About
HOFFMANN EITLE is a European intellectual property law firm that states it has been advising and representing clients in matters of intellectual property law since 1892, and describes itself as "one of the leading intellectual property law firms in Europe". The firm states its international team "consists of more than 140 highly specialised patent attorneys and attorneys-at-law in all technical areas", working from eight offices in Germany, the UK, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, with its head office in Munich. Stated services cover patents and utility models, trademark law, design law, litigation, IP contracts, supplementary protection certificates, employee invention law and mediation.
Strategic positioning
European pharmaceutical and manufacturing-process IP, from EPO opposition to the Unified Patent Court.
Deterministic scores · rules-based, not AI iHow these scores are obtained: each one is computed from this profile's listed attributes — capability checkboxes, certifications, capacity figures and coverage — by a fixed formula, recomputed on every page load. Deterministic and rules-based means the score comes from a fixed, transparent formula over listed attributes — the same inputs always produce the same score. It is not AI: there is no model, no learning, and no hidden weighting. Whether a score is relevant to you depends on your specific project: a capability that raises the number may not matter for your work, and a niche strength your project needs may barely move it. Capability scores are a directional starting point, not a verdict. A lower score does not disqualify a company or consultant, and no decision should rest on the score alone — always contact the company directly to confirm the specifics for your project.
Manufacturing-IP focus iAdds 25 points if the firm declares a manufacturing-IP focus, plus 9 points per manufacturing technology area listed (sterile injectables, biologics, radiopharmaceuticals, biosimilars, drug-device combinations, mRNA/LNP), capped at 45, plus 8 points per manufacturing-IP service (CMC patents, trade secret governance, FTO opinions, patent term extension), capped at 30. Levels: 75+ Manufacturing-IP specialist | 50-74 Manufacturing-active | 25-49 Selective | below 25 Therapeutics-IP focused. Whether this dimension matters for you depends on your specific project.
94Manufacturing-IP specialist
Life-sciences IP iAdds 4 points per technology area, capped at 30, plus 5 points per practice area, capped at 25, plus 4 points per jurisdiction, capped at 20, plus up to 25 points for technical depth based on the share of attorneys holding PhDs or advanced degrees. Levels: 80+ Premier life-sciences IP | 60-79 Strong | 40-59 Established | below 40 Emerging. Whether this dimension matters for you depends on your specific project.
65Strong
Patent portfolio iAdds 3 points per patent on the platform, capped at 30, plus up to 25 points for the share that are granted, litigated, or opposed, plus 3 points per unique jurisdiction covered, capped at 25, plus up to 20 points from the average per-patent valuation score. Shows 0 with No portfolio when no patents are listed. Levels: 75+ Robust portfolio | 55-74 Solid | 35-54 Developing | below 35 Thin. Whether this dimension matters for you depends on your specific project.
52Developing
Docket health iStarts at 100 and deducts for open docket deadlines: 20 points per overdue item, capped at 60, and 3 points per item due within 30 days, capped at 15. Completed or waived items are excluded. Shows 0 with No docket when no docket items are listed. Levels: 85+ On track | 60-84 Manageable | 35-59 At risk | below 35 Critical. Whether this dimension matters for you depends on your specific project.
57At risk
Protection strength iAdds 5 points per exclusivity record, capped at 30, plus up to 20 points for the share with active status, plus 7 points per distinct regulatory agency, capped at 20, plus up to 30 points for the average years until loss of exclusivity (the later of patent and regulatory expiry), maxing out at 12 years. Shows 0 with No exclusivities when none are listed. Levels: 75+ Strongly protected | 55-74 Well protected | 35-54 Moderate | below 35 Exposed. Whether this dimension matters for you depends on your specific project.
51Moderate
Technology areas
Small moleculesBiologicsSterile injectablesBiosimilarsDrug-device combinationsRadiopharmaceuticals
Practice areas
EPO oppositionPatent prosecutionPatent litigationFreedom-to-operate (FTO)Regulatory exclusivity
Jurisdictions
EPOGermany (DPMA)UKIPOWIPO / PCT