Intellectual Property: Netherlands

THE FIRM This firm represents a number of Dutch clients as well as some major US companies. Its core expertise is in trade marks, copyrights and designs. Notable clients include SAMSUNG's printer supplies division, and Inditex, which it represented in a Europe-wide brand infringement case. The firm was also instrumental in setting up CAPIP.eu, a pan-European network of law firms combating the counterfeit trade.

Sources say: "They're innovative, practical and strong on operational and strategic advice."

KEY INDIVIDUALS A client says of Huib Berendschot: "He challenges the establishment and comes up with new ideas." He formerly worked as in-house lawyer of Unilever's trade mark division.

Peter Claassen is praised for his courtroom demeanour, and has successfully represented many of the firm's major clients in court.

THE FIRM The addition of new partner Michiel Odink has increased this firm's reputation within copyright and trade mark law. It has a particular focus on IP and IT matters, such as copyright and database law, data security and outsourcing, as well as handling a number of trade mark portfolios. Key clients include Swatch, Desigual and a number of other major technology firms.

Sources say: "I trust their expertise. No matter who you work with there, they understand the task at hand."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Michiel Odink heads the practice, and is praised by clients for his friendly, hands-on manner. "He's an absolutely excellent lawyer. I really value him," said one.

THE FIRM These patent specialists count several pharmaceutical giants amongst their clients, including Tiefenbacher and Neurim. They are particularly active on a number of patent and regulatory cases within the life sciences field, including a multi-jurisdictional litigation surrounding the drug escitalopram. The firm's copyrights and trade marks practice has managed to attract clients from the online sector, such as Kamernet and a large online gaming developer.

Sources say: "You can go to them with any question and they deliver high-quality work." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Marleen Van den Horst is praised for her energetic style and attention to detail. She handles the firm's most high-profile clients. Her focus is on patents in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.

Up-and-comer Jaap Bremer has been active on a number of cases, and has particular experience in trade mark matters. "He provides state-of-the-art and tailored advice," says a client.

THE FIRM This team has a strong reputation for patents work. The Bird & Bird network makes the firm well placed to handle multi-jurisdictional patent litigation, and the Dutch team played a key role in several such cases recently. It continues to represent Nestlé against Sara Lee in an infringement case over coffee capsules, and it acted for LG Electronics on patent litigation against Sony. The team also advises Teva. Outside of patents, it assisted Lebara and other major clients in the TMT sector with trade mark matters, and advised PostNL on the protection of its database rights.

Sources say: "Excellent at thinking outside the box." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Managing partner Armand Killan led many of the firm's recent patent cases, representing clients such as Rabobank and LG Electronics.

Marc van Wijngaarden focuses on patent litigation, and heads the life sciences group. His clients include Teva and Volkswagen.

Wouter Pors leads the IP group, and has a broad practice covering patent, copyright and trade mark litigation. A client remarks: "He is very well informed. I had a very positive experience with him."

THE FIRM This IP and media boutique specialises in copyright, trade mark and design. It has many clients in the media and entertainment industries. Recent work has included representing Sports Direct in a trade mark and trade name dispute, and advising the Art of Entertainment group on various IP matters, including trade mark portfolio management, licensing and copyright issues. Other clients include Lucasfilm, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam and Kaufland.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Diederik Stols heads the IP practice of this firm. 

THE FIRM Brinkhof is recognised by the market as a leader in patent litigation. With four full-time patent litigators, it has defended clients such as Boston Scientific, Honeywell and ratiopharm. It also represented Novartis and Ciba Vision in multi-jurisdictional litigation against Johnson & Johnson over a type of contact lens. The group's trade mark and copyright work also attracts praise. The lawyers recently acted for several consumer electronics companies in cases about illegal imports and counterfeiting. 

Sources say: "A creative, inventive, productive firm." "Their strengths are the meticulous way they do their job, their outstanding professionalism and their strategic thinking."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Kurt Stöpetie wins much acclaim for his general IP practice, which covers copyright and trade mark as well as design and unfair competition issues. Sources note his clear communication style and creativity. "He is honest, candid and has a great sense of humour," says one client.

Richard Ebbink focuses on co-ordinating cross-border European patent litigation. Sources praise his understanding of different legal systems.

Mark van Gardingen specialises in pharmaceutical and chemical inventions, and is singled out for his persuasive courtroom manner.

Peter Burgers is an experienced patent litigator, and focuses on the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors. 

The firm's "founding father," Jan Brinkhof, remains a prominent name in the field.

THE FIRM De Brauw continues to play a major role in this field, in particular in the areas of trade marks, advertising and design. It is hailed for the high level of its advice and its skill in working with clients outside the Netherlands. Big-name clients from the fast-moving consumer goods, electronics and entertainment industries frequently turn to the team for assistance on IP issues. It has continued to represent PepsiCo in various trade mark disputes. Despite personnel changes within the patents practice, the team continues to be involved in substantial cases, representing Sara Lee in its dispute with Nestlé over coffee capsules. Other key clients on the patents side include Nokia and KPN.

Sources say: "Practical and business-savvy."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Tobias Cohen Jehoram is a commanding figure in the IP sector. He recently published an important textbook on trade mark law, and represents key clients such as Stokke and Procter & Gamble.

Gertjan Kuipers has been most active on the patent side, leading all the firm's major cases in this area. Clients note his strong performance in the courtroom. "He's our favourite hi-tech patent litigator," says a source.

Koen Limperg is described as a bright lawyer who "provides highly sophisticated advice." He assists clients such as PepsiCo and Beiersdorf with trade mark, advertising and marketing issues.

THE FIRM The team at this firm wins praise for its trade mark work, and has recently set up a trade mark prosecution practice. It has litigated on counterfeiting cases for shoe manufacturer Converse. It has also represented Bacardi on cross-border matters relating to the trade mark infringement liability of logistics companies.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Niels Mulder "runs a good show" as leader of the IP team. A skilled litigator, he focuses on copyright, brand protection, designs and unfair competition. "He's a co-operative, clever lawyer," says a client.

THE FIRM As part of Freshfields' international IP group, this team is often involved in large cases covering multiple jurisdictions. A recent example was its role in the Apple v SAMSUNG lawsuit about smart phones and tablets technology, in which it acted for Apple. It has a strong portfolio of clients from the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, including Johnson & Johnson and Novartis. On the IP mainstream side, the team works for big names such as Rémy Cointreau and Steinway & Sons.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Hub Harmeling is an established litigator, who has represented many big-name clients from the consumer products, drinks and TMT sectors in IP disputes.

Rutger Kleemans specialises in patent litigation and cross-border patent enforcement. "He has a good way of making the client feel comfortable," reports a source.

Senior statesman Peter Hendrick remains active on a number of cases. He leads Freshfields' international patent litigation team, operating in the UK, Germany and the Netherlands.

THE FIRM Though part of a huge global firm, this team has strong roots in the local market and offers the kind of personal service that one would expect to find at a much smaller outfit, say clients. The partners receive acclaim for the quality of their work, particularly on the patent side. The team has been busy with litigation in the pharmaceuticals, biochemicals and life sciences sectors, with recent work including representing Eli Lilly in a patent case. It also acted for Halliburton on a trade secrets matter and assisted Nintendo in rolling out a cross-border programme to halt the sale of game copiers.

Sources say: "Stands out for its good knowledge of patent law and regulatory aspects."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Clients praise Bert Oosting for his easy-going manner and strong work ethic: "He rolls up his sleeves and gets stuck in." Focusing on patent litigation, he often acts for pharmaceutical and biotech clients.

Practice head Marc Wallheimer is praised for his skills as a strategist. His clients include GlaxoSmithKline and Nintendo.

Klaas Bisschop has worked on a number of patent infringement cases, and recently successfully defended Pelikan in a case against Epson.

THE FIRM This niche practice is valued by clients for its collaborative approach. While its bread-and-butter work is with national clients such as De Natuurhoeve and DGN Retail, it has also handled a number of trade mark cases for multinationals such as Heineken and Kimberly-Clark. It continues to advise major national and international advertising agencies on various IP matters.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Maarten Haak is the firm's key IP lawyer, specialising in trade mark and design law. "He's analytically strong and a good communicator," says a client.

THE FIRM This IP team is considered especially strong in internet-related matters. Recent work includes representing Ryanair in an ongoing copyright infringement case against online booking website Wegolo. The firm also won the much-publicised Miffy v Cathy case on behalf of Mercis, which manages the copyrights for Dick Bruna, the creator of the Miffy character.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Sebastian Le Poole specialises in copyright and trademark law, and often advises media and internet companies.

Best known for his IT work, Wolter Wefers Bettink is particularly skilled in data protection and privacy matters.

THE FIRM Since its creation in autumn 2010, this niche firm has gone from strength to strength and secured its position as a market leader both in patents and mainstream IP. The team represented Dutch anti-piracy organisation BREIN in its landmark case against The Pirate Bay. It also acted for the Pink Ribbon Foundation in a series of cases against a copyright infringer. The patent team has been particularly busy with litigation for pharmaceutical companies, including Johnson & Johnson, GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca. It also assisted Sony in a patent dispute with LG Electronics, helping to lift a ban on imports to the Netherlands of Playstation game consoles.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Willem Hoyng enjoys an undisputed reputation as the top patent lawyer in the Netherlands. His focus is generally on the pharmaceutical side, but he also recently handled trade mark litigation for G-Star and a database case for the International Air Transport Association.

Bart van den Broek, described by one client as "one of the hardest-working, most diligent, brightest lawyers I have worked with," handles major patent cases.

Simon Dack is the main contact for life sciences and biotech clients such as DSM Food Specialties, which he recently represented in cross-border patent litigation.

Joris Van Manen has led many of the firm's recent trade mark and advertising cases. "He's excellent: to the point and businesslike," remarks a client.

Marlou van de Braak has attracted much attention and respect from her peers, particularly for her trade mark litigation work.

THE FIRM This team attracts clients from the fashion, media and technology sectors. It wins warm praise for its pragmatic advice and approachable lawyers. The group acted in a trade mark dispute between Mexx and WE over the use of personal pronouns as trade marks. The lawyers have also advised Endemol and Fremantle on the use of TV formats.

Sources say: "Their strength lies in their ability to gather know-how and then explain it to a judge in a way he or she can absorb it."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Alfred Meijboom leads the IP department, and recently handled cases for Nike and C&A.

THE FIRM This boutique makes its debut in Band 1 this year, in recognition of strong market feedback for its IP practice. The recent arrival of Paul Reeskamp, formerly with Allen & Overy, is a boost to an already robust team best known for its trade marks, design protection and copyright work. Recent successes include representing the Comité Interprofessionel du Vin de Champagne in a case against Unilever, and acting for Telegraaf Media in a trade mark dispute with Wegener.

Sources say: "A real IP powerhouse." "The best boutique for mainstream IP." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Sven Klos is a well-known trade mark litigator with a special focus on non-traditional trade marks such as colour marks and 3D marks.

Paul Reeskamp, described as "creative and thorough," deals with patent litigation as well as mainstream IP, his main area of focus.

"Passionate and astute," Dirk Visser is noted for his prowess in copyright cases. He is also a strong trade mark litigator.

Gregor Vos has led the team in trade mark and patent cases. He successfully represented G-Star in a dispute with H&M.

Up-and-comer Sjo Anne Hoogcarspel is a recent addition from Freshfields, strengthening the team with her expertise on trade mark, copyright, design and advertising.

THE FIRM This firm is regarded as a big player in the trademark field, acting for a diverse client base which includes The LEGO Group, Pioneer and Samsonite. It receives strong market feedback for its work for SAMSUNG in its battle with Apple over smart phones. Other instructions have included acting for Japanese company Sanrio on its copyright dispute with Mercis over Dick Bruna's character Miffy.  

KEY INDIVIDUALS Charles Gielen is described by a peer as "one of the best EU trade mark lawyers." His outstanding reputation attracts many clients to the practice, including Primakabin and Samsonite.

Anne Marie Verschuur supports clients both on IP transactions and in disputes. Her knowledge spans trade mark, copyright and patent issues.

John Allen is the firm's key patents lawyer. Recent cases include representing High Point in patent infringement litigation against KPN.

THE FIRM This group has a strong focus on the life sciences and technology sectors, and advises major clients from the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, including Bayer Healthcare and the Dutch Ophthalmic Research Centre. Notably, the team acted for SAMSUNG on its patent dispute with Apple, defending it in proceedings about UMTS technology. Clients appreciate the group's meticulous legal analysis and level of responsiveness.

Sources say: "To me this is as good as it gets." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS A client hails Bas Berghuis van Woortman as "a phenomenal litigator." He has a strong practice in technology and patents, acting for clients such as SAMSUNG, Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Network.

Andras Kupecz attracts praise for his creativity and attention to detail. He specialises in biochemicals and life sciences, and has a background in molecular biology.

THE FIRM This team has a broad IP practice, with a focus on trade mark and copyright work. In addition to the traditional areas of IP, it covers distribution, media, advertising, internet content and sponsoring matters. Its diverse portfolio includes sports and fashion clients such as the Johan Cruyff Foundation, Bi-Wear Clothing and Karl Lagerfeld.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Remco van Leeuwen heads the practice and has been busy with trade mark and copyright cases, such as multi-jurisdictional trade mark proceedings for Quilate Serviços.

Karianne Thomas advises on a range of IP issues, with a special niche in games of chance matters.

THE FIRM This boutique has a clear focus on IP, IT and media work and enjoys a healthy reputation in the market. It typically works for clients from the pharmaceutical and TMT sectors, including Nycomed, Hasbro and Ace Pharmaceuticals.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Founder Dick van Engelen attracts praise for both his transactional and contentious work. Peers also highly recommend van Engelen's blog to anyone wishing to keep up to date with developments in IP.

THE FIRM The team at Vondst is gaining prominence, most notably for its patent practice. It specialises in breeders' rights, as well as patent litigation in the pharmaceutical, mechanical engineering, chemical and technology sectors. In mainstream IP, it acts for clients such as Goodyear Dunlop and Dolce & Gabbana. Clients value the lawyers' down-to-earth and results-oriented approach.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Otto Swens heads the patent practice, and is commended for his attention to detail and in-depth knowledge. One client comments: "He is efficient, fast and client-friendly."

Silvie Wertwijn led a case for Actelion Pharmaceuticals against the Dutch Ministry of Healthcare. Her practice focuses on trade mark and patent work.