Holger has been active in the field of intellectual property since 2001. Holding a Ph.D. in chemistry, he has been admitted as a German and European Patent Attorney in 2004 and 2005, respectively. He spent a significant part of his scientific career in the United States and has particular expertise in U.S.-related patent proceedings.

His practice focuses on obtaining, enforcing and defending granted patents in opposition proceedings before the European Patent Office (EPO), including proceedings before the Boards of Appeal. Holger helps his clients build robust and commercially relevant patent portfolios. He also regularly prepares strategic IP opinions, including validity and freedom to operate opinions, infringement and legal opinions, as well as IP due diligence, including matters involving cross-border aspects.

Holger advises clients on all aspects of the "day-to-day" prosecution and maintenance of intellectual property rights (patents, utility models, designs), both at the national level before the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA) and in international proceedings before the European Patent Office (EPO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). In addition, he has extensive experience in proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and in U.S.-related IP matters more generally.

His technical expertise, built on a long research career, covers a broad range of chemistry-related fields, including physical, technical, and polymer chemistry, new materials, polymers, soft condensed matter, biophysical chemistry and pharmaceuticals (small molecules).

Prior to joining CASALONGA’s Munich office in 2026, Holger began his career at a renowned German patent and law firm, then worked as a Patent Attorney with an internationally active general practice U.S. law firm, and from 2008 to 2025, served as a partner at a leading German IP boutique.

Professional Organizations

Holger is active in various committees of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) and the American Chemical Society (ACS), particularly in the areas of chemistry and biotechnology.

Holger is also a member of the European Patent Institute (epi), of the German Patent Attorney Bar Association (Patentanwaltskammer – PAK), the International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys (FICPI) and of the German Academic International Network (GAIN).

Selected Recent Publications

Holger is the author of numerous scientific publications as well as articles in the field of patent law, including, most recently :

• - 2025 : “EPO Requirement to ‘adapt’ description to allowable Claim Set may be History” – published in AIPLA Chemical Practice Chronicles, Volume 13, Issue 1
• - 2024 : “Clinical Trials as Prior Art or Pharma Patents in Europe” – published in AIPLA Chemical Practice Chronicles, Volume 12, Issue 1
• - 2024 : “The Bolar Exemption in Europe” – published in AIPLA Chemical Practice Chronicles, Volume 12, Issue 2
• - 2015 : “Protecting Chemistry Inventions : The Double-Edged Sword of Being an Unpredictable Art” – published in ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters 2015, Volume 6, 364-366

Selected Recent Speaking Engagements

Holger is a regularly invited speaker at international patent conferences, notably at the AIPLA. He also regularly lectures on patent law topics at annual conferences of the American Chemical Society.

Education

• - Research scientist working on key technologies such as new materials, solid state physics, high throughput techniques, "soft condensed matter", polymers and polymer films, as well as biophysical chemistry at the US research institute Argonne National Laboratory (Chicago, USA) – 2001

• - Postdoctoral researcher at Harvard University (Cambridge, USA) – 1999

• - Chemistry studies with focus on physical chemistry and materials science at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (formerly the Technical University of Karlsruhe) – 1995

Languages

German (native), English (near-native), French, Spanish

Recent Awards

• - IP Stars from Managing IP : Notable practitioner in IP in 2025
• - Juve Patent : Expert in Materials, Chemistry and Pharmaceuticals in 2025
• - IAM Patent 1000 : Silver - Individuals : prosecution and nullity in 2025