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Dr. Christoph Walke

Patent Attorney

Partner since 2009

Bleichstrasse 14
D-40211 Duesseldorf
Germany

Phone +49 211 90490-0
Fax +49 211 90490-49

mail@cohausz-florack.de

Detailed profile

Dr. Walke studied electrical engineering, specializing in communications technology, at RWTH Aachen University, graduating with distinction as a Dipl.-Ing. in 1999. He continued with a doctorate at the Institute for High-Frequency Technology at RWTH Aachen University on the subject of space/code/time division multiple access radio systems, and obtained his Dr.-Ing degree with distinction in 2002.

In the same year he began his education in intellectual property law at COHAUSZ & FLORACK. After further educational stages at the District Court of Düsseldorf, the German Patent and Trademark Office and the Federal Patent Court, he was accredited as a German patent attorney and professional representative before the European Patent Office and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in 2006. Dr. Walke has been with COHAUSZ & FLORACK as a patent attorney since August 2006 and became a partner in 2009.

Dr. Walke represents clients in all intellectual property matters. He has particular expertise in preparing and prosecuting patent applications (both nationally and internationally) and in invalidity proceedings, primarily concerning technically complex and standard-related inventions. Other focuses include patent litigation and acting as independent expert counsel for patent pools. Furthermore, Dr. Walke has extensive experience in supporting companies in their expansion of existing business fields and acquisition of new business units through freedom-to-operate searches and due-diligence evaluations.

His technical areas of expertise include information and communications technology, audio and video processing, data processing and software, cryptography and medical technology.

Dr. Walke speaks German and English.

Recommendations

  • Legal 500 Deutschland 2024
  • Who’s Who Legal - Patents 2024
  • JUVE Patent 2023
    “strategic allrounder”, “knowledgeable with a great service mentality and very good in oral hearings”, “outstanding in mobile communications” (competitors)
  • Wiwo TOP-Anwalt 2023
  • IAM Patent 1000 2023
    “Christoph Walke is first class in terms of the quality of his work, his technical understanding and his client focus. His work product is precise, his knowledge is remarkable and his social manners are refined. He simply delivers excellence. He constantly optimises clients’ portfolios with an eye to the enforcement landscape. He has very deep expertise in complex ICT patents and more than 10 years’ experience in SEPs. He makes very convincing court appearances. Working with Christoph guarantees smooth cooperation between in-house teams and attorneys.”
  • Patent Star 2023 (IP Stars)
  • Who’s Who Legal - Patents 2023
  • Leaders League 2023
    (...) highly recommended for patent prosecution and recommended for patent litigation (…)
  • Managing IP Award 2023 - Germany Practitioner of the Year
  • Legal 500 EMEA 2023
    "Very competent and flexible."
  • Legal 500 Deutschland 2023
  • Who's Who Legal 2022 (Patents)
  • IAM Global Leaders 2023
  • Wiwo TOP-Anwalt 2022
  • JUVE Patent 2022
    “an ace in the courtroom” (competitor)
  • IAM Patent 1000 2022
    "Christoph Walke understands the commercial criticality of strong patents and is very effective in helping clients leverage intangible assets for business benefits. Enganging extensivly in prosecution and disputes, he designs and implements sophisticated patent strategies."
  • Best Lawyers 2023
  • Legal 500 EMEA 2022
    "Christoph Walke drives the processing of the cases through his team very smoothly. We trust him because of his impressive track record in high-tech patent litigation.’
  • Legal 500 Deutschland 2022
    "Christoph Walke treibt die Bearbeitung der Fälle durch sein Team sehr geschmeidig voran. Wir vertrauen ihm wegen seines beeindruckenden Erfahrungsschatzes in Patentstreitigkeiten im Bereich HighTech."
  • IAM Global Leaders 2022
  • JUVE Handbuch 2021/2022
    “very competent and dedicated”, “prepares technical details very well” (clients)
  • IAM Patent 1000 2021
    “Dr Walke has particular expertise in attacking and defending patents in invalidity proceedings [...]. He has also extensive experience supporting companies in their expansion of existing business fields and the acquisition of new business units through freedom-to-operate searches and due diligence evaluations."
  • Best Lawyers 2022
  • The LEGAL 500 EMEA 2021
  • The LEGAL 500 Deutschland 2021
  • JUVE Handbuch 2020/2021
    oft empfohlen ("elegant u. überzeugend", Wettbewerber; alle Patentanwälte)
  • Wirtschaftswoche Ranking Patentanwälte 2020
  • IAM Patent 1000 2020
    "An exceptionally well-educated and trained communications technology guru, Christoph Walke is a master of the art of prosecution and portfolio management, with a gift for enhancing clients' competitive bite. He also shines in litigations, bringing an strong teamworking ethic and technical expertise."
  • IAM Global Leaders 2020
  • Best Lawyers 2021
  • The LEGAL 500 EMEA 2020
  • The LEGAL 500 Deutschland 2020
    'Hervorragende Expertise in technischen Fragen, schnelle Reaktionszeit, versetzt sich stets in die Bedürfnisse des Kunden, spricht die Sprache der Erfinder, versteht Management-Anforderungen.
  • IAM Patent 1000, 2019
    "(...) Outrageously talented communications guru Christoph Walke wins rave reviews from clients: “excellent on the technical side and very easy to work with”, he is “fantastic technically, communicates precisely and thinks outside the box”. “He has the ability to fit all of the cases his firm handles for us into one seamless litigation campaign – we count on him for our most technically demanding matters, especially concerning SEPs.” (...)"
  • Best Lawyers 2020
  • Chambers Europe und Chambers Global 2019
    Notable Practitioner
  • The LEGAL 500 Deutschland und EMEA, 2019
    "(...) Der 'hervorragende' Christoph Walke (...)"
  • IAM Patent 1000, 2018
    "(...) “His excellent technical knowledge in mobile radio communications, cryptography and image processing are of indispensable value for clients, as is his extensive experience conducting patent essentiality evaluations as an independent evaluator for patent pools. He has the talent to make technically challenging cases understandable for judges, which is of particular importance for campaigns that deal with complex and standard-essential inventions. His pleading in court is highly persuasive. He can flexibly adapt to any situation that may come up. (...)"
  • Best Lawyers 2019
  • Chambers Global 2018
    "(...) highly motivated” and “phrases things well, making good points to prevent arguments against you.”
  • Wirtschaftswoche 2018
  • The LEGAL 500 2018
    "(...) nicht nur technisch und juristisch hervorragend, sondern auch stark in der Kommunikation’. (...)"
  • Best Lawyers 2017 (in Kooperation mit dem Handelsblatt)