Counsel

Thomas Fröhlich

Rechtsanwalt

Languages

German
English

Social media

Thomas Fröhlich specialises in advising and representing clients in IP law, with expertise in patent and utility model, trade secret, competition, trademark as well as employee invention law.

His practice focusses on patent disputes in and out of court, agreements in relation to IP rights as well as research and development cooperation, and trade secret infringements and trade secret compliance. He also advises medical device companies on regulatory and compliance issues and assists clients on all issues of general technical know-how protection as well as in the context of transactions with an IP focus.

Drawing on market-specific and technical expertise, Thomas advises clients in the automotive, mechanical engineering and medical device sectors with long-standing experience.

Thomas joined CMS in 2017 and Counsel since 2023.

Publications

"Schutz von Geschäftsgeheimnissen im Homeoffice und beim mobilen Arbeiten", Expertenforum Arbeitsrecht 28.02.2023 (together with Dr Maximilian Koschker)
Zum Schutz des Prüfalgorithmus eines Bewertungsportals als Geschäftsgeheimnis, Gewerblicher Rechtsschutz und Urheberrecht Praxis im Immaterialgüter und Wettbewerbsrecht, GRURPrax 5/2021, p. 155(together with Alexander Leister)
Erforderliche Mindeststandards für den Schutz von Geschäftsgeheimnissen, Gewerblicher Rechtsschutz und Urheberrecht Praxis im Immaterialgüter und Wettbewerbsrecht, GRURPrax 3/2021, p. 91(together with Alexander Leister)
Anwendbarkeit des Geschäftsgeheimnisbegriffs im Verwaltungs(prozess)recht, Gewerblicher Rechtsschutz und Urheberrecht Praxis im Immaterialgüter und Wettbewerbsrecht, GRURPrax 23/2020, p. 598(together with Alexander Leister)
„Der geänderte Begriff des Geschäftsgeheimnisses – Unternehmen müssen "angemessene Geheimhaltungsmaßnahmen" ergreifen“, Bio Deutschland Rechtsinfo aktuell, März/April 2019(together with Alexander Leister)
Kein Verstoß gegen UGP-Richtlinie durch Einschränkung des gerichtlichen Prüfungsmaßstabs in Hypothekenvollstreckung, GRUR-Prax 2018, p. 533(together with Alexander Leister)

Memberships & Roles

German Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (GRUR)
International Association for the Protection of Industrial Property (AIPPI)
LES (Licensing Executives Society) Germany
LES (Licensing Executives Society) International

Lectures list

"Innovation Protection and Competition Law", webinar on 18 March 2026 (in collaboration with Rolf Hempel)
Compliance Sessions "Update on secrecy protection compliance as an ongoing task in your company", Stuttgart, 09.02.2023 (together with Dr Maximilian Koschker)
"The spy with no ill intent – the (unexpected) liability of companies and company management for breaches of trade secrets of third parties", Business Breakfast, Webinar, 8 July 2020 (together with Dr Alexander Leister)

Education

2015 - 2017: Trainee lawyer in Karlsruhe including placements with the IP practice groups of major international law firms in Duesseldorf and Stuttgart
2009 - 2014: Law studies at the University of Freiburg with a focus on IP law

Practice Areas

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

Insights by Thomas

See all Insights

Legal Update Germany

Advertising for the World Cup – What is acceptable?

26 Mar 2026 6 min read

Deals Germany

CMS advises OLYMP Bezner Group on acquisition of ETERNA trade mark rights

20 Mar 2026 2 min read

Deals Germany

CMS advises Jamco Corporation on the acquisition of Schüschke Holding GmbH

23 Jan 2026 1 min read

Publication Germany

TTBER 2026: New rules for technology licence agreements

03 Dec 2025 5 min read