"Joy is the will which labors, which overcomes obstacles, which knows triumph."

William Butler Yeats, Irish Poet (1865–1939)

Overcoming obstacles, risking the uncertain, clearing up confusion, building bridges… to achieve goals efficiently and safely. This is our firm’s objective. Symbolic thereof are pictorial representations of raw nature as well as of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco which, while withstanding fog and the elements, brings its users to their destination safely.

"Those who fail to invent, disappear. Those who fail to patent, lose."

Erich Otto Häußer (1930-1999), German Jurist and President of the German Patent and Trademark Office from 1976-1995

Our firm offers a "one stop shop" solution in most of the crucial areas of intellectual property protection in the United States.  Our clients include start-ups, universities, medium-sized companies as well as the established titans of European industry.  Several German patent law firms also benefit from our services by using us to successfully prosecute and enforce their United States patent and trademark applications before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Our office is fundamentally different from most other patent law firms in the United States.  Dr. Thot’s years of experience with United States patent law firms, German law firms and in German industry have resulted in the ability to offer pragmatic, solution-oriented advice clearly tailored to the needs and economic objectives of our clients.  We have extensive experience working at the interface among the European, the German and the United States legal systems.

The advantages of our firm include:

• We give advice and correspond either in German or English based on the wishes and needs of our client.
• We work in the same time zone as our clients (CET).  Our clients can therefore reach us starting at 8:00 and not only from 15:00. 
• Our objective is to work directly with the client to offer a comprehensive and individualized service.
• Our office is located in Ratingen, near Düsseldorf.  Ratingen enjoys excellent transport infrastructure and connections.  This allows us to provide our clients with efficient personalized service at their respective business premises.
• We offer comprehensive legal advice on intellectual property transactions regardless of whether common law (such as in the United States or the United Kingdom) or codified law (such as in Germany and Continental Europe) applies.  The drafting and negotiation of contracts can furthermore occur either in English or German based on a client’s wishes or requirements. 
• Our invoices are issued in Euros and can be paid via a money transfer to a German bank account.  Risks and fees involved with international money transfers and currency fluctuations are thereby avoided.
• We can offer flat fees for some of our services. 
• Our conflict checks are quick.  Time sensitive client matters can therefore be addressed immediately. 

We would be pleased to advise you.