All team members
Dr.-Ing. Sophie Ertl
Partner
German Patent Attorney
European Patent Attorney
UPC Representative
Mechanical Engineer
Sophie provides counselling on patent portfolio strategies and portfolio management across a wide range of IP-related matters. In addition, she drafts patent applications and represents her clients in patent prosecution, opposition and appeal proceedings. In addition, she regularly prepares legal opinions on technical and legal issues, including freedom-to-operate and validity analyses.
Furthermore, she has particular experience with legal disputes in the field of intellectual property and has successfully conducted numerous patent and utility model infringement proceedings, patent nullity proceedings and utility model cancellation proceedings. She uses this expertise profitably for the client in patent portfolio strategies and portfolio management.
Her technical expertise covers the fields of mechanical engineering, automotive, medical devices, materials engineering, and process technology.
Sophie is head of the Maiwald UPC taskforce and responsible for all UPC related topics at Maiwald.
Sophie regularly gives presentations on patent law topics in Germany and abroad, in particular in view of the UPC. She has special contacts and interests for clients and colleagues from Korea.
"Vastly experienced across a range of industries, Sophie Therese Ertl enjoys a well-earned reputation for her patent strategy expertise, for which she is looked to by big-name clients in the automotive, medical device and mechanical fields."
– IAM Strategy 300, 2024
"Armed with reams of portfolio management expertise and technical support at infringement matters, Sophie Ertl is a safe bet for companies seeking protection of inventions across the automotive, medical device, process technology and general engineering fields."
– IAM Patent 1000, 2023
“A highly qualified patent attorney, Sophie Ertl has a canny forward-thinking approach to developing her client’s patent strategy. She is detail-oriented, technically-savvy and communicates complex concepts in a manner that is easy to understand – she is an asset to any team.”
– IAM 300, 2022
“Sophie Therese Ertl is a key partner for building patent portfolios and is truly committed to her craft. She has an inspiring ability to adapt to ever-evolving markets, and her work is always completed on time and to the highest standard.”
– IAM Strategy 300, 2023
"Sophie Ertl's client service and general level of service, level of sophistication and commercial awareness and vision are very strong. She is a top patent attorney."
– CLIENT | CHAMBERS EUROPE 2024
Mechanical engineer Sophie Ertl earns effusive praise for “bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of mechanical-related inventions, and providing invaluable advice on how to navigate the European patent system. Sophie is also well spoken and represents clients aggressively in opposition proceedings at the EPO; she makes thoughtful arguments and is never knocked off balance.” She takes the lead on drafting and prosecuting patent applications as well as portfolio management for the likes of Volvo Cars.
– IAM Patent 1000, 2024
“experienced and with a deep knowledge of UPC matters”, “down to earth”, “easy to work with”, Competitors
– JUVE Patent, 2024
For mechanical engineering inventions, Sophie Ertl is a safe pair of hands. Deeply experienced in opposition and appeal proceedings, Ertl’s ability to concoct sensible and logical arguments and present them convincingly is greatly appreciated by her following.
– IAM Patent 1000, 2025
- Patent prosecution and portfolio management
- Filing strategies and drafting patent applications
- Freedom-to-operate and validity analysis
- Opposition and nullity proceedings
- Patent litigation
- Listed as best lawyer 2025 in Handelsblatt in the categories intellectual property law, patent law
- Recommended in IAM Patent 1000 “World’s Leading Patent Professionals” 2023, 2025
- In the Leaders League Ranking 2025, honoured as "Leading" in the "Patent Prosecution" category and as "Excellentˮ in the "Patent Litigation" category
- Ranked #3 in Entrepreneurship and Business Leadership in the Women’s IP World Rankings 2025
- "Recommended individual" in JUVE Patent Rankings Germany, 2024
- Recommended as one of the world's leading intellectual property strategists by IAM Strategy 300 2022, 2023, 2024
- Listed as "Leading" in the Patent Prosecution category and as "Excellent" in the Patent Litigation category in the Leaders League Rankings Germany 2024
- Recommended in Handelsblatt | Best Lawyers "Germany's Best Lawyers" 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
- Recommended in MIP IP Stars 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
- Featured among Managing IP’s Top 250 Women in IP 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
- Recommended in Legal 500 EMEA 2023, 2024
- Listed in Managing IP's EMEA shortlist "Practitioner of the Year" 2024
- Recommended in Legal 500 Deutschland 2021, 2023, 2024
- Listed in IAM Strategy 300 Global Leaders 2023, 2024, 2025
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“Navigating Today’s Innovation Protection Questions” Panel discussion at the IPBC Korea, 2025
- Germany: new filing options for UPC users and strategic considerations for patent challengers in Europe, IAM 2025
- PatentFORUM conference 2024 in Munich: BGH-FORUM – Neueste Entscheidungen des BGH und praktische Auswirkungen
- Interview IAM Strategy 300 Global Leaders, 2024
- UPCLA Patent Litigators Network Webinar: UPC: One Year After – A look back at 12 months of case law and practice, 2024
- Patent revocation actions under the new European patent system: UPC vs. EPO and why it may be wise to reappraise your European filing strategy, The Patent Lawyer Magazine September/October, 2024 (Page 22)
- Moderation of the Munich IP Forum, 2024
- Moderation of the Maiwald seminar in Munich and Düsseldorf, 2024
- Podcast – Empowering women and nurturing young talent: Maiwald’s commitment to equality and diversity, MIP, 2024
- Roundtable: European lawyers weigh in on the Unified Patent Court, Burford, 2024
- Promoting women and young talent at MAIWALD, 2024
- “Using the Unitary Patent system to full effect”, Masterclass at IAM Live IPBC Europe 2024 in Munich
- Unlocking Intellectual Property Efficiency: A comparative analysis of the EP patent, the DE patent, the German Utility Model, and the Unitary Patent, Women´s IP World annual, 2024
- “Making the most of your IP at IAM LIVE IPBC Korea”, Panel at IAM Live IPBC Korea, 2024
- Lecture “The new unitary patent system after 8 months in practice” in the context of the Korean Intellectual Property Association (KINPA) special seminar series, 2024
- Lecture „UPC – How the IP World Changed„ – IP Service World in Munich, 2023
- Lecture “Important facts and changes in the European proceedings” in the context of the Korean Intellectual Property Association (KINPA) seminar series, 2023
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Moderation of the panel “Trade secrets – the big questions answered” at the IAM Live Auto IP Europe 2023
- Moderation of the panel “Sunrise or False Dawn: Review of Cases of the Unified Patent Court (UPC)” of the Wiesn IP Forum in Munich, 2023
- Moderation of the panel „The UPC: a new era for patent enforcement in Europe“ at the IP and Emerging Technology Europe in London, 2023
- Moderation of the Maiwald Seminar in Düsseldorf and Munich „Software, Plausibilität und UPC”, 2023
- Interview on the UPC in the magazine “Die Welt” – Smart Rechtsguide, 2023
- 유럽 “단일특허” 美 “컨트롤타워 강화” 中 “징벌 배상제 도입” [제13회 국제지식재산보호컨퍼런스] – The 13th International Intellectual Property Protection Conference, 2023
- “韓도 변리사 소송대리 허용해 법률소비자 편의 높여야” [인터뷰] – Interview with Financial News, First-Class Economic Newspaper, 2023
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Conference presentation at the 13. International Intellectual Property Protection Conference in Seoul, Korea titled „Status and Strategy for the Unitary Patent System and the Unified Patent Court“, 2023
- Interview IAM Strategy 300 Global Leaders, 2023
- Panel with the topic “European portfolio management in the age of the unitary patent” at the online event IAM Connect: UPC 2022
- Round Table discussion at the IP Service World in Munich with the topic “Overview on the Unitary Patent and the Unified Patent Court”, 2022
- Mandanten für die Zukunft rüsten, 2021
- Interview Financial Times about the topic “ESG shift fuels IP law collaboration and generates new work”, 2021
- Wir helfen dem Erfinder, seine Idee zu schützen, 2021
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Moderation of the Maiwald Seminar in Düsseldorf “Protection and Enforcement of Software Inventions in DE, KR & US”, 2019
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Conference contribution at the Joint Seminar of Unified Patents and Maiwald “Achieving European collaborative deterrence strategy against Non-practicing entities” entitled “NPE patent litigation in the UPC” and participation in the panel discussion in Munich, 2019
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Moderation of the panel “Standard Essential Patents” of the Wiesn IP Forum in Munich, 2019
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Conference presentation at the 11. Joint Korean- German conference in Changwon, Korea titled „Intellectual Property Protection in Mobility“ and panel discussion, 2019
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Moderation of the Maiwald Seminar in Munich “Employee Invention Law and Compliance”, 2019
- TUM Mentoring was a major door opener, 2018
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Conference presentation at the 10th Joint Korean- German Conference in Aachen, Germany, titled “Intellectual Property Protection of 3D Printing Inventions”, 2018
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Conference presentation at the conference “International IP Trends” with the title “New developments UPC/ Brexit” in Munich, 2018
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Lecture at Konstanz and Aalen University of Applied Sciences entitled “From Invention to Enforcement of Patent”, 2018
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Presentation at a start-up hub in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil entitled “Software Patent Protection in Europe and Germany”, 2018
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Inhouse training at Bosch, Stuttgart “Current Patent Case Law of the German Federal Supreme Court”, 2017
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Inhouse training at Alps, Japan “European Patent Proceedings”, 2017
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Inhouse training at Heraeus, Hanau “Attack is also a defense”, 2016
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Inhouse training at BMW, Munich “Current case law of the BGH on patent law”, 2016
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Inhouse training at Daimler, Stuttgart “Current case law on German patent law and ArbEG”, 2016
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Inhouse training at Stryker, USA “Patent infringement litigation in Germany”, 2016
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Conference presentation at the Intellectual Property One-on-One Summit, Hangzhou, China with the title “Patent Litigation in Europe & (specifically) Germany”, 2016
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Inhouse training at Unitalen, Beijing, China “Patent Infringement Litigation in Germany”, 2016
- FICPI
- German Patent Attorney Association
- epi
- AIPPI
- LES
- VPP
- German
- English
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