A&O Shearman poaches DLA partner

Constanze Krenz (41) was the most prominent figure in DLA Piper’s European patent practice. Following a number of departures, she had steered the practice into the new UPC era and established a strong presence at the new court. She had attracted considerable attention in the market for representing Dyson in its case against Dreame concerning hair stylers. In this case, the UPC Court of Appeal had referred the long-arm jurisdiction issue to the CJEU in March 2026.

Constanze Krenz

At DLA Piper, Krenz most recently served as practice head of the German patent group and office managing partner in Munich. She regularly acted for clients such as Harman, HP, Nike, and Toyota. She was also involved in UPC proceedings for Belkin against Philips concerning wireless chargers, as well as in nullity proceedings for Harman against Broadcom over audio patents for cars.

Next to patent litigation, Krenz’ work also includes antitrust aspects in connection with standard essential patents and FRAND issues. Her client base is focused on companies from the information technology, telecommunications, media and consumer electronics sectors, as well as from technology-driven industries such as automotive, aviation and manufacturing.

Old acquaintances

At A&O Shearman, Krenz will work closely with the teams around Jan Ebersohl, Denise Benz, and Stephan Neuhaus. Managing partner for Germany Wolf Bussian says the addition reflects the firm’s aim to position itself for complex, international patent disputes.

Ebersohl, who heads A&O Shearman’s German patent practice, cites Krenz’s experience in infringement and nullity proceedings as well as SEP, FRAND and UPC disputes as reasons for the hire. The German team currently comprises eleven lawyers and two patent attorneys and is primarily known for mobile communications litigation and life sciences cases.

In technology disputes, the team around Ebersohl and Benz is currently defending Samsung against ZTE in one of the largest ongoing global SEP and FRAND disputes before the German courts and the UPC. To date, the team has not been seen alongside NPEs. The same applies to Krenz’s work.

In life sciences, the team led by Stephan Neuhaus continues to coordinate the pan-European defence of Bayer’s blockbuster drug Xarelto across 27 countries. The group recently took its first steps into UPC work with an SPC suit for Merz Pharmaceuticals, led by the Paris office alongside Carpmaels & Ransford. In the UK, the firm also has a well-established team specialising in pharmaceutical litigation.

It is apparently still unclear which clients Krenz will follow her from her former firm. As things stand, her existing team will remain at DLA Piper.

Changes at DLA Piper

Krenz’s departure continues a phase of upheaval in the German patent practice at DLA Piper. Following the retirement of long-standing senior partner Markus Gampp in spring 2024, Philipp Cepl left for Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer earlier this year. With Krenz’s move, the firm loses another key figure in patent litigation.

The DLA Piper practice has recently been active at the UPC, including defending Microsoft against Eyesmatch and Toyota against Neo Wireless. The team has worked closely with DLA offices in Milan and Amsterdam on cross-border cases, for example in representing Alpinestars in a UPC dispute over motorcycle apparel.

In Germany, DLA Piper’s patent work is now, for the time being, centred on head of life sciences Kokularajah Paheenthararajah, who is based in Cologne. In addition to providing general advice on pharmaceutical law, he is also involved in life sciences-related patent disputes. In Frankfurt, partner Burkhard Führmeyer has a broader IP practice, focusing on the technology and life sciences sectors.

DLA Piper, with a strong US patent practice and a solid presence, had already emphasised before Krenz’s departure its intention to further strengthen its European practice. It will now need to expand at partner level in order to continue competing at a high level in the UPC business.

For its part, A&O Shearman is currently investing not only in the expansion of its European patent team but also in the development of a US practice. Just recently, one of the most prominent US patent judges joined A&O Shearman as a partner. Alan D Albright’s move to the firm’s patent litigation practice in Austin is intended to drive the expansion of the US team.