The regulation of a simultaneously free and balanced competition among the individual market participants and the granting of fair competition on the merits are the central tasks of competition law. The internet and online trade in particular have changed the market and the competitive pressure considerably. Consequently, a wide range of competition law regulations and comprehensive competition law case law must be taken into account in business dealings. The focus is on fair competition, freedom from misleading or aggressive advertising and protection against abusive cease-and-desist letters.

We advise companies in the field of competition law and intellectual property law. This applies to our clients' own conduct as well as to the conduct of other market participants and especially of competing companies. In addition to competition law, this also includes questions of trademark law and copyright law.

We oppose anti-competitive behaviour by our clients' competitors quickly, with commitment and consistency, both out of court and in legal proceedings. In order to enforce our clients' interests quickly, this is often done in competition law by way of interim legal protection/urgent proceedings by applying for interim injunctions.

In competition law, we advise our clients on the conception of their advertising measures and help them to successfully defend themselves against unjustified accusations of anti-competitive behaviour. In addition, we advise our clients on all questions of patent and know-how licensing and undertake the drafting of corresponding licence agreements.

We also assist our clients in the national and international registration of registrable IP rights, in particular patents and trade marks, before the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA), the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

The complex of topics on which we advise in competition law include:

• Intellectual property law
• Warning letters in competition law
• Declarations to cease and desist
• Protection of trademarks and copyrights
• Merger control