Elisabeth Engelhard

A resourceful biologist with a deep enthusiasm for science and law

After 30 years in the patent business, Elisabeth Engelhard is still enthusiastic about the opportunities which present themselves when working at the crossroads of science and law. She loves the dynamics of the job and the versatility it offers.

After her studies of biology at the University of Bonn, Elisabeth specialized in microbiology, genetic engineering, and biochemistry at the University Marburg from 1985 to 1988 and graduated in 1989. Her doctoral thesis was a joint project of the Institute for Medicinal Microbiology at the University of Marburg with the German Collection of Microorganisms at Braunschweig and the German Federal Health Authority in Berlin within the framework of a cooperation project of the German Ministry of Research and Technology.  She has experience in the patent field since 1992.

Elisabeth’s specialties are opinion work as well as opposition and appeal proceedings before the European and German Patent Offices and before the Federal Patent Court, mainly in the fields of biochemistry, pharmaceuticals, formulations, purification methods, antibodies and cosmetics. She enjoys the challenges of oral proceedings. On the other hand, accompanying an invention from the very start, working closely with the inventors, drafting a patent application and moving it all the way along examination and possibly opposition, nullity and potential infringement proceedings, is one particular aspect of her work which Elisabeth appreciates very much.

If not working or enjoying time with her four children, Elisabeth can be found biking or hiking – in the Alps, the Himalayan or anywhere around the world. At times, she does enjoy more quiet activities, which would then be playing the piano, reading or cooking.