SKM-IP Schmid Krauß Kuttenkeuler Malescha Schieler Patentanwälte PartGmbB

What SKM-IP Schmid Krauß Kuttenkeuler Malescha Schieler Patentanwälte PartGmbB does

SKM-IP Schmid Krauß Kuttenkeuler Malescha Schieler Patentanwälte PartGmbB is a Munich-headquartered intellectual property law firm founded in January 2023 by five former partners of Boehmert & Boehmert, one of Germany's largest IP firms. The firm operates as a PartGmbB (Partnership Company with Limited Liability) registered at Oberanger 45, Munich, and currently fields 16 staff comprising six equity partners, one salary partner, attorneys, a European patent attorney, a patent engineer, and patent attorney candidates. Its service portfolio covers the full IP lifecycle: patent and utility model prosecution before German, European, and international offices; trademark and design registration and enforcement; employee invention law; trade secret protection; patent valuation; Freedom-to-Operate and validity/infringement opinions; IP due diligence for M&A and IPOs; technology transfer and licensing; plus adjacent advisory in data protection, copyright/media law, and competition law. Technical coverage spans mechanical engineering, automotive, aerospace, electrical engineering, ICT/AI, semiconductors, pharma, biotech, chemistry, medical technology, and clean tech.

The firm serves a deliberately diversified client base including multinational corporations requiring cross-border enforcement, German and European Mittelstand/SMEs, individual inventors and startups, and research institutions such as universities. Several partners hold UPC representative rights and the firm secured Florian Malescha's 2026 appointment to the PMAC arbitrator list, enabling unitary patent dispute work. Revenue is generated through professional legal fees: contentious matters follow the statutory German Legal Fees Act (RVG), while non-contentious advisory work is billed under individually negotiated fee agreements. There is no publicly disclosed pricing; the firm offers a free initial consultation and acquires clients through referrals, thought leadership content (website, LinkedIn, newsletter), participation in and co-organization of industry events (DPMA Forum, LESI YMC, BVMW), and professional network channels. The firm maintains no proprietary technology platform — operations are supported by a Webflow-hosted website and standard legal document management — and earns no software, subscription, or licensing revenue.

Name

SKM-IP Schmid Krauß Kuttenkeuler Malescha Schieler Patentanwälte PartGmbB

Legal name

SKM-IP Schmid Krauß Kuttenkeuler Malescha Schieler Patentanwälte PartGmbB

Website

https://skm-ip.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SKM-IP is a Munich-based intellectual property law firm founded in January 2023 by six former Boehmert & Boehmert partners. It serves multinationals, German Mittelstand/SMEs, inventors, and research institutions with patent, trademark, design, and trade secret prosecution, litigation, and IP strategy across engineering, ICT/AI, life sciences, and chemistry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Intellectual Property Legal Services

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54199)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAHAMAA

Patent Prosecution & Portfolio Management

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Intellectual Property (IP) & Patent Services

SECONDARYBPAHAMAF

IP Licensing, Transactions & Technology Transfer

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Intellectual Property (IP) & Patent Services

SECONDARYBPAHAMAG

IP Due Diligence & Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) Analysis

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Intellectual Property (IP) & Patent Services

SECONDARYBPAHAMAH

IP Valuation, Damages & Royalty Analysis

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Intellectual Property (IP) & Patent Services

SECONDARYBPAHAMAK

IP Compliance, Anti-Counterfeiting & Enforcement

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Intellectual Property (IP) & Patent Services

SECONDARYBPAHAMAJ

IP Filing, Annuities & Renewals Administration

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Intellectual Property (IP) & Patent Services

Keywords

• Patent prosecution services
• Trademark registration services
• Intellectual property litigation
• IP portfolio advisory
• Patent valuation consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Legal Advisory and Representation Services: SKM-IP generates revenue through professional legal fees for patent and trademark prosecution, litigation, IP strategy consulting, and related services. For contentious proceedings, fees are governed by statutory fee schedules (RVG). For non-contentious work, fees are based on individually negotiated fee agreements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SKM-IP is a Munich-based intellectual property law firm offering comprehensive legal services for the protection, enforcement, and commercialization of IP rights. Core services include patent prosecution before the German, European, and international patent offices (including the UPC), trademark and design registration and enforcement, employee invention law, IP litigation and dispute resolution, patent valuation, Freedom-to-Operate analyses, and IP due diligence for M&A and IPOs. The firm serves multinational corporations, German Mittelstand SMEs, individual inventors, startups, and research institutions across diverse technical fields including mechanical engineering, pharma/life sciences, biotech, chemistry, ICT, AI, semiconductors, and clean tech.

Product overview

SKM-IP is a unified intellectual property law firm offering comprehensive legal services across all areas of IP protection and commercial legal protection. The firm's core service portfolio centers on patent law (including utility models), trademark law, and design law, supplemented by specialized advisory services in employee invention law, know-how and trade secret protection, patent valuation, contracts and expert opinions, IP development strategy, IP enforcement and dispute resolution, training, data protection law, copyright/media law, and competition law. Technical practice areas span mechanical engineering/automotive, pharma/life sciences, chemistry/biotech, electrical engineering, crypto-technologies, Industry 4.0, food/agriculture, clean tech, IT/software, communication technology, semiconductors, and AI.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Patent Law / Utility Model Services Comprehensive patent and utility model legal services for clients across mechanical engineering, pharma, life sciences, biotech, chemistry, ICT, AI, and other technical fields, covering German and European patent law, European patents with unitary effect, international procedures (PCT, Asia, USA), cancellation, opposition and nullity proceedings, and expert opinions.
• Trademark Law Services Legal services covering protection and enforcement of German trademarks, Community trademarks, international trademark registration procedures, infringement proceedings, and cancellation proceedings for brand owners.
• Design Law Services Legal services for the protection, registration, and enforcement of design rights including German designs, Community designs, and International designs for product manufacturers and designers.
• Employee Invention Law Legal advisory and representation on rights and obligations of employers and employees, and compensation matters related to employee inventions under the German Employee Inventions Act (ArbnErfG).
• Know-How and Trade Secret Protection Legal services for the protection of know-how and trade secrets under the German Trade Secrets Act (Gesetz zum Schutz von Geschäftsgeheimnissen), including advisory and enforcement.
• Patent Valuation Expert legal and economic opinions on the valuation of patents for clients in connection with licensing, M&A, IPOs, and investment transactions.
• Contracts & Expert Opinions Legal services including validity opinions, infringement opinions, Freedom-to-Operate opinions, IP contracts (development/licensing), infringement analyses, technology transfer, employee invention agreements, licensing, and IP due diligence for M&A, IPOs, and investments.
• IP Development Strategic patent management service providing technical and economic evaluation of patent portfolios, identification and research, transfers and licenses, idea management introduction, and archiving and administration systems for corporate IP departments.
• IP Enforcement IP enforcement services including expert opinions, oppositions, nullity proceedings, IP dispute proceedings before German courts and the Unified Patent Court (UPC), coordination of multi-jurisdictional disputes, and dispute resolution procedures.
• Training Services Training programs for corporate clients covering employee invention law, patent portfolio management, and patent search methodologies.
• Data Protection Law Legal advisory services on data protection law compliance, including GDPR-related matters affecting IP and corporate data handling.
• Copyright and Media Law Legal advisory services on copyright and media law matters for content creators, publishers, and media companies.
• Competition Law Legal advisory on the German Act against Unfair Competition (UWG), covering unfair competition, comparative advertising, and related commercial disputes.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• LESI (Licensing Executives Society International) - European ChapterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024SKM-IP was a sponsor of the 11th Pan-European LESI YMC Conference in Vienna in 2024. Dr. Jan B. Krauß serves on the Licensing Executives Society International (LESI). The conference targets young IP professionals under 40 and future IP leaders in Europe.
• BVMW (Bundesverband für Wirtschaftsförderung und Außenwirtschaft)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2024SKM-IP co-hosted the 'IP-Welt im Wandel' (Changing IP World) event with BVMW in April 2024 at the firm's Munich office. BVMW is a German SME association, and the event provided a platform for SKM-IP to engage with potential SME clients. The firm also serves on BVMW's Innovation Commission.
• AnaquaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2024Anaqua, a leading global IP management technology provider, was a sponsor of the 'IP-Welt im Wandel' BVMW@SKM-IP event held at SKM-IP's offices. Anaqua is a global technology provider for IP management and innovation lifecycle management.
• UNION-IPcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023UNION-IP is a European professional association for IP practitioners. SKM-IP is a founding member and its partners hold significant leadership roles: Nils T.F. Schmid served as President (2013-2015) and is currently Honorary President and Chair of the Statutes Commission; Florian Malescha serves on the Patents Commission. SKM-IP co-organizes UNION-IP Winter Round Table events at the DPMA Forum in Munich, positioning the firm as a thought leader in European patent policy.
• CEIPI (Centre d'Études Internationales de la Propriété Intellectuelle), Université de StrasbourgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Nils T.F. Schmid lectures at CEIPI as part of the preparation for the European Qualification Examination (EQE) for European Patent Attorneys. CEIPI is the premier European training institution for IP professionals, and this affiliation provides SKM-IP with a platform for influencing IP education and policy at the highest level.
• European Patent Office (EPO) / European Patent AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Nils T.F. Schmid regularly delivers seminars for the European Patent Academy preparing technical examiners for the EQE. Florian Malescha is a member of SACEPO (Standing Advisory Committee before the EPO). These engagements give SKM-IP direct influence over EPO practices and early insight into policy developments.
• University of Washington, School of LawminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Dr. Jan B. Krauß serves as Affiliate Instructor of Law at the University of Washington School of Law in Seattle since 2008, and regularly lectures at Paris Lodron University in Salzburg, Austria. He also leads seminars for the FORUM Institute on patent claim drafting and FTO analyses.
• International Partner Law FirmscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023SKM-IP is networked with selected top-tier IP law firms in all important markets globally. This partner network enables the firm to serve multinational clients and coordinate cross-border IP protection and enforcement across multiple jurisdictions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bird & Bird LLP: International full-service law firm with one of Europe's largest IP/tech practices. Competes with SKM-IP for cross-border IP mandates from German and multinational clients but offers much broader corporate, regulatory, and litigation coverage as part of a wider portfolio.
• Hogan Lovells International LLP: Global law firm with a substantial IP practice covering patent prosecution, litigation, and licensing across multiple jurisdictions. An incumbent competitor for large multinational IP portfolios where SKM-IP would need to coordinate via its partner network.
• Taylor Wessing LLP: International law firm with a sizable IP/tech practice in Germany and across Europe. Targets the same Mittelstand and tech-sector clients as SKM-IP, including in Munich, but competes as a generalist full-service firm rather than an IP boutique.

Direct peers

• Bardehle Pagenberg: Munich-headquartered IP boutique with strong UPC, patent prosecution and litigation teams across all major technical fields. Competes head-to-head with SKM-IP for German and European patent mandates and is a fellow Recommended/Firms-to-Watch-tier competitor in legal directories.
• Boehmert & Boehmert: Large Munich-based IP boutique where all five founding partners of SKM-IP previously worked. Operates the same patent/trademark/design practice and represents comparable Mittelstand and multinational clients, making it the closest analogue — and most direct former-employer competitor — for SKM-IP.
• Grünecker Patent- und Rechtsanwälte: Historic German IP full-service firm in Munich with very large patent prosecution and litigation teams across mechanical engineering, chemistry, biotech, and ICT. Targets the same Mittelstand and multinational IP clients as SKM-IP and is one of the dominant UPC opponents.
• Hoffmann Eitle: One of Europe's largest IP-specialist firms, headquartered in Munich, with deep patent prosecution and opposition practices across engineering, physics, chemistry, and life sciences. Directly comparable in location, practice mix, and UPC positioning to SKM-IP.
• Maiwald Patentanwalts- und Rechtsanwalts GmbH: Munich-based IP firm with substantial patent prosecution and litigation capability in pharma/biotech, chemistry, physics and engineering. Closely comparable to SKM-IP in technical breadth, Mittelstand focus, and UPC representation.
• Vossius & Partner Patentanwälte: Boutique Munich patent firm with strong biotech/chemistry and engineering practices and significant EPO opposition and appeal expertise. Operates in the same Munich IP legal cluster as SKM-IP and serves overlapping client profiles.

Others

• Anaqua: Global IP management software provider that sponsored a joint BVMW event at SKM-IP's offices. Adjacent rather than directly competitive — Anaqua sells the technology stack that SKM-IP's clients often use for portfolio management, making it a partner/enabler in the same ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/skm-ip

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SKM-IP Schmid Krauß Kuttenkeuler Malescha Schieler Patentanwälte PartGmbB