C. Thomas Becher

C. Thomas Becher is a German and European Patent Attorney with more than two decades of experience in contentious and non-contentious patent matters, particularly in the mechanical and life sciences sectors. He advises and represents domestic and international clients in complex multi-jurisdictional disputes and strategically coordinated opposition work, including cases under the Unified Patent Court system.

Thomas concentrates on intellectual property rights in mechanical engineering, with a particular emphasis on medical devices and related technologies. His practice covers the enforcement and defence of patents and utility models before the German courts and patent offices, the EPO, and now the Unified Patent Court, often in parallel proceedings across several jurisdictions. He also handles design matters, frequently in combination with unfair competition issues, and manages freedom-to-operate strategies.

Drawing on his degree in mechanical engineering from RWTH Aachen University and research work at MIT and the Fraunhofer IPT, Thomas advises on a broad spectrum of technologies ranging from implants and other medical devices to 3D printing, printing technology, textiles, watchmaking, automotive components and everyday consumer products. His clients include established industrial players and innovative small and medium-sized enterprises, which he supports through tailor-made opposition and nullity work, and litigation-ready portfolio development. A notable part of his work involves coordinating complex, technically demanding disputes where design-around options, rapid product iterations and cost-efficient enforcement play a central role.

Thomas has extensive experience in inter partes proceedings, including oppositions, appeals, nullity actions and infringement-related measures, and is equally at home before the German civil courts and the EPO’s opposition divisions and boards of appeal. He regularly acts in cases involving parallel infringement, validity and interim relief proceedings, as well as in matters where utility models and designs are asserted alongside patents. In addition to technical and legal argumentation, his work often includes the development of pragmatic settlement structures and licensing solutions in situations where clients seek commercially viable outcomes under tight time and budget constraints.

Thomas became a German Patent Attorney in 2000 and a European Patent Attorney in 2001, and in 2012 he was one of the founding partners of his former firm’s Düsseldorf office. He qualified as a Higher Courts litigator for England and Wales in 2016 and is admitted as a representative before the Unified Patent Court. Thomas is an active member of several professional organisations, including the German Patent Attorney Bar Association, epi, VDI, VPP, AIPLA, INTA and IPO, and is a frequent speaker on German and European IP topics.

Thomas works in German, English and French and regularly conducts proceedings, negotiations and client communications in all three languages. This linguistic versatility supports his practice in cross-border disputes, particularly for international clients with interests in Europe and beyond.