Case STUDIES
Prinz & Partner and Ankar: A Transparent Approach to Patent Excellence
Founded in 1928, Prinz & Partner has grown into one of Germany’s leading IP boutiques, known for rigorous drafting standards and deep technical expertise. Today, the Munich-based firm continues to uphold those standards while thoughtfully integrating AI into its patent practice.
Customer
Prinz & Partner
date
November 10, 2025
length
active patents
For Partner Jochen Sties, now in his 28th year in the profession, this evolution reflects the very mindset that drew him to patent law in the first place.
As a student, he was torn between two worlds: a deep fascination with technology and the structured precision of legal reasoning. Aerospace engineering won at first - chosen out of concern that law might feel “too dry.” That changed in his second semester of university, when he met a patent attorney who described a discipline where both worlds meet on equal footing.
“I always loved technology,” Jochen recalls, “but I also loved argumentation and language. When I discovered the patent profession, it became clear very quickly that this is where I can bring everything together.” He immediately knew that this is the path that he wanted to take.
To Jochen, a patent application has never been a simple filing, but a craft; an act of balancing scientific rigor with legal interpretation.
“A patent application is essentially a small piece of legislation that you write for the client. The claims we write define what others must not use, and the accompanying description guides interpretation. Crafting language that balances examiner acceptance with maximum protection is a task I truly enjoy.”
- Jochen Sties, Partner, Prinz & Partner
This philosophy: meticulous, strategic, and deeply grounded in both engineering and law; continues to define Prinz & Partner’s practice.
Where Quality Meets Transparency
Across the profession, many firms use AI quietly and keep it behind closed doors. Prinz & Partner took the opposite approach - openness. For them, transparency is not a risk; it’s a principle.
Clients value clarity. And they also value improvement.
“We were initially unsure how clients would react. But when they saw that consistency, accuracy, and overall quality were fully maintained, and in some cases even improved; the response was very positive, particularly because we were able to achieve equal or better results in less drafting time. That’s why we are completely open about how and where we use AI.”
- Jochen Sties, Partner, Prinz & Partner
This is why the firm embraces AI openly and confidently: AI should not be hidden from clients. It should be explained, demonstrated, and used to elevate the work.
Prinz & Partner is transparent with clients about where and how AI supports the work - explaining its role, demonstrating its value, and grounding its use in established standards of craftsmanship.
Its commitment to transparency shapes how they adopt new technology. AI is a quality instrument - one that helps Prinz & Partner deliver the same rigorous standard of patents more consistently, with greater efficiency and control.
Preserving Quality with More Efficient Processes
At Prinz & Partner, they view AI as enhancing their work along two dimensions: as an intellectual sparring partner that sharpens written advocacy; and as a drafting companion that assists in maintaining consistency, structure, and technical completeness.
The first dimension transforms how written submissions are refined.
Attorneys use AI as a second set of expert eyes - one that challenges structure, tests the logic of an argument, and highlights phrasing that may invite ambiguity. It does not replace expertise; it sharpens it.
“I find it particularly exciting to use language models as virtual sparring partners for my written submissions. They provide valuable suggestions time and again, much like having an experienced colleague critically review my work.”
- Dr. Daniel Ostermeier, European Patent Attorney, Prinz & Partner
The second dimension lies in how it is used to draft new patent applications.
Here, they use the Ankar platform to reinforce the internal architecture of a specification: ensuring terminology is used consistently, reference signs align across figures, and that necessary definitions are included. It accelerates the mechanical parts of drafting, giving attorneys more room to focus on strategy, claim breadth, and technical nuance.
“Applied with the right expectations and expertise, AI improves efficiency in drafting an application. It accelerates the routine drafting work without compromising the robustness of the overall structure.”
- Tim Hülsheger, Partner, Prinz & Partner
Looking Ahead: The Attorney of the Future
Prinz & Partner’s vision for the next decade of patent practice is shaped by a single belief: attorneys who thoughtfully integrate AI into their practice will be better positioned to meet future demands.
The future Prinz & Partner imagines is not one where AI replaces attorneys, but one where attorneys who master AI deliver better work - more consistently, more strategically, and more resilient in quality.
For a firm of its size, this matters. With a team of sixteen patent professionals, the use of AI allows Prinz & Partner to sustain the same rigorous drafting standards while reducing the time required for routine work – effectively increasing capacity without compromising quality.
And in a profession built on trust and precision, Prinz & Partner is approaching that future in a way that reflects its values: transparent, technically rigorous, and unmistakably human. This is not automation; it is augmentation, reinforcing the precision that defines elite patent drafting.
My work will soon be supported by a range of specialised AI tools that take over the simpler tasks, which will allow me to draft more efficiently. That means more time for strategic, conceptual consulting. And that is where attorneys create the greatest value.
Jochen Sties
Partner, Prinz & Partner
