Klinkert IP team opens new Frankfurt office for BluePort

Klinkert’s small but renowned IP practice is opening an office in Frankfurt for the still-young Hamburg sports law firm BluePort Legal.

Since the departure of name partner Friedrich Klinkert, who retired in autumn 2023, partner Nora Keßler has headed the practice, which is known for trademark and competition law as well as patent law. Keßler (48) has extensive experience in IP litigation, especially regarding patents. In addition to large medium-sized companies, for example from the medical technology or automotive industries, clients also include well-known corporations such as the pharmaceutical company Sanofi.

The practice pursues a comprehensive advisory approach. For example, the cosmetics company Cosnova and the pharmaceutical manufacturer Advanz Pharma rely on the team for advice on trademark and patent law issues. Christoph Palzer — previously counsel, then salary partner — and associate Catinca Vidan are joining BluePort Legal with partner Keßler.

The Hamburg firm specialises in advising the sports industry, which includes media and press law as well as commercial agreements, employment and competition law. The new IP team complements BluePort above all at the interface with licensing, but also antitrust issues. In patent law, there is also great potential regarding protective rights for sports equipment. The UPC shows just how litigious the industry is and how complex the issues are, with cases such as AIM Sports vs Supponor, Ortovox vs Mammuth, MyStromer vs Revolt and Cardo vs Asmax.

Klinkert dissolves

Klinkert’s other remaining practice groups are also disbanding. “The decision for this long-planned new start was made in the best mutual agreement and is based on a great professional and personal esteem for one another, which will continue in the future,” the parties involved told JUVE Patent.

The media law practice is best known for representing the top soccer associations DFL and DFB and the basketball association FIBA, but it also has numerous clients from the music and entertainment industry. The team led by Piet Bubenzer will become independent under the brand Gruengold Legal, with a focus on copyright and media law.

The firm’s dispute resolution partners, on the other hand, are going their own way: Annett Rombach, who previously spent many years at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, is setting up her own arbitration boutique under the name Rombach Lawyers. Her starting team includes an associate and a counsel. She will continue to focus on sports and commercial arbitration.

The various constellations will continue to jointly advise clients such as Faber Castell, documenta and BMI Group, as well as DFL and Fraport Skyliners in various constellations. (Co-author: Sonja Behrens)