iam Patent 2026

Gold – Firms: litigation and transactions

GEISTWERT commands attention as a partner-driven IP boutique with a depth of experience rarely matched in the Austrian market. With close to nine decades of combined expertise at partner level, the firm is a trusted name for high-stakes patent and technology disputes. While life sciences form a central pillar of the practice, the team is equally active in automotive, AI, financial services, IT and semiconductor-related mandates. Its dedicated Italian Desk further distinguishes it, enabling seamless handling of cross-border matters between Austria and Italy.

Rainer Schultes is frequently sought out for contentious patent and unfair competition disputes spanning the pharmaceutical, automotive and technology sectors. He works closely with Constantin Kletzer, whose strategic oversight and broad IP acumen make him a natural lead on intricate patent litigation. The pair, alongside Alexander Schnider, represented TeleTan in a closely watched dispute concerning a core patent for online banking authentication systems. After lower courts dismissed claims against A1 Telekom, the team pursued an extraordinary appeal; the Austrian Supreme Court ultimately endorsed their arguments, issuing a fundamental ruling on the scope of patent protection.

Max W Mosing and dual-qualified Austrian and Italian lawyer Juliane Messner further enhance the team’s cross-sector strength. Mosing is regularly engaged on licensing, rebranding and contentious IP mandates across the media and industrial sectors, while Messner advises on enforcement and portfolio strategy in cross-border settings. Together, they represent a leading Austrian schoolbook publisher in a complex trade secrets dispute concerning an online mathematics platform, securing favourable outcomes across a series of proceedings.