Taylor Wessing partners launch Pentarc in historic Munich spin-off

Taylor Wessing‘s Munich patent litigation team faces a major blow as five equity partners prepare to leave and establish their own practice, Pentarc. The departure, set for autumn, represents one of the most significant partner exits in Germany’s recent legal market.

The departing partners – Christian Lederer, Dietrich Kamlah, Anja Lunze, Thomas Pattloch, and Jan Phillip Rektorschek – will be joined by at least five additional lawyers in their new venture. The group brings substantial expertise in European patent litigation, particularly at the Unified Patent Court (UPC), where they have handled high-profile cases for major clients including Samsung, Disney, and Abbott.

This exodus comes at a pivotal moment for Taylor Wessing, which had been expanding its European patent capabilities through strategic hires in Amsterdam and Paris. The firm’s networked approach across European jurisdictions had positioned it to compete directly with established players like Hogan Lovells and Bird & Bird.

The departure of these key partners will substantially reduce Taylor Wessing’s Munich patent litigation capacity, with Gisbert Hohagen now leading the remaining team. Despite this setback, the firm retains strong capabilities in Düsseldorf under Roland Küppers and continues pursuing its European growth strategy.

Client relationships will likely be a key consideration during exit negotiations, as the departing partners have been instrumental in managing several ongoing UPC cases and national proceedings for the firm’s life sciences and technology clients.

Pentarc plans to establish its headquarters in Munich’s Herzog-Max-Areal near Karlsplatz, with additional expansion to Hamburg under consideration.