Osborne Clarke is augmenting its German patent litigation capabilities by bringing in partner Nora Keßler and two associates from the sports law firm BluePort Legal, which is headquartered in Hamburg.
These individuals are set to commence work at the firm’s newly established Frankfurt office in mid-November, thereby enhancing the firm’s intellectual property portfolio with expertise in the Unified Patent Court (UPC) and life sciences.
New Appointments Expand Frankfurt Team
Starting November 16, 2026, Nora Keßler will be welcomed as an equity partner in Frankfurt. She will be accompanied by counsel Christoph Palzer and associate Catinca Vidan.
These recruitment efforts increase the size of Osborne Clarke’s German patent litigation practice from seven to ten lawyers. Additionally, they create an intellectual property presence at the Frankfurt office, which began operations in September 2026.
Professional History and Specializations
Nora Keßler represents both domestic and international entities in patent disputes, litigating cases in German courts and before the Unified Patent Court (UPC). Her client base consists of entities within the pharmaceutical, medical technology, and automotive supplier sectors.
Keßler’s career began at Jones Day in 2004. She later advanced to become a partner at the Frankfurt intellectual property boutique Klinkert in 2013. Following the retirement of Friedrich Klinkert in 2023, she assumed the role of head of practice.
Her long-term clients include the corporations Sanofi, Cosnova, and Advanz Pharma.
Recent Firm Shifts and UPC Involvement
This personnel change represents the team’s second change of employer within a period of less than two years. In late 2024, Keßler and her colleagues departed Klinkert as part of the dissolution of the Frankfurt IP boutique. They subsequently joined BluePort Legal to open a Frankfurt branch.
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While at BluePort Legal, the group experienced its first appearance before the UPC in June 2026. During that month, Keßler filed a legal action on behalf of the Japanese medical technology company iCAT against Dentsply Sirona before the Mannheim local division.
Upon the completion of these additions, Osborne Clarke’s German patent litigation unit includes partners Tim Reinhard and Johannes Graf Ballestrem, counsel Stephan Reisner, and four associates, in addition to the three incoming members.
Patent law is a sophisticated and dynamic area of law. The integration of experienced figures such as Keßler and her team can substantially strengthen a firm’s capacity in this domain.
The firm’s practice head, Tim Reinhard, stated that these hires would hasten the firm’s progression into patent litigation across the nation and at the UPC, with a particular focus on cross-border disputes.
European Growth Strategy
Simultaneously, Osborne Clarke is reinforcing its life sciences regulatory offerings in Munich. Katrin Helle is scheduled to join from White & Case as counsel on November 1, 2026.
Helle provides advice concerning regulatory compliance, health tech regulation, and digital platforms. She is intended to support the firm’s patent litigation practice, bridging the gap between regulatory approval and patent conflicts within the pharmaceutical and medical technology industries.
This expansion in Germany is part of a wider European strategy at Osborne Clarke. In 2026, the firm added partners to its patent litigation teams in Spain and the Netherlands, following the promotion of two partners in Belgium during 2024.
