Overview

Benjamin Beck is a senior associate in Mayer Brown’s Frankfurt office and a member of the firm's Intellectual Property practice. He advises clients on German and EU intellectual property and technology law, with a focus on patent litigation, trade secrets, data protection, and digital assets.

Benjamin has represented clients in large-scale patent litigation proceedings in both the technology and life sciences sectors, many actions involving cross-border matters. His experience covers a wide range of technologies, including monoclonal antibodies, aerogels, fitness and recreation equipment, consumer electronics, and telecommunications (including Standard Essential Patents).

In addition to providing counsel on litigation matters, Benjamin advises on technology, data protection, and IP issues, including throughout all phases of complex M&A transactions. He advises clients across industries on compliance with a variety of data privacy and cybersecurity laws such as the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the EU Directive on Security of Network and Information Systems (NIS Directive), the EU Cybersecurity Act, and German federal and state-level data privacy laws. His experience includes cross-border data transfers and data breach response and notification procedures.

Through his multidisciplinary technology practice, Benjamin also has experience analyzing issues associated with blockchain and DLT application, including non-fungible tokens (NFTs). His experience includes token sale agreements and trade secrets litigation involving cryptocurrency mining technology. In addition, Benjamin regularly publishes and speaks on the private law and regulatory aspects of digital assets and cryptocurrencies, including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).

Áreas de Enfoque

Practicas
Industrias
Cuestiones Clave

Lenguajes Hablados

  • German
  • English

Experiencia

Patent Litigation

  • Represented Japanese consumer electronics manufacturer in multiple German patent infringement proceedings against leading smartphone manufacturers. The cases involved coordination with parallel German invalidity proceedings and U.S. litigation.
  • Represented leading U.S. fitness equipment manufacturer in numerous patent infringement enforcement actions throughout Europe, inter alia, at international trade shows.
  • Advised leading U.S. rare disease pharmaceutical company on allegations of patent infringement in relation to a therapeutic antibody drug.
  • Advised leading Korean consumer electronics manufacturer on requirements for EU FRAND license negotiations, as part of arbitration proceedings over royalty rates.
  • Advised US-based hedge fund on the implications of pan-European patent litigation cases involving two portfolio companies from the pharmaceutical sector.

Data Privacy / Cyber Security

  • Advised German operator of 41 nursing homes on a full-scale GDPR compliance project. Our advice included the draft of all types of GDPR information documents, consent forms and data processing agreements, and also dealt with e.g. data exchanges between nursing homes and pharmacies and attending physicians, respectively.
  • Advised on several other GDPR compliance projects, inter alia, for an operator of cross-border student exchange programs.
  • Advised U.S. based global specialty chemicals company on the GDPR implications of the physical transport of personal data to non EEA-countries.
  • Advised German bank on GDPR issues related to factoring.
  • Advised several clients on the draft of website privacy declarations, including a Swiss Chocolate Manufacturer and a U.S. based global specialty chemicals company.
  • Advised various clients on data privacy and data security issues within the context of corporate transactions, which frequently included the analyzation of intra-group data transfer for compliance.

Trademark / Trademark Litigation

  • Frequently advised leading labelling organization for fair trade on IP-related issues, such as the global application of certification marks, which included the draft of certification mark regulations. Our advice, inter alia, also covered creative commons licensing models and unfair competition law.
  • Advised U.S. based global brewing and distilling company on German trademark applications.

Transactions

  • Advising HOERBIGER on the acquisition of JOHNSON MATTHEY Piezo Products GmbH.
  • Advising Lear Corporation, a global automotive technology leader in Seating and E-Systems, on the acquisition of I.G. Bauerhin (IGB).
  • Advising DBAG on the acquisition of German IT services group akquinet AG and two data centers.
  • Advised Lear Corporation on acquisition of Kongsberg Automotive’s Interior Comfort Systems Business Unit.
  • Advised Moving Intelligence on the acquisition of PLT Software GmbH.
  • Advised German private equity firm on the acquisition of a group of companies focused on digitization and cloud transformation in relation to IP, IT and data protection.
  • Advised Luxembourg investment funds on the acquisition of a group of companies focused on LNG marine bunkering services in relation to IP, IT and compliance.
  • Advised Swiss multinational food and drink company on the acquisition and divestiture of a group of healthcare companies offering nutrition in relation to IP, IT.
  • Advised Dutch investment fund on the acquisition of two companies offering parenting equipment, such as strollers and toys, in relation to data protection.
  • Advised German private equity firm on the acquisition of two Dutch groups of companies offering water pumping services and excavator support mats, respectively, in relation to IP and IT.
  • Advised British-Dutch transnational consumer goods company on the acquisition of German meat substitutes manufacturer in relation to IP, IT and data protection.
  • Advised UK private equity firm on the acquisition of leading German internet and multimedia service provider in relation to IP, IT and data protection.
  • Advised German private equity firm on the acquisition of a group of companies, involving providers of data center services and of software development, respectively, in relation to IP, IT and data protection.
  • Advised German private equity firm on the acquisition of a group of companies from the plastic moulding industry in relation to IP, IT and data protection.
  • Advised German private equity firm on the sale of a German food manufacturer in relation to IP, IT and data protection.

 

Perspectivas

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Noticias

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Educación

Master of Laws – LL.M., European and International Business Law, Frankfurt am Main

Second State Law Examination (bar exam), Frankfurt am Main

Legal Clerkship (Referendariat)
Regional Court (Landgericht) of Wiesbaden

First State Law Examination
Frankfurt am Main

Goethe University Frankfurt am Main

Admisiones

Bar

  • Düsseldorf, Germany

Membresías

  • Deutsche Vereinigung für gewerblichen Rechtsschutz und Urheberrecht (GRUR)
  • Vereinigung von Fachleuten des gewerblichen Rechtsschutzes (VPP)
  • Young International Arbitration Group (YIAG)