Intellectual Property
The only full-spectrum IP practice at a full-service firm in the Netherlands
Firmly embedded in our 150+ litigation practice, we are uniquely positioned to handle the most complex, multidisciplinary and international matters with an IP angle.
Unlike any other firm in the Netherlands, we have the strength and capability to deal with all aspects of complex IP litigation. Alongside our ground-breaking cases before the European Court of Justice, we have been involved in most of the landmark decisions heard by the Dutch Supreme Court in the past decade.
We offer our clients targeted legal and broad sector knowledge across the full scope of healthcare, life sciences, food and beverages, luxury goods, retail, telecommunication, ICT, energy, transportation, chemical, materials, banking and insurance sectors.
Contact
Tobias Cohen Jehoram
Partner
Anne Marie Verschuur
Partner
Related expertise
Life Sciences, Pharma & HealthcareSupreme Court LitigationData, Cyber & PrivacyEmployment & Employee BenefitsRecent Matters
De Brauw advises Bolton on acquisition of Repair Care
De Brauw advises Pontegadea on acquisition of minority stake in Q-Park
Paulig acquires leading Dutch brand Conimex from Unilever
“De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a market-leading law firm for soft IP matters, and also offers a notable patent practice. The firm has an outstanding reputation for assisting clients with trade mark validity and infringement proceedings, as well as being an esteemed choice for trade secrets disputes, parallel import cases and copyright infringement proceedings. The team is also well known for advising on patent infringement, invalidity and enforcement proceedings. Additionally, team members have experience representing clients in soft IP disputes before the Supreme Court and in handling patent portfolio management matters. De Brauw attracts clients from a range of sectors, including technology, telecommunications and pharmaceuticals.”
MULTINATIONAL COURT FOR PAN-EUROPEAN PATENT LITIGATION
The launching of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) on 1 June 2023 marked the most radical reform of the European patent system in decades. The UPC raises new questions and concerns and requires new strategies.
The European Patent (EP) – which consists of a bundle of national patents in selected EU member states – is making room for European patents with unitary effect (Unitary Patents - UPs), whose territorial scope extends to all participating UPC states (currently 17 EU member states have ratified). The traditional country-by-country approach to litigation now faces serious competition from the UPC: a multinational court for pan-European patent litigation.
“The master of multi-jurisdictional IP litigation”, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is dedicated to working on the most complex cases throughout Europe." "One of the most well-known firms in the country, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a reference for those seeking strategic counsel in cutting-edge disputes, and handles complex cross-border mandates with ease.”
The patent litigation firm of choice
... for many multinationals wishing to coordinate their patent strategy throughout Europe.
We deal with ground-breaking cases at all levels, including Supreme Court litigation. Decades of patent litigation at the highest levels has put us in a good position to litigate before the Unified Patent Court (UPC), where we currently have several actions pending. Out of our team of more than 150 litigators, we put together teams with experience in patent law, technical fields and extensive litigation, so that we can offer the strongest dedicated litigation teams, and where relevant we include foreign lawyers.
We have experience across all technical areas in multi-jurisdictional patent disputes regarding portfolios of telecommunications standard essential patents. Our telecoms clients benefit from our expertise in the competition (FRAND) aspects of the enforcement and licensing of standard essential patents. Patents also play a large role in the broad spectrum of our life sciences work for pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms and medical supply companies.
“They are extremely responsive and kind, and have hit the ground running on a very important matter for us.”
What's in a name?
We regularly deal with matters relating to soft IP, slavish imitation and advertising law, with a particular focus on trade marks, trade names, copyrights protection and design rights. We handle complicated cross-disciplinary disputes and brand-rich deals. Our specialty is cross border and multi-jurisdictional litigation. Our strength is also shown by ground-breaking cases before the Dutch Supreme Court and the European Court of Justice and we also deal with matters before the European Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and General Court of the EU.
“De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is celebrated for its seamless handling of complex cross-border disputes and strategic guidance. With a proven track record in intellectual property, the team infuse their advice with corporate insight and serve as trusted advisers to many multinational clients”
TRADE SECRETS - A VALUABLE COMMODITY
... but in the hands of a third party, they can have a huge adverse impact on a company’s competitive advantage. Our inhouse and technical expertise positions us to be able to advise clients on the value of their trade secret, whether a dispute pivots on the mobility of workers, business collaboration or cybercrime. Our Employment practice also advises clients in connection with allegation of misappropriation by former employees. Our unparalleled experience with the regulatory and criminal enforcement measures is critical when gathering evidence to establish misappropriation. This includes in-depth advice from our Privacy, Data and Cyber Security experts should misappropriation of digitally stored trade secrets be alleged following a collaboration between companies.
“De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek has a very strong, intelligent team. They go to the extreme and beyond for their clients and leave nothing to chance. Probably the best firm in the Netherlands for IP matters. Very good firm, in particular for Supreme Court litigation in these cases. Very strong in high-end matters.”
IP AS AN IMPORTANT ASSET
This part of our practice focuses on everything that has to do with agreements and IP, including advising on and negotiating various IP related agreements (such as licenses), due diligence in M&A matters, advising on aspects of the laws of properties relating to IP and advising on IP structures. We represent our clients in IP-focused transactions internationally, and on the development and exploitation of their IP rights all over the world and we regularly advise on bankruptcy-related risks in connection with licensing and IP ownership.
“During this years Managing IP Awards Galaour team was granted the title "Netherlands IP Transactions & Advisory Firm of the Year for the fourth time in a row. We view this award as a tribute to the high-quality cross-expertise work we deliver as a full-service firm.”
