both on the asset and liability side. He has extensive background knowledge and many years of experience in disputes of this kind, which are usually fought out simultaneously in various jurisdictions and often - in the case of the assertion of so-called standard-essential patents (SEPs) - also have an antitrust dimension (keyword: FRAND license negotiations).
Dr. Reetz also supports a large number of companies from various other technology-related industries. Among the companies currently represented by Dr. Reetz are, for example, owners of large IP portfolios (SEPs and/or non-SEPs) in the fields of data transmission (WiFi, 4G, 5G), cloud computing, digital rights management, memory chips and voice coding, a leading manufacturer of smart grid infrastructure components, a chip manufacturer, well-known manufacturers of kitchen appliances and a family-run company in the field of coffee vending.
What others say
JUVE German Commercial Law Firms Handbook (2022) lists Dr. Reetz as "often recommended" ("super capable lawyer", "strong briefs", "first-rate"; "an excellent addition to the firm"; competitors). He has been recognized as a "Patent star" (2019-2022) and "IP star" by Managing Intellectual Property IP Stars (2021-2022), is listed as a "Leading Professional" by IAM Patent 1000 (2020-2022). WirtschafsWoche lists Dr. Reetz as one of the "most renowned patent litigators" in Germany (2021), and he has been recommended by Handelsblatt/Best Lawyers as an Intellectual Property lawyer for quite some time (2015-2022).
Background
Dr. Alexander Reetz, LL.M., born 1977 in Cologne, studied law in Cologne, Aberdeen (UK) and Stellenbosch (RSA). After his first state examination (2003), he worked as a research assistant (Prof. Dr. Michael Sachs, Prof. Dr. Bernhard Kempen) at the law faculty of the University of Cologne (2003-2005), where he received his doctorate (Dr. iur.) for a thesis on the fundamental rights of university inventors (2006). Subsequently, Dr. Reetz obtained a Magister Legum degree in Intellectual Property Law (LL.M. IP) from the University of Aberdeen (2007).
After legal traineeship (2007-2008) and bar exam (2008) at the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court with stations at the 4a. Civil Division of the District Court of Düsseldorf (Patent Litigation Division), at the German Federal Ministry of Justice (Patent and Invention Law Division) and at an international law firm in New York (in the field of patent litigation), Dr. Reetz was admitted to the bar in 2008.
Thereafter, Dr. Reetz - until joining Wildanger as a partner - worked for more than 10 years as patent litigator (since 2016 as Counsel) in a major international law firm in Düsseldorf.
Memberships and Publications
Dr. Reetz is a member of the German Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (GRUR) and the German National Group of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI).
Publications (selection):
- The power of national courts and the Unified Patent Court to grant injunctions: a comparative study
Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practice, Volume 10, Issue 3, March 2015, Pages 180-190 - The powers of national courts under the EPC and of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) under Article 63(1) EPC to issue injunctions - a comparative legal study
GRUR Int. 2015, 210 - A pan-European guide to obtaining evidence
Managing IP Correspondent March 01, 2009 - The Regulation of Section 42 No. 1 ArbEG on the "Constitutional Test Bench".
Wissenschaftsrecht Vol. 41 (2008) pp. 188-205 - Inventions at Universities (Monograph)
German Association of Universities, Bonn (2006)
Representative matters
- Enforcement of non-standard essential patents (non-SEPs) against providers of a well-known mobile dating platform and against providers of well-known online games.
- Strategic advice and legal representation of owners of mixed IP portfolios (SEPs, non-SEPs) in patent disputes.
- Conducting a patent litigation campaign against competitors of a well-known family-owned company in the field of coffee vending machine installation (public vending).
- Obtaining orders of attachment and seizure of patents in favor of the defendant mobile network operator to secure cost reimbursement claims against plaintiff (but unsuccessful) patent holders.
- Simultaneous obtaining of complementary evidence preservation orders and seizures in Germany, the Netherlands, China and the USA against an internationally operating network of product pirates in the aftermarket for the intentional infringement of the patent and copyright rights of a leading OEM manufacturer of marine engines.
- Conducting a vindication action on behalf of the (co-)owner of the right to an invention due to the unauthorized application for an industrial property right by the non-(sole) authorized cooperation partner.
Languages
German, English