Ones to Watch Germany 2025: Oliver Bäcker

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 Oliver Bäcker as one of the current ‘Ones to Watch Germany’.

The lawyer is 41 years old and a child of the 1990s, as he puts it himself. This was the decade when the internet and modems found their way into German households en masse. They flashed brightly and made loud beeping noises during data transfers. Back then, this took what felt like an eternity, much to the frustration of parents like Bäcker’s, whose telephone lines were tied up for hours.

Those early, heady years of the commercial internet continue to influence Oliver Bäcker until today. The rapid development of mobile communication and networking continues to fascinate him. Rather than studying a technical subject like electronics at university, however, Bäcker chose to study law in Osnabrück, where he had completed his schooling. His path then led him to Düsseldorf and a role as a patent lawyer specialising in standard essential patents at Hogan Lovells.

Home grown talent

Bäcker first encountered IP law in Osnabrück, where Professor Rose McGuire at the Institute for European Legal Studies is well known for her expertise in IP and civil procedure law. From Osnabrück, Bäcker moved to Düsseldorf to complete his legal training and second state examination. He joined his first permanent employer after two training stints at Hogan Lovells during his legal clerkship. A glance at Bäcker’s LinkedIn profile reveals a remarkably linear career trajectory, with “Hogan Lovells” the only entry under professional experience. He has now worked in the firm’s patent team for 13 years and was promoted to counsel in 2020. Partnership is a realsitic next career step for him.

This year marked Bäcker’s breakthrough in the European patent market, with a much higher profile than in previous years. This earned him a nomination for JUVE Patent’s Ones to Watch 2025. “A very good young lawyer,” praises a client from the mobile phone industry, while an opposing lawyer commends Bäcker’s expertise in SEP matters.

SEP specialist

Bäcker started as a permanent lawyer in October 2012. Three years later, the CJEU ruled on Huawei v ZTE. Under the leadership of Düsseldorf partner Martin Fähndrich, Hogan Lovells played a significant role in this landmark FRAND case, representing ZTE. “I have read every judgment on SEPs and FRAND since then,” says Bäcker. Together with mentors such as Hogan Lovells partners Hendrik Lehment and Andreas von Falck, he has worked on numerous major mobile communications disputes. These include the massive battle between Intellectual Ventures and Vodafone plus two other German network operators, as well as Apple against Nokia and Ericsson, and Xiaomi against Panasonic.

In line with his firm’s focus, Bäcker always represents implementers. Currently, new client HMD and its various disputes are keeping him particularly busy. The company’s ongoing battle with Huawei is perhaps the most intense. In July, JUVE Patent reported that Bäcker’s client had secured a victory against Huawei in their dispute over 4G and 5G SEPs. Munich Regional Court dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Chinese mobile phone manufacturer – the third such dismissal in this patent dispute. Huawei has since filed a case with the UPC.

However, Bäcker says one of his favourite case was defending Vodafone against Intellectual Ventures. The company successfully fought off 16 infringement claims brought by the NPE, emerging from the dispute unscathed. Beyond these headline cases, Bäcker also handles pharmaceutical and mechanical work for regular clients such as Merck and Shimano. His second main focus is pre-litigation advice to implementers on SEP portfolio licences – though this work remains confidential. Young lawyers like Bäcker tend to gain more visibility through UPC litigation for clients such as HMD or Xiaomi.