Sophie Künzi

“I started my studies with a law degree at the University of Geneva and decided to continue with biochemistry studies, with the intention to become a patent attorney. During my biochemistry studies, I worked as a research and teaching assistant in intellectual property and unfair competition, civil proceedings, biotechnology law and environment law in the Faculty of Law of the University of Geneva. After my biochemistry degree, my first assignment as a patent professional was with Firmenich, where I started in 2007 and qualified as a European patent attorney in 2011. I was responsible for IP of the biotechnology group and did also work on chemical synthesis, on encapsulation and on perfume and flavour applications. I then joined Nestlé in 2012, where I took responsibility for the IP of an R&D center in Konolfingen, working on dairy applications and infant nutrition, with emphasis on probiotics and prebiotics, as well as alternative proteins. I was responsible for the IP strategy and managed the patent portfolio of two key brands of Nestlé Nutrition. While working with Nestlé I developed my business acumen, aligning IP strategy to business priorities and developed professional skilled in the assessment of freedom to operate, IP contracts and European patent oppositions. Now at Katzarov, I am working as a patent counsel for companies of all sizes and assist my clients with a strategic mindset in identifying the best options to protect their competitive advantage. I provide end-to-end project advice from intellectual property contracts to patent filing and prosecution. My focus areas are food technology, nutrition, and microbiology. I also take care of portfolios in the pharmaceutical field, chemistry and biotechnology.”

Primary Expertise

Patent drafting and prosecution, patent oppositions, oral proceedings, freedom-to-operate assessments, IP strategy (both business- and technology-oriented), IP contracting, IP guidance to projects, IP training.

Secondary Expertise

Patent searching and Landscaping

Professional Memberships

EPI

Technical Expertise

Biotechnology, chemistry, food, nutrition and health benefits, perfumes, flavours, fermentation technologies and probiotics, dairy science, non-dairy (plant-based) products, packaging.

Education

• Biochemistry Degree – University of Geneva| Switzerland
• Law Degree – University of Geneva| Switzerland
• Transnational Law Certificate – University of Geneva| Switzerland

Languages

• French
• English
• Italian
• German

Hobbies & Personal information

Music (I play the oboe and the cor anglais in a non-professional local wind orchestra), hiking, ski, fitness training, nature photography, astronomy.