Mr. Thomas Meinke is a specialist lawyer for intellectual property law and a lecturer in patent law. He is also a specialist author, speaker and start-up consultant and provides comprehensive advice to companies, founders and creative professionals on all matters relating to intellectual property and competition law.
His main areas of practice include patent and utility model law, trademark and design law as well as copyright, competition, internet and domain law. A particular focus is on the strategic protection and enforcement of trademarks and domains.
Mr. Meinke advises German and international clients on obtaining, defending and enforcing technical property rights as well as trademark and design rights. He represents his clients in opposition and nullity proceedings and assists them in the establishment, structuring and long-term maintenance of national and international IP portfolios.
In addition to his work as a lawyer, Thomas Meinke is also involved in professional training for colleagues. He is an organizer and speaker at the Nordseeminare – Fachanwaltsfortbildung on Langeoog, a compact weekend seminar for lawyers from various fields of law.
Professional career
- Studied law at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms University in Bonn and business English at the Ruhr University in Bochum.
- Freelance work for Westdeutscher Rundfunk, Cologne and Dortmund and Südwestfunk, Koblenz, including “Hier und heute”, “Aktuelle Stunde” and “Journal 3” as well as “Radiothek” and cable television Dortmund
- Long-standing board member of the Dortmunder Kunstverein e.V.
- Legal clerkship at the local and regional courts as well as the public prosecutor’s office in Dortmund, the city administration of Kamen and the administrative court in Arnsberg; elective stage abroad in Paris
- Self-employed as a lawyer in Dortmund, since 1988
- Partner at Meinke, Dabringhaus and Partner, since 1993
- From 2002 – 2022 lecturer at the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, since 2023 at the Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts, expert at the start-up competition start2grow and lecturer at the Hamm Bar Association and various lawyers’ associations and training courses as well as at the Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences, Chambers of Industry and Commerce, Chambers of Crafts, professional associations and technology centers for patent, trademark, design and competition law and specialist author, in particular on copyright law
- Specialist lawyer for intellectual property law since 2006
Memberships in professional associations
- Deutsche Vereinigung für gewerblichen Rechtsschutz und Urheberrecht (GRUR) (German Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property)
- Working Group Competition and Trademark Law Westfalen-Lippe e.V.
- Dortmund Lawyers’ and Notaries’ Association
Involvement in non-profit organizations
- The Child Protection Association Dortmund e.V.
- UN refugee aid
- SOS Children’s Village e.V.
- He is also involved in pro bono legal advice on a voluntary basis throughout Germany.
Publications (free translation)
- “Das neue Urheberrecht: Urhebervertragsrecht” by Sabine Zentek and Thomas Meinke, published by Haufe Verlag, 2003 (ISBN: 978-3448059403)
