Overview
Dr. Boris Uphoff focuses his practice on intellectual property, commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution. He has litigation experience in all major German courts and assists clients in cross-border disputes.
Boris represents German and international clients in patent infringement litigation and in contentious matters relating to trademarks and unfair competition law. His practice also encompasses product liability and insurance law. Boris acts for international insurers, industrial clients and retailers, representing them in disputes relating to product defects and consumer claims. He advises clients, particularly from the automotive and electronics sectors, on product recalls and recourse actions against suppliers of defective parts.
In addition, Boris has successfully defended clients against cartel damages claims brought by competitors and commercial customers.
Boris frequently represents clients in international arbitrations. He also acts as arbitrator in large commercial disputes.
Boris regularly writes articles for legal and commercial publications such as Betriebs-Berater and Handelsblatt.
Boris trained at the Frankfurt Court of Appeal, Germany.
Results
- Represented an automotive supplier with headquarters in the United States in a large series of patent litigations in Germany, France and Belgium
- Represented a Scandinavian beverages company in the enforcement of one of its well-known trademarks
- Defended several Japanese car and motorcycle manufacturers against product liability claims
- Defended a Spanish chemical company in one of the largest cartel damages cases in Germany
- Defended a Belgian automotive group in cartel damages litigation
- Defended a Japanese/French chemicals company against damage claims arising from an authorized dealer before the Düsseldorf Court of Appeal
- Defended a German state in damages litigation relating to state aid
- Represented Lloyd’s underwriters in a large number of cash-in-transit litigation cases in the Hannover District Court and the Celle Court of Appeal, Germany
- Advised a large Japanese industrial insurer on German insurance law
- Represented an Irish financial services provider in the assertion of credit card transaction claims in the Frankfurt Court of Appeal
- Advised a well-known museum in Munich on trademark issues (pro bono)
Recognitions
- IAM Patent 1000, 2020: “He is a very professional and dependable IP litigator who anticipates the opposing side’s next moves. If something unexpected happens, he deals with it. He is familiar with the courts and judges and knows what to expect.”, client.
- The Legal 500, 2020: “Boris Uphoff is a very experienced and highly motivated colleague. His target-oriented and assertive manner together with the excellent reports to the client make him highly recommendable.”, interviewee.
- Handelsblatt/Best Lawyers™ 2021 Germany: Leading Lawyer for Intellectual Property Law
- Acritas Stars 2020, listed among independently rated lawyers
- IAM Patent 1000, 2019: “Courtroom warrior Boris Uphoff instinctively knows how to play his technical hand when staring into the dealer’s face, having entered into the fray (…) in one of Germany’s biggest patent cases of recent years.”
- The Legal 500 EMEA 2020
- The Legal 500 Deutschland 2020
- JUVE Handbook
Community
- Law Society of England and Wales
- German Association for Intellectual Property Law
- German Institution of Arbitration
Credentials
Education
University of Constance, Dr. jur. (PhD), 1996
Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt, Second State Exam, 1997
University of Mainz, First State Exam, 1995
University of Mainz, Scholar of Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung, 1991 – 1995
Admissions
Germany
Certified Specialist in Intellectual Property Law
England and Wales (Solicitor)
Languages
German
English
French
