What Zimmermann & Partner Patentanwälte mbB does

Zimmermann & Partner Patentanwälte mbB is a German partnership (Partnerschaftsgesellschaft mbB) registered in Munich that provides specialist intellectual property legal services, focused on patents, trademarks, and designs. Founded in 1999 and operating across four German offices (Munich headquarters, Berlin, Bamberg, and Valley/Holzkirchen), the firm handles prosecution, opposition, nullity, infringement, and revocation proceedings before the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA), the European Patent Office (EPO), the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the German Federal Patent Court, the Unified Patent Court (UPC), and German national courts. Its practice is organized across six technical disciplines — chemistry, IT (including artificial intelligence), engineering, medicine, physics, and biology — staffed primarily by German and European Patent Attorneys with doctoral-level technical backgrounds, plus counsel in trademark and design law.

The firm's revenue model is fee-based professional services: engagement-based and hourly billing for prosecution work (drafting, filing, annuities, portfolio management) and for contentious proceedings before the EPO, UPC, and German courts. Customer segments span SMEs, large multinational corporations, technology and life sciences companies (semiconductor, biotech, pharma, automotive, MedTech), and international/foreign companies needing German and European representation, with cross-border work coordinated through international IP networks and FICPI/epi memberships. The firm has been consecutively recognized in IAM Patent 1000, Chambers Europe, Legal 500 Germany (Leading Firm), and JUVE Patent, and markets primarily through these directory rankings, its professional website (zimpat.com), and LinkedIn rather than paid channels.

As of late 2024 and 2025, the firm is undergoing a deliberate generational transition: co-founder Gerd Zimmermann moved to Of Counsel effective December 1, 2025, and Dr. Thomas Leidescher moved to Of Counsel effective January 1, 2024, while mid-career partners — notably Dr. Urs Liedl (Partner since 2023) — have absorbed responsibility for prosecution and high-stakes litigation. Dr. Marc Kraushaar serves as Managing Partner. Revenue, headcount changes, and ownership details are not publicly disclosed; the firm has no subsidiaries, no external investment, and operates as an independent partner-led partnership.

Name

Zimmermann & Partner Patentanwälte mbB

Legal name

Zimmermann & Partner Patentanwälte mbB

Website

https://zimpat.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zimmermann & Partner Patentanwälte mbB is a Munich-based German partnership providing patent, trademark, and design prosecution and litigation before the DPMA, EPO, EUIPO, WIPO, and the Unified Patent Court, serving SMEs, multinationals, and tech/life sciences clients across four German offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Services – Patent & Trademark Prosecution: Fee-based professional services for drafting, filing, and prosecuting patent and trademark applications before the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA), European Patent Office (EPO), European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), and international authorities. Revenue is generated through hourly billing or fixed fees for prosecution matters.
2. Litigation & Dispute Resolution: Representation in opposition, nullity, infringement, and revocation proceedings before the EPO, DPMA, Federal Patent Court (Bundespatentgericht), Unified Patent Court (UPC), and German national courts. Revenue is generated through engagement-based billing for contested proceedings.
3. Trademark & Design Portfolio Management: Management and prosecution of international trademark and design portfolios for clients, including filing, monitoring, and enforcement before EUIPO, DPMA, and WIPO.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Zimmermann & Partner is a specialized patent law firm providing comprehensive intellectual property services, including patent drafting and prosecution, trademark and design registration, opposition and nullity proceedings, patent infringement litigation, and international IP portfolio management. The firm's 50+ professionals hold technical qualifications across chemistry, IT, engineering, medicine, physics, and biology, and represent clients before the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA), European Patent Office (EPO), EUIPO, WIPO, the Unified Patent Court (UPC), and German national courts.

Product overview

Zimmermann & Partner Patentanwälte mbB is a specialized patent law firm offering comprehensive intellectual property services. The firm provides a unified service portfolio centered on patent and trademark prosecution, litigation, and portfolio management across multiple technical disciplines. Services are organized into practice areas covering Chemistry, IT (including Artificial Intelligence), Engineering, Medicine, Physics, and Biology, supported by trademark and design rights practices. The firm operates at multiple German locations (Munich, Berlin, Bamberg, Valley/Holzkirchen) and serves international clients through European Patent Office, EUIPO, and other global IP offices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Patent Prosecution and Litigation Services Comprehensive patent prosecution and litigation services covering drafting, filing, and enforcement of patent applications across German, European, and international jurisdictions, including representation before the DPMA, EPO, UPC, and German national courts.
• Trademark Registration and Portfolio Management Trademark registration, prosecution, and litigation services including portfolio management and representation before EUIPO, German Patent and Trademark Office, and international authorities.
• Design Rights Protection Industrial design protection services covering registration and enforcement of design rights in Germany, Europe, and internationally.
• International IP Portfolio Management and Foreign Counsel Coordination Management and prosecution of international patent, trademark, and design portfolios for clients, including filing, monitoring, enforcement, and coordination of foreign counsel before EUIPO, DPMA, WIPO, and other global IP offices.
• Patent Litigation and Dispute Resolution (Opposition, Nullity, Infringement) Representation in opposition, nullity, infringement, and revocation proceedings before the EPO, DPMA, Federal Patent Court (Bundespatentgericht), Unified Patent Court (UPC), and German national courts.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Patentanwaltskammer (German Patent Attorney Chamber)coreOthersThe firm's patent attorneys are members of the Patentanwaltskammer, which exercises professional oversight and sets professional standards. All attorneys are subject to the Patentanwaltsordnung and Berufsordnung der Patentanwälte.
• Fédération Internationale des Conseils en Propriété Industrielle (FICPI)coreOthersThe firm's attorneys are members of FICPI and subject to its professional Code of Professional Conduct, indicating international standards compliance and networking.
• Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office (epi)coreOthersEuropean Patent Attorneys are registered with the EPO and members of the epi, which sets professional conduct rules and discipline for European patent representatives.
• Allianz Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft (Professional Liability Insurance)minorOthersThe firm maintains professional liability insurance with Allianz Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft, represented by Moritz Gaus, Lindwurmstraße 49, 80337 München.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Grünecker Patent- und Rechtsanwälte: Munich-based patent and law firm offering patent prosecution, trademark, design, and litigation across all major technical fields. Overlaps directly with Zimmermann & Partner in Munich IP market, technical breadth, and UPC litigation capability.
• Cohausz & Florack: Düsseldorf-based patent attorney firm offering prosecution and litigation in physics, electrical engineering, IT, and mechanics. Direct competitor in German IP market with similar technical depth and recurring directory recognition.
• Eisenführ Speiser Patentanwälte Rechtsanwälte PartGmbB: Bremen/Hamburg/Munich IP firm offering patent prosecution and litigation, including UPC work, across technical and life sciences disciplines. Comparable peer for enterprise and SME clients seeking multi-jurisdictional German IP counsel.
• Vossius & Partner Patentanwälte mbB: Munich IP boutique covering biotechnology, chemistry, pharma, and physics patents with EPO opposition and UPC litigation expertise. Similar size band and academic pedigree, frequently listed alongside Zimmermann & Partner in legal directories.
• Hoffmann Eitle: Largest German/European patent attorney firm based in Munich with comparable multi-disciplinary PhD bench and full-scope patent prosecution, opposition, and litigation before EPO, UPC, and German courts. Closest direct competitor on scale, technical depth, and directory rankings.
• Bardehle Pagenberg: Leading IP boutique with offices in Munich, Düsseldorf, Paris, Barcelona, and Milan. Comparable in offering patent prosecution, opposition, nullity, and UPC litigation, with broader European geographic footprint that makes it a frequent head-to-head rival for cross-border mandates.
• KNH Patentanwälte (Kahlhöfer Ney Hecht): Munich-based patent boutique focused on physics, electrical engineering, and IT. Similar mid-sized scale, technical specialization, and UPC representation, making it a frequent alternative for German mid-market clients.
• Maiwald Patentanwalts- und Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH: Munich-based IP firm with deep technical expertise across chemistry, pharma, biotech, physics, and engineering. Comparable in multi-disciplinary PhD talent, EPO/UPC representation, and consistently top IAM Patent 1000 / Legal 500 rankings.

Broad incumbents

• Fish & Richardson: Major international IP law firm with deep patent prosecution and litigation capabilities across US and European jurisdictions. Represents the larger, broader-portfolio competitor that Zimmermann & Partner co-counsels with on cross-border portfolios.

Regional players

• df-mp Dörries Frank-Molnia Pohlman Patentanwälte: Düsseldorf/Munich patent firm with comparable practice areas including chemistry, pharma, and physics. Comparable in size and technical focus, but anchored more in Western Germany rather than Munich/Bavaria.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zimpat

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Zimmermann & Partner Patentanwälte mbB