Hoffmann Eitle hires Norton Rose Fulbright partner for Munich high-tech practice

Ronak Kalhor-Witzel began her career in 2012 at Bardehle Pagenberg, where the physicist specialised in electrical engineering matters concerning mobile devices, computers and medical technology. At the mixed firm, she was active in both patent prosecution and litigation.

In 2018, Kalhor-Witzel moved in-house to Infineon, where she served as director corporate patents, managing portfolios for MEMS semiconductors and quantum technology in the automotive department. In January 2023, she then joined Norton Rose Fulbright in Munich as counsel, tasked with building up the firm’s European patent granting practice.

Ronak Kalhor-Witzel

At Hoffmann Eitle, Kalhor-Witzel will advise on a broad range of technologies including semiconductors, quantum technologies, medical technologies, autonomous systems, and digital technologies in the life sciences. Her practice covers prosecution and opposition proceedings before the EPO, litigation before national courts and the UPC, as well as strategic patent portfolio advice.

Expansion course

Axel Esser, partner in Hoffmann Eitle’s digital technologies group, says, “Ronak brings a unique combination of expertise and experience that will further strengthen our European and transatlantic focus on technology-driven IP matters.”

The move comes after Hoffmann Eitle expanded its Munich team with Simmons & Simmons’ Thomas Gniadek in December. As co-chair of Hoffmann Eitle’s patent litigation group, Gniadek’s task is to reorient the practice towards additional technical areas. To date, this has focused mainly on life sciences disputes.

The further arrival of Jonas Smeets from Bird & Bird in Düsseldorf in March brought the litigation team to eleven lawyers. The team traditionally maintains a strong focus on life sciences and on Asian companies. The patent attorneys, however, have a broader position with a strong foothold in disputes relating to life sciences, electronics, and mobile communications.

Hoffmann Eitle’s recent growth was not limited to its lawyer team. Gniadek’s arrival was preceded by the recruitment of a large team of patent attorneys from König Szynka Tillmann von Renesse. The team led by Gregor König has particular expertise in pharmaceutical litigation.

Hoffmann Eitle is active in UPC proceedings across a broad spectrum of technologies, for example representation of Sanofi against Amgen, and for Moderna against Arbutus regarding mRNA patents in the past. The mixed firm currently represents Ericsson, Rakuten, and Dai Nippon Printing amongst others in UPC cases.

Setback for Norton Rose in Munich

Kalhor-Witzel’s departure marks a setback for Norton Rose Fulbright’s efforts to establish a patent prosecution practice in Germany. When she joined the firm nearly three years ago, Kalhor-Witzel was the first patent attorney in the German patent team, which otherwise comprised lawyers around partner Clemens Rübel. The remaining patent team is based in Munich. (Co-author: Mathieu Klos)