Dr Geert Johann Seelig | LUTHER Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH

Dr Geert Johann Seelig is partner in the Service Line IP/IT. He has more than 20 years’ experience on advising national and international clients in all matters relating to intellectual property covering the development of filing strategies as well as litigation, including cross-border litigation and IP-related issues in the context of acquisitions.

IP & Copyright Law
IT Law

Following his studies in Heidelberg and Freiburg, Germany, he received his doctorate in copyright law in 1996 and was admitted to the bar in 1997. He then worked for four years as in-house counsel for Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH in the trademark and patent department, which he also managed. He joined Luther in 2006 and since then has been providing advice in the area of intellectual property law focusing on trademark rights, competition law, copyright law and patent law.

Chambers Global 2015: Award in "Intellectual Property" (first award in 2014)
Chambers Europe 2015: Ranking in "Intellectual Property - Trade Mark & Unfair Competition" (first ranking in 2011)
JUVE Guide 2023/2024: Listed under "Frequently Recommended" in "Trademark and Competition Law" (first listed in 2004/2005, "extremely competent in competition law", client; "skilful negotiator, but also unyielding in litigation", competitor)
The Legal 500 Germany 2024: Recommendations in the categories "Intellectual Property - Trade Mark Law" (first recommendation in 2023, first mention in 2015, "Geert Johann Seelig has a very good understanding of requirements of everyday business life and excellent interpersonal skills, which he uses in supporting his customers and in negotiations with third parties.") and "Intellectual Property - Competition Law" (first recommendation in 2023, first mention in 2015, "Geert Johann Seelig and his team at Luther are more familiar with tobacco regulation issues than almost any other law firm in Germany. This concerns competition law issues, trade mark law and also regulatory issues.")
The Legal 500 Germany 2023: Recommendation in "City Focus Hamburg"
European Legal 500 2007: Listed in the "US Special Edition"
Legal Experts EMEA 2013: Listed in "Intellectual Property" (first listed in 2011)
Best Lawyers 2024: Recommended in "Advertising Law" (first recommended in 2022) and "Intellectual Property Law" (first recommended in 2014)
Best Lawyers 2023: Award "Lawyer of the Year" in "Advertising Law" (first recommended in 2022) and recommended in "Intellectual Property Law" (first recommended in 2014)
Expert Guides 2021: Recommended in "Trademarks" (first recommended in 2018)
World Trade Mark Review 2024: Bronze-Ranking in "Trade Marks" (first Bronze-Ranking in 2017, "Geert Johann is an excellent trademark lawyer and he is able to build strong relationships with opposing counsel, despite it being a contentious area of work. He is a fair, respected and classy adversary.")
Law Firms in Germany 2014: Listed in "IP and Media" (first listed in 2010)

Advising an internationally active brewery on trademark, advertising, press/media law issues
Advising a worldwide leading fittings manufacturer on legal matters, in particular managing of an international trademark portfolio
Continuing advice to one of Germany’s largest privately owned PR and Social Media agencies on copyright and advertising law
Advising the University of Hanover on patent law issues
Representing an international tobacco company concerning unfair competition issues, advertising law, trademark application proceedings and litigation matters regarding trademark rights
Enforcement of patents of an electro technical company through legal proceedings
Implementing a globally orientated trademark strategy for a global active chemical company
Continuing advice to an online streaming service regarding Germany in relation to copyright, media and competition law (handling launch and current presence on German market)
Defending an international tyre manufacturer in competition and copyright law litigation proceedings
Advising an international navigation software developer and appliance manufacturer in cross-border litigation matters

European Communities Trade Mark Association (ECTA)
German Association for Intellectual Property Rights and Copyrights (GRUR)
International Trademark Association (INTA), member of INTA General Trademark Enforcement Matters Subcommittee
Rechtsausschussmitglied des Deutscher Segler-Verband e.V.
Vorsitzender des Beirats im Komponisten-Quartier Hamburg e.V.
Vorsitzender des Vorstandes der Moser Stiftung (Jesse Carl Moser und Ehefrau Gertrud Moser Stiftung)