Dr. Markus Brock

Partner

Because I can collaborate with experts from other fields at the highest legal level to solve my clients’ challenges “from a single source.”

Dr. Brock specializes in IP law (trademarks, patents, designs, copyright law, etc.), unfair competition law (including advertising law), IT law, data protection law as well as distribution and contract law.

He advises comprehensively on IP matters, including the filing of national and international intellectual property rights as well as licensing and enforcement in disputes in and out of court. He further advises on innovation and know-how protection (including trade secrets), on cross-border research and development projects, on employees’ inventions law, and on standard essential patents (SEP). Furthermore, his advice includes the development of brand-based labeling and quality seal systems.

While his client base covers a wide selection of industries (for instance health care & life sciences, information technology and consumer goods), he focuses on technology-driven and innovative companies, ranging from start-ups to mid-sized companies to globally operating corporations.

Career

Studies at the University of Bochum (law studies and doctorate)
2006 to 2007: Lawyer in a major English law firm with international operations, member of the local IP/IT/Commercial Practice Group
2007 to 2012: Attorney at law in a major US-American global law firm, member of the practice groups "Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights and Related Transactions", "Licensing and E-Merging Commerce" and "Telecom, Media and Technology"
Since 2011 Specialist attorney for industrial property rights
Since 2012 with SKW Schwarz

Awards & Recognitions

Handelsblatt in cooperation with Best Lawyers: Germany's best lawyers 2020-2022
Recommended lawyer in the category "Intellectual Property"

JUVE Handbook: Commercial Law Firms 2013/2014, 2017–2022/2023
Frequently recommended lawyer in the category "Trademark and Design Law / Competition Law” (2018–2022/2023)
Frequently recommended lawyer in the category “Trademark and Unfair Competition Law” (2017/2018)
Named in the category “Information Technology” (2013/2014)
Client about him: "excellent in Trademark Law & Data Protection, very trustworthy" (2022/2023)
Client about him: “extremely competent in trade mark law and data protection” (2021/2022)
Competitor about him: "absolute IP specialist thinking outside the box" (2022/2023)
Competitor about him: “absolute IP specialist, but still thinks outside the box” (2021/2022)
Client about him: “excellent advice in trademark law” (2020/2021)
Competitor about him: “strong client acquisition skills and very assertive,” “absolute IP specialist, but always looking beyond the horizon” (2019/2020)
Competitor about him: “expert in Trademark Law and Competition Law with great strategies” (2018/2019)
Competitors about him: “reliable address in trademark law”, “creative and strong-willed” (2017/2018)

The Legal 500: Germany 2014, 2017, 2019, 2021,2022
Recommended lawyer in the category “Intellectual Property: Trade Marks” (2022)
Recommended lawyer in the category “Intellectual Property: Trade Marks and Unfair Competition” (2021)
Recommended lawyer in the category “Intellectual Property: Trade Marks and Unfair Competition” (2019)
Recommended lawyer in the category “Trademark and Competition Law” (2014, 2017)
“Markus Brock is an extremely competent legal advisor and counsel in matters of trademark law as well as data protection law. His professional expertise also regularly asserts itself in the drafting of contracts with our contractual partners. In doing so, he is able to present the legal context and conclusions to the client exceptionally well at all times.” (2021)

The Legal 500: Europe 2014
Recommended lawyer in the category “Trademark and Competition Law”

Nomos: Kanzleien in Deutschland 2013
Recommended lawyer
“Specialist in enforcing intellectual property and combating product and brand piracy”

Memberships

Dr. Markus Brock is member of the GRUR – German Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property, AGEM – Working Committee on Intellectual Property & Media of the German Bar Association, since November 2009 working in an honorary capacity as elected accountant (“Kassenprüfer”), INTA – International Trademark Association, IBA – International Bar Association, DAV – German Bar Association, Berlin Bar Association, BIEM Brandenburg Institute for Setting Up Businesses and Promotion of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, management board member (until October 2018), BPW – Juryman and Consultant of the Berlin-Brandenburg Business Plan Competition and the Working Committee “Foundation Data Privacy” (“Stiftung Datenschutz”) of DAV to advise the German Federal Ministry of Justice (BMJ) (2009).

Miscellaneous activities

SKW Schwarz is a long-term partner of the Berlin-Brandenburg Business Plan Competition (BPW). In this context, Dr. Markus Brock regularly supports founders and start-ups in the form of lectures, individual advice in the field of intellectual property rights, competition law and other issues relevant to start-ups (e.g. general terms and conditions and data protection).

Publications

Independant works

„Patentierung und Standardisierung – Leitfaden für modernes Innovationsmanagement“, in: Beuth Verlag, Hrsg: DIN, 2018, gemeinsam mit Prof. Dr. Knut Blind
„Die Zwangsvollstreckung in Internet-Domains unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Kennzeichenrechts“, in: Peter Lang Europäischer Verlag der Wissenschaften – Europäische Hochschulschriften, Hrsg. Peter Lang Verlag, 2005

Articles in periodicals

„Stem Cell Patentability in Europe: Are Patents Relying on Human Embryonic Stem Cells at Risk of Invalidation?“, in: Intellectual Property Today, 2011

Lawyer

Certified Expert in IP

Office

Berlin