About us

We have many years of practical experience as well as a proven academic background, for example through numerous specialist publications. We assist our clients in

• IP-litigation, with a particular focus on patent litigation
• Contractual matters (e.g. License-Agreements and IP-Due Diligence)
• Strategic advice for startups and IP driven companies

While litigation is usually a means of last resort, we want you to be prepared and successful when it comes to it – together with PENFORCE.

Patent litigation with passion – as a team

Dr. Peter Koch

(LL.M. Trinity College Dublin)
Partner

Peter is a patent litigator by heart. He assists German and international clients when aggressively enforcing their IP rights or vigorously defending alleged claims of infringement. His main focus is the representation in patent infringement, patent invalidity as well as patent entitlement proceedings. Peter is also handling cases relating to utility models, trade secrets and patent-related anti-trust law and he has substantial experience in license negotiations and IP monetization. His further areas of interest include advising start-up and VC-investments in IP-focused business.

Peter represents clients in the fields of medical devices, information technology, high-tech and consumer electronics, mechanics and consumer goods. His experience and understanding of differences to other jurisdictions enables him not only to provide excellent service in his own jurisdiction but also to find the best strategy for clients’ needs in consideration of those differences.

Prior to setting up PENFORCE, Peter gained his experience in the patent litigation teams of different international law firms and local IP boutiques. He studied law at the Universities of Heidelberg, Trinity College Dublin (LL.M.) and FU Berlin (doctorate) and was admitted to the bar in 2007.

He is a certified IP lawyer (Fachanwalt für gewerblichen Rechtsschutz) and a member of the German Association for the Protection of Industrial Property Rights (GRUR) and the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), where he is actively engaged in various committees. He is a regular speaker on patent related topics and has regularly published to develop the law.

Konstantinos Tsakiliotis

LL.M. (CEIPI), M.A. (TUM)

Konstantinos advises and represents clients in contentious IP matters (including patents, trade secrets, unfair competition, software) before the UPC and German courts, with a focus on preliminary injunction proceedings across sectors including medtech, space tech, VR/AR, semiconductors and engineering. He has successfully acted in landmark UPC cases helping shape the Court’s approach to urgency, including Occlutech/LEPU and Cilag/Rivolution.

Shaped by this combination of private practice and industry experience, he brings strong business acumen to his work. Before his current role, Konstantinos gained experience in patent litigation and complex IP matters at a renowned German IP firm, worked in-house on pharmaceutical, data and AI-related matters at a Swiss multinational healthcare company, and supported patent and IP management work within the IP department of a major German aircraft engine manufacturer. He completed his legal training at the Higher Regional Court of Munich, while earlier experience at an international law firm and a technology-policy research institute added exposure to technology regulation and complex regulatory questions.

Throughout his academic studies, Konstantinos has approached innovation from different disciplinary angles. He studied law at Humboldt University of Berlin, innovation and technology governance through an M.A. in Science & Technology Studies at Technical University of Munich, and the strategic management of intellectual property through an LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law & Management at CEIPI at University of Strasbourg. He currently pursues doctoral studies in data and AI law at Technical University of Dresden with a focus on the regulatory conditions under which emerging data-driven technologies are developed.

This background allows him to approach IP not only as a legal right, but as a strategic business asset and to develop IP strategies aimed at sustainable business value. He works together with start ups to develop IP strategies enabling them to create, deliver and capture value focused on the customer benefit.

He regularly publishes on IP, technology and regulatory topics in academic and professional journals and actively exchanges with peers through AIPPI, LESI and GRUR.

He was recognized by Managing IP as a “Rising Star” in Germany within roughly a year of qualification.

Prof. Dr. Susanne Wende

Law Professor at University of Applied Sciences Munich
External Academic Advisor

Susanne is Professor for economic and business law at the University of Applied Sciences Munich (HM). Her teaching and research cover the interface of legal requirements, business strategy and enforcement with a focus on regulatory frameworks for innovative products and concepts. Having started her academic career in international economic law, she addresses those questions from the perspective of private economic operators’ challenges in the more and more complex multilevel legal system.

She was in practice as a lawyer specialized on European product law and product liability law for about 10 years. During this time she represented clients in litigation but also gave preventive advice on how to implement legal obligations in company structures and processes. She is co-editor of the law journal “ZfPC-Zeitschrift für Product Compliance”.

Credentials