K&L Gates has added a nine-strong IP team in Munich, significantly boosting its offering in one of Europe’s most important patent markets.
The team joins from boutique Wende IP and is led by partners Christian Wende and Markus Eustermann, who founded the firm earlier this year after leaving patent attorney firm DTS Schnekenbühl. It includes patent attorneys, trainees and specialists, K&L Gates said.
Jason Engel, lead practice area leader for the firm’s global IP practice, said the incoming team brought significant experience in patent prosecution, litigation, portfolio management and strategic counselling across a range of technologies, including proceedings before the Unified Patent Court (UPC).
Martina Ortner, K&L Gates' co-managing partner for Germany, added the team "expands our IP capabilities in one of Europe's leading innovation and patent markets and strengthens our ability to advise clients on patent protection, enforcement and UPC-related matters across jurisdictions".
The firm's IP practice currently has 15 fee earners in Germany, including three focused on patent law and nine who work in IP litigation. Juve reported the team works closely with the US IP practice, which maintains strong ties with major tech companies in the US and the automotive supply industry – both sectors that dovetail with Wende and Eustermann's practices.
Wende focuses his practice on patent, trademark, design and utility model matters and has particular experience advising companies in the medical technology and automotive sectors.
Meanwhile, Eustermann advises clients on patent prosecution, post-grant proceedings and patent litigation, including proceedings before the UPC. His experience spans advanced technologies including medical devices, automotive technologies, software-related inventions and nanotechnology.
K&L Gates’ global IP practice boasts more than 215 lawyers and professionals – including more than 110 registered patent lawyers, agents and technology specialists. The practice filed more than 5,475 patent applications and 4,020 trademarks worldwide in 2025.
The team's hire in Munich comes as K&L Gates builds out its European platform. Over the past few months, the firm has hired aviation finance partner Andrew Harper from Reed Smith, data partner Sarah Pearce from Hunton Andrews Kurth and asset management and investment funds partner Marianna Tothova from Dechert in London, as well as international arbitration partner Maria Kostytska in Paris from Winston & Strawn.
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