Düsseldorf, November 1, 2023 – Prof. Dr. Thomas Kühnen, presiding judge at Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court (Oberlandesgericht), is retiring after more than thirty illustrious years in patent law. He began his career in the 2nd Civil Senate at Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court, which specializes in patent cases, in 2008. Prior to this he sat at the helm of the renowned Patent Litigation Chamber 4b at Düsseldorf Regional Court (Landgericht) for seven years. According to the 2017 JUVE Ranking, he is Germany’s best-known patent judge. He will retire from the judiciary on January 31, 2024.
“Prof. Dr. Thomas Kühnen is a pivotal player in patent law. With his groundbreaking decisions, he has established the globally leading German case law on standard essential patents (SEPs) in particular and has been instrumental in shaping this field for almost two decades,” said Gottfried Schüll, patent attorney and partner at Cohausz & Florack. “With Prof. Dr. Thomas Kühnen’s retirement, global patent law is losing one of its most influential judges – perhaps the most influential one there is. With his always wise and prudent approach, he not only embodied the principles of justice and the rule of law, but also enriched the legal system in an outstanding way. His impact will be felt in the legal world and beyond for a long time to come and will shape future generations of judges.”
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