Robert advises companies from the technology and life sciences sectors on a wide range of commercial, intellectual property (IP) and regulatory matters. His clients range from multinational corporations to startups and scaleups.

Robert specializes in complex collaborations (R&D), licensing initiatives, and commercial transactions relating to the procurement, development, commercialization, and use of technology and life sciences products.

Another key focus of Robert’s practice involves providing strategic and day-to-day regulatory advise to clients from the medical device industry and other areas within the life sciences sector. This includes guidance on the procurement of CE-marking and marketing authorizations, advertising and promotion of regulated products, vigilance matters, responses to warning letters and enforcement actions. He also advises on distribution chain regulation and regulatory contracts, such as clinical trial agreements, quality agreements, contract manufacturing agreements, and distribution agreements helping clients maintain compliance and mitigate risks in their operations.

Robert’s practice further encompasses advise on comprehensive IP protection strategies, know-how protection schemes, and employee invention regimes. He provides trademark and advertising claims clearances, as well as trademark and design prosecution and portfolio management services. He represents clients in IP related matters both in court and in out-of-court disputes and has extensive experience in proceedings before the European Union Intellectual Property Office, the German Patent and Trademark Office, and the Federal Patent Court.

As a regular contributor to the MoFo Life Sciences Blog and the MoFo Impact Blog, Robert shares his insights on current industry trends as well as legal and regulatory developments.

He earned his LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York and passed the New York Bar Exam. Before joining Morrison Foerster, he worked as an associate at a renowned German patent law firm in Munich.

Robert is counsel at Morrison Foerster’s German office in Berlin.

Representative Experience

Technology Transactional:

• German-based consortium on the development and implementation of an online marketplace for artificial intelligence applications and services.
• International company on the development of a global collaboration regarding AI-powered robotic MaaS.
• U.S.-based developer of open source based secure networks and decentralized applications for web3 on its intellectual property strategy.
• U.S.-based satellite network provider in a transaction with a French-based satellite manufacturer on a high-volume development and supply deal for satellite bus systems.
• German based provider of AI-based research tool on B2B customer contracts.
• German based private equity fond on multiple acquisitions of companies in the digital space.    

Life Sciences Transactional:

• U.S.-based biotech fund on various research collaborations and licensing transactions with German startups and research institutions.
• UK-based digital health company on product roll-out of RMP applications in Germany, including on procurement proceedings and related agreements.  
• German specialty pharmaceutical company leading in the transdermal drug delivery space, on the sale of certain painkiller applications to a French PE house, including on related regulatory contracts.
• Medios AG on the acquisition of a German-based specialty pharmaceutical company active in the field of ophthalmology, rheumatology, and oncology.
• Co.Don, a German provider of artificial cartilage solutions, in high-stake exclusive out-licensing transactions to bring their technology to the Russian and Chinese market, including complex arrangements concerning the protection of trade secrets, as well as on regulatory compliance and cooperation.
• Mediaire GmbH, a Berlin-based AI-powered imaging company focusing on analyzing radiological images, on inbound data licenses and outbound terms of use.
• Holocare AS, a Norwegian-based manufacturer of medical software, on license agreements for its holographic pre-operative planning software.

Life Sciences Regulatory:

• U.S. based medical device software company on qualification and risk class assessment of medical device software components and development of a comprehensive regulatory strategy for medical device software in the EU as well as representation before competent authorities in enforcement actions. Advise on day-to-day medical device regulatory issues, including coordinating and managing a network of local counsel to handle national law governed regulatory issues.
• U.S. based medical laser company, in the creation of transition strategy from European Medical Device Directive regime to the stricter European Medical Device Regulation regime and the putting into place of a viable distribution structure.   
• Fluxergy Inc. a U.S. based manufacturer of clinical diagnostics, on EU medical device and in-vitro diagnostic regulatory issues related to the distribution of its one point-of care testing platform and the drafting of the associated distribution and quality management agreements.
• trackle GmbH, a German-based fertility prevention startup, on EU risk class assessment of its fertility cycle device and issues relating notified body review. 
• Parexel, a global contract research and biopharmaceutical service company, on patient consent and other requirements for clinical studies under EU and German law.  
• Dr. August Wolff GmbH & Co. KG, a German based manufacturer of pharmaceutical skin, hair and dental products, on various issues regarding the transfer of marketing authorizations.