Ronak Kalhor-Witzel
Socios
Dipl.-Phys., German and European Patent Attorney, UPC Representative Idiomas DE | EN | FR Electrical Engineering & Digital Technologies Team Encrypted E-mail to Ronak Kalhor-Witzel
Más informaciónContacto
T +49 89 92 40 90
E rkalhor-witzel@hoffmanneitle.com
Arabellastraße 30
81925 München
Builds, defends and leverages deep‑tech patent portfolios across Europe/US, with a focus on semiconductors, quantum/AI and UPC litigation
Ronak Kalhor‑Witzel is a Partner in HOFFMANN EITLE’s Electrical Engineering and Digital Technologies practice group. She has extensive experience in intellectual property law, gained both at leading international law firms and in the industry. As a physicist, she combines deep technical expertise with strategic and commercially focused IP counseling.
Her practice focuses on the drafting and worldwide prosecution of patent applications, as well as on complex opposition and nullity proceedings. A particular emphasis of her work is the representation of clients before national courts and the Unified Patent Court (UPC).
Ronak excels in providing agile freedom‑to‑operate (FTO) advice in connection with complex technology projects, M&A transactions, and private equity investments, helping clients identify, assess, and manage patent‑related risks as part of broader business investment decisions. Furthermore, she advises technology companies on emerging issues at the intersection of intellectual property and artificial intelligence, including AI governance and the evolving regulatory environment.
Her in‑house experience at Infineon Technologies AG, where she was appreciated and her expertise was highly recognized by customers and internal stakeholders, informs her pragmatic, commercially focused approach to IP strategy and risk management.
Prior to joining HOFFMANN EITLE, Ronak built and led an EMEA patent prosecution practice from the ground up, establishing scalable processes for global portfolio management and cross‑border IP strategy.
Having worked extensively with clients and professional contacts in the United States and Canada, Ronak has substantial experience in cross‑border and transatlantic IP matters. Over the years, she has built a close‑knit North American network of clients, co‑counsel, and industry contacts, which she leverages to support international clients in navigating the European IP landscape and to coordinate global filing strategies, cross‑border FTO and due diligence, as well as UPC–US litigation strategies. She actively contributes to HOFFMANN EITLE’s North America Hub.
Her clients include semiconductor manufacturers, MedTech OEMs, deep‑tech start‑ups, and private equity investors seeking to build, defend, and leverage IP in complex technology transactions.
When away from the office, Ronak enjoys spending time with her family and – whenever time allows – being out on the water sailing, diving or ice bathing.
A strategic IP advisor for complex technologies and transactions
Technical Focus Areas
Semiconductor Technology: Chip design, power electronics, and semiconductor manufacturing processes, with particular expertise in MEMS systems for automotive and power‑electronics applications.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Software: Autonomous systems, machine learning, and digital platforms in the life sciences and digital health sectors, including IP aspects of AI training data, model development, and copyright issues.
Emerging & Quantum Technologies: Quantum computing and quantum technologies, with a focus on semiconductor‑based quantum devices and their use in automotive and industrial applications.
Medical Technology: Medical imaging technologies, smart medical devices, and digital health solutions, from concept through regulatory and IP strategy.
Expertise & Areas of Practice
Patent Prosecution & Portfolio Management: Strategic development, management, and enforcement of global patent portfolios before the EPO and DPMA; multi‑jurisdictional filing strategies (EP/DE/PCT), competitive intelligence, and IP roadmaps aligned with business and R&D priorities.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution: Representation in opposition and appeal proceedings before the EPO and DPMA, as well as patent litigation before German courts and the Unified Patent Court (UPC); preparation of validity, non‑infringement, and FTO opinions to support litigation, licensing, and transaction decisions.
IP Transaction Advisory & FTO: Conducting agile FTO risk analyses and IP due diligence in connection with mergers and acquisitions (M&A), venture capital investments, and private equity transactions; support on licensing strategies and market entry in Europe and beyond.
In‑House Strategy & AI Governance: Advising on employee inventor compensation under German law, IP governance, the commercial exploitation of intellectual property rights, and the IP implications of AI technologies, including AI training and copyright issues.
Diploma in Physics:
- Heidelberg University (Germany)
- University of Adelaide (Australia)
- Representative before the Unified Patent Court (UPC)
- European Patent Attorney (EPO)
- German Patent Attorney (DPMA)
- FICPI (Communications Committee)
- epi
- VPP
- GRUR
- „Between control and interoperability“ – BGH Sony v. Datel (GermanLawInternational, 2025)
- „Testing the boundaries: AI training models and copyright laws“ (2024)
- „Germany: AI cannot be named as inventor – DABUS decision“ (Inside Tech Law, 2024)
- „European Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court: first experiences and insights“ (2023)
- Regular speaker at the European Patent Drafting Camp (FORUM), VPP seminars, and UPC panels with IPIC (Montreal)
- Notable Practitioner, IP STARS (Managing IP)
- Recognized in Women’s IP World for impactful litigation and case law