A&O Shearman is expanding its global patent practice with the addition of Constanze Krenz, who will join the German patent litigation team in November. Krenz previously headed DLA Piper’s German patent practice, and her move is a blow for DLA Piper’s ambitions in the UPC territory.
Krenz, 41, was a prominent figure in DLA Piper’s European patent practice, having steered the practice into the new UPC era and established a strong presence at the new court. She had attracted considerable attention in the market for representing Dyson in its case against Dreame concerning hair stylers. In this case, the UPC Court of Appeal had referred the long-arm jurisdiction issue to the CJEU in March 2026.
Experience and Client Base
At DLA Piper, Krenz served as practice head of the German patent group and office managing partner in Munich, regularly acting for clients such as Harman, HP, Nike, and Toyota. Her client base is focused on companies from the information technology, telecommunications, media, and consumer electronics sectors, as well as from technology-driven industries such as automotive, aviation, and manufacturing. Next to patent litigation, Krenz’s work also includes antitrust aspects in connection with standard essential patents and FRAND issues.
Krenz’s experience includes UPC proceedings for Belkin against Philips concerning wireless chargers, as well as nullity proceedings for Harman against Broadcom over audio patents for cars. She will work closely with the teams around Jan Ebersohl, Denise Benz, and Stephan Neuhaus at A&O Shearman.
Expansion of A&O Shearman’s Patent Practice
A&O Shearman’s German patent practice, headed by Ebersohl, currently comprises eleven lawyers and two patent attorneys, and is primarily known for mobile communications litigation and life sciences cases. In technology disputes, the team around Ebersohl and Benz is currently defending Samsung against ZTE in one of the largest ongoing global SEP and FRAND disputes before the German courts and the UPC.
In life sciences, the team led by Stephan Neuhaus continues to coordinate the pan-European defence of Bayer’s blockbuster drug Xarelto across 27 countries. The group recently took its first steps into UPC work with an SPC suit for Merz Pharmaceuticals, led by the Paris office alongside Carpmaels & Ransford.
Future Plans and Team Structure
DLA Piper, with a strong US patent practice and a solid presence, had already emphasised before Krenz’s departure its intention to further strengthen its European practice. The firm will now need to expand at partner level. Its patent work is centered on Kokularajah Paheenthararajah and Burkhard Führmeyer.
A&O Shearman is investing in the expansion of its European patent team. Krenz’s existing team will remain at DLA Piper. It is unclear which clients Krenz will follow from her former firm.
Impact on DLA Piper
Krenz’s departure continues a phase of upheaval in the German patent practice at DLA Piper, following the retirement of long-standing senior partner Markus Gampp in spring 2024 and the departure of Philipp Cepl to Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer earlier this year. The firm loses another key figure in patent litigation, and will need to expand at partner level to continue competing at a high level in the UPC business.
DLA Piper’s patent work in Germany is now centered on head of life sciences Kokularajah Paheenthararajah, who is based in Cologne, and partner Burkhard Führmeyer in Frankfurt, who has a broader IP practice focusing on the technology and life sciences sectors. Krenz’s existing team will remain at DLA Piper.
