Andre Nickel, Partner, Grunecker

André Nickel specialises in patent law, particularly in the fields of software, information technology, AI, consumer electronics, automation technology, and electromobility. He represents leading global companies as well as start-ups.

His practice focuses on complex opposition proceedings before the European Patent Office and regular representation in nullity and patent infringement proceedings. To this end, he appears before the Boards of Appeal of the EPO, the Federal Patent Court, the Federal Court of Justice and the patent litigation chambers.

Obtaining and defending software patents is one of his core competencies, and his expertise includes advising and conducting proceedings in borderline areas of technology. He is in regular contact with international colleagues on the relevant European requirements. The network he has built up over many years benefits campaigns to obtain intellectual property rights around the globe.

The foundation of his value-adding consulting practice is a rich pool of patent prosecution proceedings, particularly in the fields of computer technology, process and data modelling, machine learning, deep learning, AI, machine vision, speech processing, communications engineering, networks, virtual machines, cloud computing, automation, sensor technology, autonomous driving, and modified risk products.

André is a member of GRUR, LES, VDE, VDI, I3PM, FICPI and AIPLA.