U.S. companies expanding to Europe need a representative based in the European Economic Area. We are German attorneys with a New York office: you deal with U.S.-admitted counsel in your time zone, while your EU trademark is handled directly by qualified European representatives — one firm, no hand-offs.
Under Article 119(2) EUTMR, applicants without a domicile or real and effective commercial establishment in the EEA must be represented by a professional representative in proceedings before the EUIPO — including office actions, oppositions and cancellation actions. Filing alone is not the hard part; defending your mark is.
Your U.S. firm engages a European associate. Two firms, two invoices, information passed through intermediaries — and you never speak to the person actually arguing your case.
Marijan S. Hucke is admitted in New York and before U.S. federal courts; our German attorneys act as your EUIPO representatives. Same firm, one strategy, English throughout.
Aligned protection across the USPTO, the EUIPO and the German DPMA — with consistent classifications and no gaps between your U.S. and EU filings.
Which one fits depends on your markets, budget and existing U.S. rights. We advise before you file, not after.
One registration, all 27 member states. Usually the best value if you sell across Europe. Official fees from €850 for one class.
National protection in Europe's largest economy. Useful for a focused market entry or when an earlier right blocks the EU-wide route. Official fees from €290.
Extend your existing U.S. registration to the EU or to individual countries. Efficient for larger portfolios — but dependent on your U.S. base registration for five years.
You are launching in the EU and need your name secured before a third party registers it — Europe is first-to-file, not first-to-use.
Selling on European marketplaces requires an EU trademark for Brand Registry and for enforcing against counterfeit listings.
We advise at the intersection of IP and AI regulation — relevant if your product is subject to the EU AI Act or uses AI-generated branding.
Unlike the United States, EU and German trademark law grant rights to whoever files first — not to whoever used the mark first. Prior use in the U.S. generally does not protect you in Europe. Companies routinely discover that a squatter registered their brand in the EU before their launch. Filing early is the single most effective protection.
Attorney and Counselor at Law · admitted in New York and before U.S. federal courts since 2008
Focus: Trademark & Patent Litigation, Cross-Border IP Enforcement
200+ U.S. trademarks as attorney of record (USPTO register)
Offices in Cologne · New York · Brighton · Vancouver