Ones to watch Germany 2025: Lara Gwinner

JUVE Patent recently carried out extensive research in the German patent market, culminating in the publication of the German patent rankings. Our latest research highlighted Lara Gwinner as one of the current ‘Ones to Watch Germany’.

Lara Gwinner loved analysing data on the computer and focusing on writing her doctoral thesis. It was at the Lindau Nobel Prize Meeting that the doctoral candidate first heard about patents and their role between science and application. These conversations about patents stayed with her for a long time, prompting her to look into the role of patent attorneys upon returning to Munich.

Her entry into the training programme at Boehmert & Boehmert also ran along this interface: she had and still has a lot to do with patent applications from universities. Although this field is very labour-intensive, it also requires patent attorneys who are deeply curious about technical developments and who are always enthusiastic about the transfer of science into concrete applications.

Previously, she studied molecular biotechnology at the Technical University of Munich and the National University of Singapore, specialising in molecular medicine, medicinal chemistry and protein biochemistry and engineering. During this time, she gained practical experience at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the University of Miami in the USA.

Gwinner clearly specialises in life sciences, but is also keen to learn new things through assignments in related fields. For example, discussing brewer’s yeast during an evening chat comes easily to her after learning so much in her job.

Violin and life science

At the same time, the Karlsruhe native also works on mandates for large companies such as Novo Nordisk. The 37-year-old is part of Markus Engelhardt’s life science team. Within this team, Gwinner has already contributed her enthusiasm and experience to EPO oppositions, for example for the Kyoto Prefectural Public University Corporation. Another good example of her involvement in EPO oppositions is her representation of the Indian generics manufacturer Lupin.

Alongside Klaus Seranski, who has since passed away, Gwinner also worked intensively on prosecution for Lohmann & Rauscher. A highlight of this work was, beyond a doubt, a BGH hearing on wound dressings (BGH X ZR 113/20).

With her experience in litigation, the senior associate is looking forward to her first UPC cases in life sciences for the firm’s clients. In addition to this goal, Gwinner is also one of the patent attorneys who keenly follows both technical scientific developments and the application of AI.

To find balance amidst these challenges, Gwinner focuses on one milestone at a time and devotes her free time to challenging music. She plays the violin in the Munich Symphonic Ensemble. If you think you might have seen her playing the violin in a ZDF Christmas show years ago, you’d be correct.

So what role did a piece of chocolate play in this career path? At the end of her interview, the interviewing partner realised that Gwinner had not tasted the chocolate on offer and gave her some. On her way home, the piece with Boehmert & Boehmert’s logo gave the prospective patent attorney a final push by reinforcing the feeling that she had decided in favour of a law firm that values human interaction.