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  • Thomas Adocker
Thomas Adocker
Thomas Adocker

Thomas Adocker

Partner

  • Vienna Austria
Contact Me Today
+43 1 71 65 50
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Featured award

Managing IP 2025

IP star/Patent star

Scroll to featured award

For more than twenty years, Thomas has been advising national and international clients in the field of intellectual property, with a strong focus on patent law, in particular with respect to litigation, licensing and technology transfer. He has established an excellent reputation for representing clients in major Austrian patent infringement cases and is known for his broad know-how in connection with multinational disputes. Amongst the Austrian lawyers, he is the most experienced in UPC litigation.

In addition to his extensive regulatory expertise, Thomas is also frequently active in franchise law and deals with distribution agreements.

Expertise

Services and Groups

Patents & innovation
Advising on life sciences regulation
Drafting and negotiating patents & know-how commercial agreements
Resolving patents & know-how disputes
Trade secrets

Sectors

Life sciences & healthcare
Manufacturing & industrials
Pharmaceuticals
Medical devices
Biotech
Life sciences start-ups and investors

Patent Perspective Quick Listens

A UPC and European patent litigation podcast.

Listen now

UPC

The Unified Patent Court (UPC)

The UPC and Unitary Patent will introduce the most radical changes to patent litigation in Europe in 40 years.

Read our guide to the UPC

Advertising Medical Devices

Advertising Medical Devices European Comparison Tool

Looking to promote your medical device products in Europe? Access our comparison tool to manage regulatory challenges across multiple jurisdictions. 

Access here

CV

2023 Partner, Taylor Wessing
2006 - 2023 Partner, Schwarz Schönher Attworneys at law
2001 - 2005 Associate, Engin-Deniz Attorneys at law
2000 - 2001 Legal trainee, Higher Regional Court of Vienna
2005 Austrian Bar exam, Vienna
2000 Summer Term, Miami University, Oxford/Ohio, USA
1996 – 2000 Legal studies, University of Vienna

Career

2023 Partner, Taylor Wessing
2006 - 2023 Partner, Schwarz Schönher Attworneys at law
2001 - 2005 Associate, Engin-Deniz Attorneys at law
2000 - 2001 Legal trainee, Higher Regional Court of Vienna

Education

2005 Austrian Bar exam, Vienna
2000 Summer Term, Miami University, Oxford/Ohio, USA
1996 – 2000 Legal studies, University of Vienna

Publications

Contribution on the commentary by Stadler/Koller on the Austrian Patent Act (1st ed. July 2019, 2nd ed. forthcoming): incl. commentary on the elements of infringement and the provisions on the statute of limitations

Contribution to the textbook by Hüttermann "Einheitspatent und Einheitliches Patentgericht" (1st ed. Dec 2016, 2nd ed. forthcoming): Presentation of the Austrian legal situation and the differences to the Unified Patent Court System

Contribution on the commentary by Hüpfauf/Koller on the Austrian Medical Devices Act (1st edition forthcoming, expected 2024): Distinction between Medical Devices Act and Blood Regulatory Rules

Zivilrechtliche Hausdurchsuchung und Beweissicherung nach Enforcement Directive und § 151b PatG (ecolex 2020, 669)

Zur Zulässigkeit der Einschränkung eines Patents durch Aufnahme von Merkmalen aus dessen Beschreibung in den Anspruch (OPM, Op 1/13 – ÖBl-LS 2014/20)

Zum Ersatz von Kosten der patentanwaltlichen Vertretung und Gutachtenserstellung im Patentverletzungsverfahren (OLG Wien, 15 R 109/12b – ÖBl-LS 2013/18)

Zur Zulässigkeit eines in Österreich nicht rezeptpflichtigen Medikaments (OGH 4 Ob 13/12h – Arzneimittel-Versandhandel II – ÖBl 2012/65)

Zur Zulässigkeit der Erteilung eines ergänzenden Schutzzertifikats (EuGH C-427/09, ÖBl-LS 2011/117)

Österreichischer Oberster Patent- und Markensenat trifft Grundsatzentscheidung zum Verhältnis zwischen der Erfindungshöhe eines Patents und eines Gebrauchsmusters (OPM, OGM 1/10 – Teleskopausleger, GRUR Int 2011, 673)

Nichtigkeit eines ergänzenden Schutzzertifikats und dessen Geltendmachung (OGH, 17 Ob 6/10x – Memantin, GRUR Int 2011, 385)

Vermögenswerte Interessen aus dem Namensrecht (OGH, 17 Ob 2/10h – Maria Treben, ecolex 2010/438)

Memberships & Associations

Licensing Executives Society International (LESI): Co-Chair of Meetings Committee, Member of Dispute Resolution Committee

Licensing Executives Society Austria: Board member and Secretary

International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI)

European Patent Lawyers Association (EPLAW)

Austrian Biopatent Monitoring Committee, representing the Austrian Bar Association

Additional languages

English

Awards

Managing IP 2025

Featured

IP star/Patent star

JUVE Patent 2025

Recommended lawyer

Legal 500 2025

Recommended lawyer - Intellectual Property: "Thomas Adocker is an exceptional lawyer with stellar performance in patent disputes, in particular at the UPC." "Thomas Adocker is very commercially minded and an expert in the field." (IP)

JUVE Österreich 2025

Führender Name/oft empfohlen im IP- und IT-Recht: „… große Erfahrung ...“

"Thomas Adocker knows patent law very well." (IP) "Thomas Adocker is a great litigator." (IP)

Recommended lawyer - Intellectual Property

Gold Individual - litigation and transactions

Notable Practicioner: "Thomas Adocker is a really capable patent litigator." (IP) "Thomas Adocker is really brilliant." (IP)

Notable Practitioner: "Thomas Adocker is a really capable patent litigator.“ (IP)

Gold Individual - litigation and transactions: "Thomas is a stellar lawyer and the go-to person for patent litigation in Austria." (IP/IT) “He is very responsive and easy to work with, and his guidance is clear, concise and results oriented.” (IP/IT)

Recommended lawyer – Intellectual Property: “Thomas Adocker is one of the best patent lawyers in the country and a pleasure to work with.”

Leading individual (“high level of expertise, great dedication to his cases”, competitor)

Leading individual (“high level of expertise, great dedication to his cases”, competitor)

Recommended lawyer in Patent Litigation

Thomas's news & insights

View Thomas's insights
Click here to find out more
Patents & innovation

Preliminary injunctions in Austria

15 October 2025

by multiple authors

Synapse - Europe's approach to supply chain issues for medicines and medical devices

Comparison of national measures to protect the supply of medicines and medical devices

Our international team has developed a practical guide that allows users to navigate different European jurisdictions, identifying medicines subject to supply restrictions, and understand manufacturers' obligations during shortages or product withdrawals.

1 October 2025

by multiple authors

5 of 5 Insights

Click here to find out more
Synapse - AI in Life Sciences

Preliminary injunctions in the UPC – lessons learnt

Two years in, the UPC has become a key forum for patent enforcement, offering swift preliminary injunctions across many EU states. Courts assess both infringement and patent validity rigorously, requiring applicants to act quickly and prepare thoroughly.

17 June 2025
Quick read

by Thomas Adocker and Christian Dekoninck

2 of 5 Insights

Click here to find out more
View Thomas's insights

Related news & insights

Patents & innovation

Preliminary injunctions in Poland

5 November 2025
Briefing

by Bartosz Świdrak and Karolina Ciąglewicz

Click here to find out more
Overhead view of scientist using centrifuge machine
Life sciences & healthcare

Biotechnology as a security issue: Why dual-use control and adaptive regulation are crucial for national sustainability

3 November 2025
Quick read

by Dr. Niclas von Woedtke, MBA (Kellogg/ WHU)

Click here to find out more
Patents & innovation

Preliminary injunctions in Belgium

29 October 2025
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by multiple authors

Click here to find out more
Patents & innovation

Preliminary injunctions in France

22 October 2025
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by multiple authors

Click here to find out more
Pipette adding sample to petri dish
Life sciences & healthcare

Advertising skinny jabs – regulators react

15 October 2025
Quick read

by Alison Dennis and Alice Matthews

Click here to find out more
Two coloured ropes knotted together
Corporate/M&A & capital markets

Advising Hilton Foods Limited on its sale of Fairfax Meadow Europe Limited

13 October 2025

by multiple authors

Click here to find out more
Close-Up Of Weight Scale
Life sciences & healthcare

Reform of the Veterinary Medicines Act

13 October 2025
Briefing

by Dr. Daniel Tietjen and Daniel Dietrich

Click here to find out more
Patents & innovation

Preliminary injunctions in Ireland

8 October 2025
Briefing

by Hannah Garvey and Eoin Martyn

Click here to find out more
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Patents & innovation

Once daily, twice defeated in Ireland

6 October 2025
Quick read

by Hannah Garvey and Eoin Martyn

Click here to find out more
Life sciences & healthcare

Politics of European countries protecting the supply of critical medicines medical devices

1 October 2025
Briefing
Click here to find out more
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