Overview
Dr Boris Uphoff has 24 years of experience representing companies in both court and arbitration proceedings. His practice focuses on intellectual property disputes (patents, trademarks, unfair competition), product liability law, insurance law and D&O disputes.
Many of the disputes he handles are cross-jurisdictional and involve other European countries, the US or Japan. He represents national and international companies, particularly within the automotive, electronics, food and insurance sectors.
To read Boris’ full biography in Japanese please click here.
He also regularly acts as an arbitrator in international arbitration proceedings.
Boris is admitted as a lawyer (Rechtsanwalt) in Germany and as a solicitor in England and Wales. He is a certified specialist in intellectual property law (Fachanwalt für gewerblichen Rechtsschutz) and acts as an honorary judge at the Lawyers’ Disciplinary Court (Anwaltsgericht) for the District of the Munich Bar.
Results
- Defended a Japanese motorcycle manufacturer against product liability claims in Germany.
- Enforcement of injunctive relief against imitation products on behalf of a market-leading food manufacturer.
- Defended a Japanese manufacturer of electronic components against damage claims in the High Court in London and in the Court of Appeal.
- Represented a former board member of a German joint-stock company in a D&O liability dispute.
- Defended a mobile phone company against alleged patent infringement claims.
- Defended a US automotive supplier against claims for allegedly defective brakes in the UK and in Germany.
- Advised a European joint-stock company on the enforcement of claims against a British car manufacturer due to the premature termination of several supply contracts.
- Defended a client against licence fee claims by a US software company.
- Advised a Belgian automotive supplier in connection with a large fire on a factory site. Coordinated various court and arbitration proceedings in France and the Czech Republic.
- Defended a client against claims for antitrust damages by a company from the polyurethane industry due to alleged calls for a boycott.
- Advised a Japanese car manufacturer in connection with fire damage claims allegedly caused by product defects in Germany, Austria and Ukraine.
- Represented a European joint-stock company in enforcing damage claims against a former member of the Board of Directors in court.
- Represented a private equity company based in Luxembourg in a construction case relating to renovation costs for a hotel.
- Represented a US real estate agent in the enforcement of agency claims under a commercial lease agreement.
- Advised Lloyd’s of London insurers on the enforcement of a German court judgment against assets in the US.
- Defended a manufacturer of construction machinery against claims due to an alleged product defect related accident in Belgium.
- Defended a German partnership of patent attorneys against claims following an alleged professional liability claim in France.
Recognitions
- IAM Patent 1000, 2022: “Heading up the Munich branch is Boris Uphoff, a master of patent infringement and unfair competition disputes who is used to dealing with issues across Europe, the United States, China and Japan, and has also dealt with his fair share of SEP licensing deals.”
- Handelsblatt/Best Lawyers™ 2018 – 2023 Germany: Leading Lawyer for Intellectual Property Law
- IAM Patent 1000, 2021: Taking charge in Munich is Dr. Boris Uphoff, a veteran of myriad cross-border patent battles across Europe, the United States, China and Japan who also regularly tackles unfair competition matters.
- The Legal 500 EMEA 2021: “Boris Uphoff’s legal assessment and processing as well as the joint handling of the mandate are both exemplary. He and his team are excellently qualified in the aforementioned field and, in my view, can be recommended for any kind of cooperation.”, interviewee.
- Acritas Stars 2020, listed among independently rated lawyers
- 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.
- 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 Deutschland 2021
- JUVE Handbook
Community
- Law Society of England and Wales
- German Association for Intellectual Property Law
- German Institution of Arbitration
Credentials
Education
Frankfurt Court of Appeal, Second State Exam 1997
University of Constance, Dr. jur. (PhD), 1996
University of Mainz, First State Exam, 1995
Scholar of Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung, 1991 – 1995
Admissions
Germany
Certified Specialist in Intellectual Property Law
England and Wales (Solicitor)
Languages
German
English
French
