"More than almost any other of the large mixed IP firms, Grünecker has built up an extremely active team of lawyers in trade mark and competition law," praise the JUVE editors in the new edition of the handbook. Various competitors describe Grünecker as a "top firm" and "very modern". According to JUVE, this combination "regularly appeals to many US clients in particular, most recently a large pharmaceutical group, for example". JUVE also highlights that Grünecker "unlike many competitors is continuously building up the next generation". For example, three soft IP counsels recently were appointed senior counsel, the career stage before partnership. The team's strengths include strategic advice and enforcement of trade mark rights, combating product piracy and advising on the interface with IT. Often recommended by clients and competitors are the attorneys-at-law Prof. Dr. Maximilian Kinkeldey ("excellent trade mark lawyer, reacts quickly, solution-oriented, puts himself in the client's position", client; "excellent", "highly professional, goal-oriented negotiator", competitor), Dr. Nicolás Schmitz ("expert, experienced trade mark lawyer", competitor), Dr. Holger Gauss ("reliable and pragmatic trade mark lawyer", client; "all-round talent in IP, good litigator", "extremely collegial and fair, grat", competitor) and Martin Aufenanger. Prof. Dr. Maximilian Kinkeldey also was named Leading Advisor in Trade mark Law by JUVE. He is "very present in the market, among other things, because of his representation of a well-known U.S. food manufacturer".