Dr Friedrich Emmerling is a leading German patent attorney and partner at BDPE, a patent attorney litigation boutique headquartered in Munich. Working more than 20 years in patent law and the last 17 years solely on patent litigation he is well recognised for his expertise in complex, high-stakes disputes, particularly in the field of standard essential patents (SEPs). He is regularly ranked among the top litigation specialists by Chambers, Legal 500, IAM Patent 1000, JUVE and Managing IP.
Dr Emmerling represents clients in contentious proceedings before the European Patent Office (EPO), the German Patent Office, the German Federal Patent Court, the German Federal Court of Justice and the Unified Patent Court (UPC). His experience spans both asserting and defending rights in patent-litigation disputes, with a particular emphasis on the communications, automotive, video and photovoltaic technology fields. He is frequently involved in multi-jurisdictional patent enforcement efforts, working closely with leading law firms to coordinate infringement, nullity and opposition actions across Europe. Dr Emmerling played a central role in several landmark disputes that have shaped the European patent litigation landscape.
Thanks to his technical background and deep sector knowledge, Dr Emmerling is highly regarded for his work in technologies requiring nuanced understanding. He holds a doctorate in physics from the Technical University of Munich and previously worked as developer and later as senior executive in the software development and application engineering industries. This experience gives him a unique ability to communicate effectively with inventors, experts and engineers, and enables him to understand business needs of clients. He is consistently recognised by clients and peers for his strategic foresight, technical fluency and courtroom effectiveness.
In addition to contentious work, Dr Emmerling advises on patent strategy and portfolio management, offering pragmatic, forward-looking advice tailored to clients' business goals. He frequently handles opposition and nullity proceedings, often in parallel to infringement actions, and brings a holistic understanding of how to defend or challenge patents at all procedural stages.
Before co-founding BDPE, Friedrich held senior roles in the software industry and spent 8 years at the international firm Bird & Bird. His international practice continues to thrive, supported by a trusted global network of IP professionals and law firms. Clients value his precision, courtroom credibility, and technical depth, as well as his ability to manage complex litigation strategies across borders. With a rare blend of scientific acumen, litigation experience and strategic insight, Dr Emmerling has become a trusted advisor to global technology leaders navigating the European IP landscape.
