Dr Klaus Hinkelmann studied Chemistry and Mathematics at Freiburg University and obtained a doctor's degree in organic electrochemistry. He subsequently did post-doctoral research in the Department of Physics under Prof Heeger (Nobel Prize 2000) and Prof Wudl at the University of California in Santa Barbara, USA.
From 1989 until 2000 Klaus Hinkelmann worked in the Patents Division of BASF. Based in Japan (Kyoto, Tokyo), he represented BASF's Patents Division in East-Asia from 1995 to 1998. Klaus trained also in several American and Japanese IP law firms, and worked for large IP firms in Munich prior to starting his own practice in 2004.
Dr Klaus Hinkelmann is a German and European patent attorney as well as a European Trademark and Design Attorney. His patent practice focuses on German and European patent examination, opposition and appeal proceedings, as well as patent invalidation proceedings before the German Federal Patent Court and the German Federal Court of Justice. His special technical experience includes the fields of polymers, optical recording media, printers, toners, chemicals, photovoltaic devices, adhesives, hygiene products, household appliances, foamed inorganic/organic materials, optics, organic batteries and displays.
Because of his long experience in the IP department of a large German company, Dr Hinkelmann is often advising small to medium size (start-up) companies with regard to employee inventions, patent strategy, co-operation matters and other IP contracts.
Due to the large IP network and international experience, Dr Hinkelmann often advises especially European and Asian clients with respect to their overseas IP related business activities.
Dr Hinkelmann is the owner of Patentanwaltskanzlei Hinkelmann which is a small IP firm that nevertheless handles very diverse technical fields and IP matters. Communication with the firm is not only possible in German, English and French, but also in Japanese and Chinese. The firm works for medium size companies for which it handles all IP matters (patents, trademarks, IP contracts, respective counselling) as well as large size companies.
Klaus authored the standard work Gewerblicher Rechtsschutz in Japan – Patente, Marken, Gebrauchsmuster, Geschmacksmuster und Know-how (Legal Protection of Industrial Property in Japan – Patents, Trademarks, Utility Models, Registered Designs and Know-How), and is author and co-author of numerous other publications and books in this area. Dr Hinkelmann also frequently lectures on these and other topics, both in Germany and internationally.
Dr Klaus Hinkelmann's memberships include the German Patent Lawyers Bar, GRUR, LES, VPP, FICPI, EPI, INTA, German-Japanese Lawyers Association (DJJV).
