Bukow, Dr. Johannes W.
Dr. Johannes W. Bukow
johannesbukow@quinnemanuel.com

Dr. Johannes Bukow is a German qualified attorney (Rechtsanwalt) and Partner at Quinn Emanuel. He focuses on IP litigation, with a particular emphasis on patent litigation. His expertise covers working with clients and litigating patents in various industries including the coordination of lawsuits in multiple jurisdictions. Johannes also has specific experience regarding the interface of patents and antitrust laws (e.g., patents essential to industry standards and FRAND-defenses). He has pleaded numerous cases in the German patent infringement courts as well as in opposition proceedings at the EPO (including appeal proceedings), before the German PTO and the German Patent Court. He has significant experience in the area of border seizures.

Before joining Quinn Emanuel, he was an associate at both Allen & Overy LLP and at the IP boutique Schilling & Grosch. He graduated from Mannheim University and subsequently worked there as a research assistant at the Chair of Professor Dr. Rolf Sack. He obtained his doctorate degree from Mannheim University and his LL.M. from the University of Edinburgh. 

He was a lecturer in patent law at Freiburg University and he has contributed inter alia to the textbook Handbuch des Patentrechts (eds. Haedicke/Timmann), which is also available in English (Patent Law Handbook, eds. Haedicke/Timmann).

Both Chambers Global (most recently again in 2025) and Chambers Europe/Germany have ranked Johannes for many years, noting his strong technology and life sciences client base and high-profile patent litigation work. Previously, both publications have quoted that “Johannes Bukow is a highly esteemed lawyer who is doing good work”  and “Johannes Bukow is an excellent case manager and provides us with reliable and measured guidance.” JUVE again recognized him as being “highly recommended” for patent litigation in Germany in their 2024/2025 rankings, with a competitor calling him an “outstanding and seasoned litigator”.

He has once again been ranked as a “Recommended Individual (Silver)” for patent litigation (infringement) by IAM Patent 1000 2024, who call him a “very diligent litigator” who “always impresses with his strategic prowess and oral advocacy skill” and by Managing IP 2024, who again recommend Johannes as a “Patent Star – Germany” for patent litigation in Germany. Legal 500 Deutschland has consistently recommended him for patent litigation since 2014 and has done so again in their 2025 publication, again naming him a “Leading Partner”.

Who’s Who Legal  has consistently recommended Johannes for patent litigation in Germany since 2017 and has done so again in their 2024 rankings, naming him as “Recommended” in their latest national guide for Germany (Category IP – Patents) and as a “Thought Leader” (Category Germany – Patents)) Leaders League ranked him as “Highly Recommended” for Commercial Litigation in Germany in their 2024 rankings and as “Leading” for IP: Patent Litigation in Germany in their 2024 rankings. The Best Lawyers in Germany/Handelsblatt ranked Johannes for IP, Biotechnology Law and Life Sciences, in 2024-2025 and Litigation in 2025.

Education

  • Appellate Court of Zweibrücken
    (Second State Examination, 2004)
  • University of Mannheim
    (Ph.D. (Dr. iur.), 2002)
  • University of Edinburgh
    (LL.M., with distinction, 2000)
  • University of Mannheim
    (First State Examination, 1999)
  • University of Kingston (London)
    (Foreign student, 1997)

Admissions

  • Admitted to the German bar (Rechtsanwaltskammer Karlsruhe)

Languages

  • German
  • English

Prior Associations

  • Allen & Overy LLP, Mannheim, Germany:
    • Attorney at Law, 2007-2010
  • Schilling & Grosch, Mannheim, Germany:
    • Attorney at Law, 2005-2007
  • Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, Düsseldorf, Germany:
    • Trainee Attorney, 2004
  • Schilling & Grosch, Mannheim, Germany:
    • Trainee Attorney, 2002-2004
  • University of Mannheim, Faculty of Law, Germany:
    • Assistant (full-time) at the Chair of Prof. Dr. Rolf Sack, 2000-2002

Awards

  • 2014-2025: Ranked as "Leading Partner" for Intellectual Property: Patent Litigation by Legal 500 Deutschland
  • 2018-2024: Named a “Patent Star” by Managing IP: IP Stars
  • 2024: Ranked as “Highly Recommended” for Dispute Resolution: Commercial Litigation in Germany by Leaders League
  • 2024: Ranked as “Leading” for IP: Patent Litigation in Germany by Leaders League ; Ranked as “Excellent” in 2022 – 2023; ranked for Patent Litigation in Germany since 2013
  • 2017-2024: Recommended as “Thought Leader” in Who's Who Legal – Germany: Intellectual Property - Patents
  • 2013-2025: Ranked for Intellectual Property: Patent Litigation (Band 4) in Germany by Chambers Global
  • 2014-2024: Ranked for Intellectual Property: Patent Litigation (Band 4) in Germany by Chambers Europe
  • 2025: Ranked for Intellectual Property: Patent Litigation (Band 4) in Germany by Chambers Germany
  • 2014/2015-2024/2025: JUVE Handbook on Corporate Law Firms – “Frequently recommended for patent litigation”
  • 2023-2024: Named "Lawyer of the Year" by The Best Lawyers in Germany/Handelsblatt for Biotechnology Law and Life Sciences Practice
  • 2022-2025: The Best Lawyers in Germany/Handelsblatt for Intellectual Property Law
  • 2021-2025: The Best Lawyers in Germany/Handelsblatt for Biotechnology Law and Life Sciences Practice
  • 2025: The Best Lawyers in Germany/Handelsblatt for Litigation
  • 2015-2024: IAM Patent 1000 – Ranked as a “Recommended Individual (Silver)” (infringement - silver)
  • 2021: Individual recognition in IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals

Publications and Lectures

  • Neue Ansätze zur Erschöpfung – »Schrottreife« und Übergabe zur Vernichtung, in: Harmsen/Verhauwen (Hrsg.), Festschrift for Thomas Kühnen, pp. 143 – 154 (2024)
  • Handbuch des Patentrechts, Hrsg. Haedicke/Timmann, 1st edition, 2012, § 9 Einwendungen, pages 847 – 949 (available in Englisch “Patent Law – A Handbook“); 2nd edition, 2020, § 13 Einwendungen, pages 966 – 1111
  • Praxishandbuch Know-how-Schutz (eds. Ann / Loschelder / Grosch), Verfolgung von Know-how-Verletzungen / Strafrechtlicher Teil, pp. 412 – 432 (2010)
  • Review: R. Hacon/J. Pagenberg, Concise European Patent Law, Mitteilungen der deutschen Patentanwälte, p. 383 (Heymanns, 2008)
  • Review: N. Godendorff, Schadensersatz wegen unberechtigter Verwarnung im Immaterial- und Wettbewerbsrecht, Mitteilungen der deutschen Patentanwälte, p. 575 (Heymanns, 2007)
  • Die Entscheidung GAT/LUK und ihre Konsequenzen – Vom Ende der Cross-Border-Injunctions, in: Grosch/Ullmann (Hrsg.), Festschrift for Tilman Schilling, pp. 59 – 71 (2007)
  • Verletzungsklagen aus gewerblichen Schutzrechten – Die internationale Zuständigkeit nach dem EuGVÜ bzw. der EuGVVO, Ph.D. thesis, Mannheim University, 321 pages (2003)

Professional Activities

  • Member, GRUR (German Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property)
  • Member, AIPPI (International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property)
  • Lecturer in patent law at Freiburg University 2010-2015
  • Regular speaker on patent law at international conferences (e.g. LESI)