Principal Counsel

Dr. Dirk Smielick

Rechtsanwalt | Fachanwalt für Gewerblichen Rechtsschutz (Certified lawyer for intellectual property law)

Languages

German
English
French

Social media

Dirk Smielick's advises clients on research and development projects that are undertaken both with other companies and universities. His many years of expertise in this area include advising on the initiation of R&D projects, including the drafting of NDAs, the drafting and negotiation of research and development, cooperation and licensing agreements as well as legal representation in the event of failed R&D projects.

Dirk also advises medium-sized companies as well as groups on the enforcement of IP rights, representing his clients in court in patent, design and trademark infringement proceedings and in unfair competition disputes (German Unfair Competition Act – UWG). In addition, he assists clients in patent, trademark, design, copyright and unfair competition law matters in the context of corporate transactions (due diligence).

Dirk‘s practice also focusses on advising on marketing materials and product packaging, with special expertise in food labelling, e.g., with regard to Regulation (EU) on the provision of food information to consumers, health claims and information provided for consumers by manufacturers relating to sustainability and potential greenwashing issues.

Dirk joined CMS in 2003 and was made principal counsel in 2022. Between 2014 and 2019, he was seconded to a globally operating beverage company and a European food company. He has been a certified lawyer for IP law since 2009 and in 2012 won the "Client Choice Award" of legal intelligence provider International Law Office for "IP Germany".

Awards & Recognitions

01 –

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Listed for Advertising Law

Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2025 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers
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Lawyer of the year for

Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2025 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers
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Listed for Intellectual Property

Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2025 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers
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Listed for Intellectual Property

Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2024 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers
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Listed for Advertising Law

Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2023 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers
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Listed for Intellectual Property

Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2023 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers
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Listed for intellectual property

Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2021 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers

Publications

„Community Design Regulation", Kommentar zur Gemeinschaftsgeschmacksmusterverordnung, 2. Auflage, Co-Autor, ISBN 978-3-406-71477-1, C.H.Beck – Hart – Nomos, 2018
„European Union Trade Mark Regulation", Kommentar zur Gemeinschaftsmarkenverordnung, 2. Auflage, Co-Autor, ISBN 978-3-406-71510-5, C.H.Beck – Hart – Nomos, 2018
„In der Regel muss es schmecken“, Anmerkungen zum „Champagner-Sorbet“-Urteil des EuGH (C-393/16), Ausgabe 2/2018 in „recht – Zeitschrift für europäisches Lebensmittelrecht
„Beck‘scher Online-Kommentar zum UWG“, Co-Autor, § 4 Nr. 4 (Gezielte Behinderung), gemeinsam mit Dr. Heike Blank und Dr. Carsten Menebröcker, C.H.Beck, 2017
„Münchener Anwaltshandbuch Gewerblicher Rechtsschutz“, 5. Auflage, Kapitel „Europäisches Patentrecht", „Internationales Patentrecht" und „Forschungs- und Entwicklungsverträge", ISBN 978-3-406-70071-2, C.H.Beck 2017
„Warum man Kokosmilch, aber nicht Tofubutter sagen darf“, Anmerkungen zum „Tofukäse“-Urteil des EuGH (C-422/16), im Newsletter des "Online-Portals rund um Molkereiprodukte" sowie dem Printmagazin „molkereiIndustrie“, 2017
„Endspurt für das europäische Einheitspatent“, in „Lebensmittel Praxis“, 2016
“The New Unitary Patent – Now It's Time to Get Prepared”, in Biotechnology Magazine, 2016
“Das neue europäische Einheitspatent rückt immer näher“, in Finance Magazin, 2016
„Bärenmarke nicht verletzt“, Anmerkungen zum „Goldbären“-Urteil des BGH (I ZR 105/14), Ausgabe 4/2015 in „recht – Zeitschrift für europäisches Lebensmittelrecht
„Nach der Rückkehr vom "Himbeer-Vanille-Abenteuer": Was darf auf einer Lebensmittelverpackung noch draufstehen?“, Anmerkungen zum „Himbeer-Vanille-Abenteuer“-Urteil des EuGH (C-195/14), in der Zeitschrift „Markenartikler“, 2015
„Das europäische Einheitspatent rückt immer näher!“, in der Zeitschrift „Innovationsmanager“, 2015
"Community Design Regulation", Commentary to the Community Design Regulation, co-author, ISBN 978-3-406-65588-3, C.H.Beck – Hart – Nomos
"Community Trade Mark Regulation", Commentary to the Community Trademark Regulation, co-author, ISBN 978-3-406-65587-6, C.H.Beck – Hart – Nomos
"BGH sets boundaries to liability of directors", remarks to judgment of Federal Court of Justice dated 18 June 2014 (I ZR 242/12), Update IP 3/2014
"Beschlagnahmen auf Messen: Auch im Eilfall ist Sorgfalt geboten", Anmerkungen zum Urteil des LG Köln vom 6. Mai 2013 – 116 QS 12/13 und 116 JS 788/12 betreffend Reichweite der Befugnisse der Staatsanwaltschaft bei Patentverletzungen auf Messen; Update IP 1/2014
"Aushängeschild Einheitspatent"; Ausblick auf das neue europäische Einheitspatent; in "Innovationsmanager" Ausgabe Dezember 2013/Januar 2014“
"Das ändert sich bei der Patentanmeldung"; Übersicht über die durch das Patentnovellierungsgesetz im deutschen Patentrecht eingeführten Änderungen; in "im-pulse – Das Unternehmermagazin" Juli 2013
„Package regarding unitary European patent protection on its way“; Update IP 1/2013, together with Gerd Schoenen
„BGH decides on ‚Brüstle‘-patent“; Review of judgment of the Federal Court of Justice dated 27 November 2012 (X ZR 58/07) regarding the patent protection for embryonic stemcells; Update IP 1/2013
„Knowledge of effects of a pharmaceutical compound no prerequisite for the existence of a right of prior use“; Review of judgment of the Federal Court of Justice dated 12 June 2012 (X ZR 131/09), Update IP 3/2012
"Münchener Lawyer's Handbook IP Law, 4. Edition, chapters on European Patent Law, International Patent Law and R&D Agreements, ISBN 978-3-406-63504-5, C.H.Beck 2012”
"Bankruptcy-proofness of patent licenses"; Review of the Regional Court Munich's judgment 7 O 1906/11 dated 9 February 2012; Update IP July 2012
"The rendering of profits in intellectual property and copyright law under consideration of the 'Overhead Costs'-decision of the German Federal Court of Justice"; Verlag Dr. Kovac, 2012; ISBN: 978-3830063247
"Customs and the Liability of Transport Companies"; Review of the "MP3-Player-Import"-judgment of the German Federal Court of Justice, Xa ZR 2/08; CMS European Patents Review 2010
New Rules in Unfair Competition law, Der Baumarktmanager 2010, Ausgabe April
"The withdrawal of IP right infringing products by do-it-yourself stores - a spectre?", Der Baumarktmanager 2009, Volume 4
Münchener Lawyer's Handbook IP Law, 3. Edition, European Patent Law, International Patent Law, R&D Agreements, ISBN 978-3-406-57397-2, C.H.Beck 2008
"BGH breaks up with Gaby and moves to Nicola - a divorce with a follow-up", review of the "Windsor Estate"-judgment of the Federal Court of Justice, update IP, February 2008, p. 3, together with Dr Carsten Menebröcker
"Legal stumbling blocks in R&D Agreements", Open Source, edition August/September 2007

Memberships & Roles

German Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (GRUR)
Licensing Executive Society (L.E.S.)
Association of Intellectual Property Experts (VPP)
German Federation for Food Law and Food Science (BLL)
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Reiserecht

Lectures list

Lehrvortrag zum Urheberrecht an der FOM Hochschule Köln, 14. November 2017
Lehrvortrag zum Urheberrecht an der FOM Hochschule Köln, 4. November 2016
„Hersteller auf Abenteuerreise – Wann ist eine Verpackung irreführend?“ – Vortrag auf der Jahresversammlung des Verbandes FPE (Flexible Packaging Europe), 9. Mai 2016
Lehrvortrag zum Urheberrecht an der FHM Tec Rheinland, 9. Februar 2016
Vortrag zur neueren Rechtsprechung des BGH im Patentrecht, 18. Juni 2015
Lecture given with regard to new case-law concerning patent law and food health-claims, CMS event "IP Breakfast", 27 November 2014
Lecture given within the training course for prospective IP specialist lawyer of publisher Wolter Kluwers regarding the „Introduction to technical IP rights, patent prosecution and nullity proceedings”, together with patent agent Klaus Bungartz, 15 February 2013
Lecture given before the FIT group of LES Germany regarding the "New European patent with unitary effect and the European unitary patent court", 26 February 2013
Lecture given regarding typical contractual problem areas in assigned R&D projects; as part of the commercial roadshow CMS, 27 November 2012
Lecture given within the training course for prospective IP specialist lawyer of publisher Wolter Kluwers regarding the „Introduction to technical IP rights, patent prosecution and nullity proceedings”, together with patent agent Klaus Bungartz, 14 September 2012
Lecture given within the training course for prospective IP specialist lawyer of publisher Wolter Kluwers regarding the „Introduction to technical IP rights, patent prosecution and nullity proceedings”, together with patent agent Klaus Bungartz, 17 June 2011
Lecture given within the training course for prospective IP specialist lawyer of publisher Wolter Kluwers regarding the „Patent infringement proceedings”, together with judge Dr. Thomas Kühnen, head of the patent senate of the Higher Regional Court Düsseldorf, 18. Februar 2011
Lecture given before the Medium-sized business and economy club of Colonia Forum regarding „Patent infringement proceedings“; together with patent agent Klaus Bungartz, 11 October 2010
Lecture given within the training course for prospective IP specialist lawyer of publisher Carl Heymanns regarding the „Introduction to technical IP rights, patent prosecution and nullity proceedings", 6 June 2009
Lecture given before the chamber of commerce of Cologne regarding the "Legal possibilities of combating trademark and product piracy", 22 June 2006

Education

2011: PhD; thesis on recovery of infringer’s profit in IP and copyright law
2001 - 2003: Trainee lawyer
Until 1999: Law studies at the University of Bonn

Practice Areas

Intellectual Property Litigation Design Law In-Court and Out-of-Court Representation Border Seizure Trademark Law Patent and Utility Patent Law Copyright Competition Law (Unfair Competition Act – UWG)

sectors

Consumer Products

Insights

Global Reach

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