Dr. Anton Pfau

German Patent Attorney, European Patent Attorney

pfau@grunecker.de     S/MIME

+49 (0) 89 21 23 50

Office: München

Languages: German, English

Expertise

Dr. Anton Pfau is an experienced patent attorney specialising in patent law, particularly semiconductor process technology, nanotechnology, laser technology and optics. He gained his in-depth knowledge in these fields during his studies as a graduate physicist at the Technical University of Munich, his doctorate at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics and a two-year research stay at the University of Berkeley, where he specialised in excimer laser-assisted photolithography.

Anton is regularly involved in complex opposition, nullity and patent infringement proceedings as a German and European patent attorney. He regularly appears before the Opposition Divisions and Boards of Appeal of the European Patent Office and in appeal proceedings before the Federal Patent Court. In addition to his admission to the German and European Patent Offices, the Federal Patent Court and the Federal Supreme Court (in nullity appeals), he is also authorised to represent clients at the Unified European Patent Court (UPC).

Anton has long represented well-known international companies, particularly in semiconductor and computer technology, laser technology and agricultural technology.

Areas

  • Patent Law
  • Patent Infringement
  • Employee Invention Law
  • License Agreements

Technical Fields

  • Semiconductor Technology
  • Laser Technology
  • Optics
  • Agricultural Technology
  • Nanotechnology

Vita

  • Studies in physics at the TU Munich, graduated in 1987
  • Doctorate in physics at the LMU Munich and the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics, 1990
  • Postdoctoral studies at UC Berkeley, California, 1990 to 1992
  • Training as a German patent attorney and as a European patent attorney, 1992 to 1994
  • Admission as German and European Patent Attorney, 1995
  • Partner at Grünecker, since 1998

Awards & Rankings

Core Attorney – Prosecution and official Proceedings (Tier 1)
“One of the key figures in the team is (…) Anton Pfau (physics).”, Legal500, 2023

Silver – Germany – Individuals – Prosecution and Nullity
Recommended; European Patent Office
“That solid bench is 85 patent attorneys deep and includes the highly experienced Anton Pfau (…)”. , IAM 1000, 2023

“Pfau has a PhD in physics and offers prosecution services in a range of technical sectors, including optics and semiconductors. Patrons rate him as “very efficient and productive. Anton delivers great results based on very close knowledge of his clients’ inventions and technologies. He makes himself a trusted adviser.”, IAM 1000, 2023