IP News
FPS strengthens its Intellectual Property department
The FPS law firm continues to develop its IP/IT practice group in a consistent and targeted manner. Thomas Stein and Sarah Petereit will strengthen the team led by Dr. Christoph Holzbach and Dr. Oliver Wolff-Rojczyk. Thomas Stein joined the Frankfurt office of FPS as an equity partner on October 1, 2019. Thomas Stein began his career as an attorney 20 years ago at the Winterstein | Rechtsanwälte law firm, specializing in the area of IP/IT. In 2013, he was appointed to lead the IP/IT department as its managing director under Winterstein’s trade mark Bear + Wolf. Switching with him is Sarah Petereit, who has worked for Winterstein | Rechtsanwälte since 2009 in the fields of IP, IT and data protection law and who is now joining FPS as an associate partner in the IP/IT practice group. In addition to the management of major international brand portfolios (Petereit), the core competences of the team switching to FPS includes the prosecution and defense of intellectual property rights (brand protection), including litigation (Stein). They will strengthen the IP/IT practice group at FPS, which has been built up around the partners Dr. Christoph Holzbach and Dr. Oliver Wolff-Rojczyk. The clients served by Thomas Stein and Sarah Petereit include clothing and cosmetics companies, sports goods manufacturers as well as brand licensors and licensees from the consumer goods and lifestyle areas. Other clients include a family company specializing in fittings, glass and metal work that is one of the market leaders in the German-speaking region, but our two new lawyers also represent an event company, musicians, actors, sportspeople, and fashion designers. In addition to famous companies such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, SuperDry, Under Armour, Paul Mitchell, and BigCityBeats (WorldClubDome), their clients also include international stars such as Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, Shakira, Beyoncé, Kanye West (YEEZY), Pharell Williams, and Robin Schulz. They have represented Abercrombie & Fitch in the past in a large number of infringement proceedings, including an international multi-million dollar case. Both of them have, moreover, worked in numerous border seizure proceedings for leading companies in the luxury, lifestyle and cosmetics industry. What’s more, they provide clients with support in establishing, monitoring and continuously administering several brand portfolios, including cross-border portfolios, in particular with the aim of opening up new international markets. Furthermore, they advised Kanye West in the context of the sales of the adidas streetwear brand YEEZY and successfully represented a luxury watch manufacturer in cancellation proceedings before the European General Court. They have also represented a sports goods manufacturer before the EGC in infringement proceedings against one of Germany’s largest men’s outfitters. Commenting on the new additions, Dr. Christoph Holzbach, head of the IP/IT practice group, said: “I am delighted that Sarah Petereit and Thomas Stein have joined our firm. Thanks to their vast experience, both of them are valuable additions to FPS and the IP/IT practice group. This will reinforce our position in the market over the long term and further drive our law firm’s growth as planned. Dr. Oliver Wolff-Rojczyk added: “I am very much looking forward to working with Sarah Petereit and Thomas Stein. The experience and proven expertise that Ms. Petereit and Mr. Stein bring with them, especially in the fields of copyright and trade mark law, will be an excellent supplement to our existing team and will further increase our capability in this important field throughout our locations.”