About Me

Strategic vision and attention to detail characterise my daily practice in intellectual property.

Based in our Düsseldorf office, I am head of our German Intellectual Property Group.

For more than 25 years, I have been advising clients in all areas of intellectual property law. But my passion is technology. Therefore, I assist leading technology companies in international patent litigation. Throughout my career, I have been lucky to handle numerous high-profile proceedings for some of the largest and most innovative companies in the world. However, I have also successfully represented mid-cap companies and achieved landmark decisions for them.

For many years, all relevant legal publications have listed me as one of the leading top-tier patent lawyers in Germany and Europe. Already in 2001, the legal magazine JUVE recognised me as one of the 'Top 40 under 40' of all the German lawyers of my generation.

I act as Chairman of the German Intellectual Property and Copyright Association's (GRUR) section West and serve on the GRUR committees on patent and utility model law. I am also a member of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI), the European Patent Lawyer Association (EPLAW) and the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA).

I also lecture and publish regularly on various themes relating to the practice of intellectual property law.
Cases
  • Andover Healthcare vs. 3M, Calgon Carbon vs. Wedeco, Caterpillar vs. Wirtgen, Celanese vs. Wacker Chemie, Chiesi vs. Hexal, Creative vs. Sisvel, European Central Bank vs. DSS, Electrolux vs. Arcelik, Electrolux vs. BSH Hausgeräte, Electrolux vs. Dyson, Electrolux vs. Liebherr, Ericsson vs. Samsung, Gardena vs. Adlus, Glaxo vs. Roche, Heumann vs. Astra Zeneca, Heumann vs. Novartis, Huaqvarna vs. Centro Sistemi, Husqvarna vs. Positec, Huawei vs. MPEG-LA, Huawei vs. ZTE, Husqvarna vs. Positec, Nektar vs. Bayer, Nokia vs. Apple, Nokia vs. Blackberry, Nokia vs. HTC, Nvidia vs. Polaris, Oerlikon vs. Agilent, Pioneer vs. Garmin, Sanofi vs. Heraeus.
Education

Studied

  • Legal studies at University of Hamburg
  • Legal clerkship in Hamburg, Munich and Palo Alto

Admissions

  • Admitted to the Düsseldorf bar in 1997
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Testimonials

'Harmsen is one of the top telecoms experts in Europe, and, in addition to his incredible knowledge, he also has the people skills to bring opposing counsel to the negotiating table and secure solutions that work'.

IAM Patent 1000 2018

Christian Harmsen is highly reputed for his strength in high-stakes patent litigation cases, where he is regularly mandated by household names from the technology and telecommunications sectors. Clients say: 'He plays a very central role in cases and does an excellent job. He's really a great litigator'.

Chambers Europe 2018

Christian Harmsen is 'one of the best out there', thanks to his 'extensive experience handling multi-jurisdictional patent litigation', say interviewees.

Who's Who Legal 2018

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