Dr. Marcus Schönknecht, LL.M. (Columbia)
Counsel Intellectual Property, Media, and Technology
Languages
English, German
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Overview
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Experience
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Credentials
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Insights and events
Marcus Schönknecht protects his clients’ most valuable asset: their know-how.
When their secrets are stolen, their inventions are used by competitors or their products are imitated, clients turn to Marcus. He has successfully litigated countless trade secret, patent and design cases before all major IP courts in Germany. Clients value his comprehensive knowledge in mechanical engineering, construction and medical devices.
Marcus is an authority on trade secret protection in Germany. He won some of the first court decisions on behalf of his clients on the new German Trade Secrets Act, playing a significant role in shaping the case law. He is author of the acclaimed commentary on the Trade Secrets Act published by C.H. Beck. Marcus holds regular seminars on the subject, educating inhouse counsels and external lawyers on the latest developments.
Having received his legal education in Germany, Italy and the United States, Marcus is skilled in making complex aspects of German law easily understandable to clients from other countries – from Europe to the U.S. and Japan.
Representative experience
Representing a major German chemical company in a complex case of international industrial espionage and trade secrets theft.
Defending an innovative producer of machines for railroad track construction and maintenance in complex cross-border unfair imitation and trade secrets case.
Representing companies in the machines, tool engineering, handling and medical products industries in complex patent matters.
Representing and advising companies in the steel, engineering, medical devices, drug discovery and telecommunications industries in employee inventions matters.
Credentials
- LL.M., Columbia University, 2011
- Second State Exam in Law, Higher Regional Court of Cologne, 2008
- Dr. iur., Doctorate in Law, University of Cologne, 2007
- First State Exam in Law, University of Cologne, 2004
- Germany
- Member, German Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (GRUR)
- Member, German-American Lawyers Association (DAJV)