K&L Gates Expands Global Intellectual Property Platform With Munich-Based Team

Munich – Global law firm K&L Gates welcomes intellectual property partners Dr. Christian Wende and Markus Eustermann and their team in Munich. The nine-person group, which will include patent attorneys, trainees, and specialists, joins K&L Gates from WENDE IP, a boutique German intellectual property law firm founded by Wende and Eustermann.

Wende and Eustermann advise clients on a broad range of intellectual property matters, including patents, trademarks, designs, and utility models. Wende and Eustermann have also advised clients regarding Unified Patent Court (UPC) proceedings and coordinated patent enforcement strategies across Europe. Together, they have built a European intellectual property practice serving innovative companies ranging from startups and venture-backed businesses to multinational enterprises. Their experience includes patent prosecution, portfolio management, and disputes before the UPC, helping clients protect, manage, and enforce intellectual property rights across Europe.

“Christian and Markus have established a highly regarded intellectual property practice advising innovative companies across Europe on complex patent and other intellectual property matters,” said Dr. Martina Ortner, Co-Managing Partner, Germany. “Their addition expands our intellectual property capabilities in one of Europe's leading innovation and patent markets and further strengthens our ability to advise clients on patent protection, enforcement, and UPC-related matters across jurisdictions. We are pleased to welcome Christian, Markus, and their team to K&L Gates.”

“The team brings significant experience in patent prosecution, litigation, portfolio management, and strategic counseling across a broad range of technologies, including proceedings before the UPC,” said Jason Engel, lead practice area leader for the firm’s global Intellectual Property practice. “Their work complements our global intellectual property platform and strengthens the capabilities we offer emerging companies, investors, and multinational businesses seeking to protect, manage, and enforce intellectual property assets worldwide.”

Wende focuses his practice on patent, trademark, design, and utility model matters and has particular experience advising innovative companies in the medical technology and automotive sectors. His work includes patent prosecution, opposition and invalidation proceedings, infringement matters, and intellectual property due diligence in connection with mergers and acquisitions and venture capital transactions.

Eustermann advises clients on patent prosecution, post-grant proceedings, and patent litigation, including proceedings before the UPC. His experience spans a broad range of advanced technologies, including medical devices, automotive technologies, software-related inventions, and nanotechnology. A German and European patent lawyer and European patent litigator, he regularly advises innovation-driven businesses on protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights in Germany and across Europe.

The addition of Wende, Eustermann, and their team continues K&L Gates' strategic investment in its European platform and follows the recent additions of aviation finance partner Andrew Harper, data partner Sarah Pearce, and asset management and investment funds partner Marianna Tothova in London, as well as international arbitration partner Maria Kostytska in Paris.

K&L Gates’ IP practice boasts more than 215 lawyers and professionals – including more than 110 registered patent lawyers, agents, and technology specialists with technical or advanced science degrees, 20 with doctorates – who devote their practices to helping clients establish, enforce, and leverage their intellectual property rights worldwide. The practice filed more than 5,475 patent applications and 4,020 trademarks worldwide in 2025.