Belgium

Allen & Overy's IP team in Belgium can also deal with patent disputes and transactional matters. The key contacts for patent instructions are Geert Glas and Peter Van Dyck.

Patent case studies show the firm acted for companies such as Heineken, Tata Steel and Eli Lilly & Company in their respected patent disputes.

Arnold & Siedsma is recommended for patent protection and management work. The firm represents patent owners in a number of technical fields. Nele D'Halleweyn leads the patent practice in Brussels and is a specialist in electronics and engineering. Associate Yannick Philippaerts is noted for his work in infringement cases.

Bird & Bird has a strong patent practice which covers a number of sectors. The firm also advises on patent-related transactions and designs. Domien Op de Beeck and Jean-Christophe Troussel are among the key contacts for patent work. Case studies show the IP team represented B Braun Melsungen in a cross-border patent litigation against Becton Dickinson. Patent star Bruno Vandermeulen left the firm in December 2018.

Brantsandpatents' patent team is experienced in advising clients in sectors such as engineering, chemistry and life sciences. Johan Brants, a patent attorney with a technical background in chemistry and physics, leads the patent practice. Another key senior patent attorney in the team is Ellen Crabbe, who specialises in biotechnology work.

International law firm Crowell & Moring is highly rated for IP disputes in Belgium. Kristof Roox and Jan-Diederik Lindemans are the key partners in the firm leading on IP disputes. Both partners are experienced in life sciences patent disputes, with clients such as Eurogenerics, Sandoz and Teva.

De Clerq & Partners is a market-leading firm for patent protection and portfolio management work, particularly in the fields of biotechnology and chemistry. The firm has experienced European patent attorneys such as Ann De Clerq and Liesbet Paemen who can handle national and EPO patent work. During the research period, the team advised food manufacturer Vandemoortele on a patent opposition against Unilever.

Stijn Debaene is the key IP contact at Fieldfisher's Brussels office. He is experienced in disputes in the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors. Hakim Haouideg works alongside Debaene on patent cases. They recently advised a telecommunications company on a patent and design dispute.

Gevers is a long-established IP firm in Belgium. The firm has a number of offices in the country. Ingrid Luyten and Frank Van Coppenolle are co-heads of the patent department. Case studies show the firm represented car paint manufacturer Carr-Cup in opposition matters before the EPO.

Hoyng Rokh Monegier is one of the best in country for patent disputes, with notable expertise in life sciences. The team is also well experienced in regulatory matters. Key contacts for patent work include Carl De Meyer, Benoît Strowel and Liesbeth Weynants. Recent case studies show the team advised Pfizer on an invalidity action against Genentech.

Linklaters has a small team in Portugal for IP disputes and transactions. Managing associate Raquel Galvão Silva is a notable lawyer in the firm whose disputes practice covers IP. A notable partner in the firm is antitrust specialist Carlos Pinto Correia, a lawyer who also advises on transactions.

Law firm NautaDutilh is recommended for patent disputes and IP transactions. Key practitioners for patent work are Philippe Péters, Florence Verhoestraete and Tanguy de Haan. Patent case studies show the firm represented Incopack in a patent and design dispute.

Simont Braun has a team that is dedicated to IP litigation. In patents, the team is experienced in advising clients in sectors such as life sciences, chemicals and mechanical engineering. Key contacts for patent instructions are Fernand de Visscher, Philippe Campolini, Emmanuel Cornu and Eric De Gryse. Recent patent case studies show the team represented ArcelorMittal in its patent dispute with Tata.

Stibbe is recognised for dealing with patent disputes in a broad range of sectors, including biotechnology, pharmaceutical and automotive. Practice head Ignace Vernimme understands pan-European pharmaceutical patent litigation. He is supported in patent cases by rising star Olivia Hottat, an associate who understands the life sciences sector.

VO is recommended for patent drafting and prosecution work. The firm has particular expertise in the electronics, life sciences, physics and chemistry fields. Partner Cees Jansen is a leader in the firm. Another notable patent attorney is Marco Box, who was promoted to partner in 2017. Box manages the firm's Leuven office and has a background in physics, advising on mechanics and electronics/IT inventions. Marie-José Luys left the firm in September 2018.

& De Bandt's IP practice is led by Jeff Keustermans, who is best known for copyright and related rights expertise. Keustermans and his team also deal with trade mark disputes. Another notable lawyer in the firm is Karel Janssens.

Allen & Overy's IP team in Belgium is very experienced in dealing with IP disputes in the national and regional courts. The team is led by IT/IP specialist Filip Van Elsen, but IP star Geert Glas is widely recognised by market commentators as the standout IP practitioner in the firm.

Trade mark case studies show the firm acted for Jaguar Land Rover, A S Watson Group and Kruidvat in trade mark disputes. IP Star Paul Maeyaert and a team of junior IP lawyers, including Rising Star Jeroen Muyldermans, left the firm in July 2020.

Bird & Bird has a strong trade mark practice in Belgium. Its Belgian IP team is also experienced in advising on copyright and related rights. The prominent soft IP practitioners in the team include head of IP Jean-Christophe Troussel; Benoit Van Asbroeck, who is noted for his copyright expertise. Case studies show the firm represented PPG in the Brussels Commercial Court in a trade mark infringement matter. Patent star Bruno Vandermeulen left the firm in December 2018.

Ghent-based IP boutique Cape IP Law has quickly caught the attention of rivals and clients. Market commentators recommend Véronique Pede for soft IP disputes. Co-founder Patricia Cappuyns is also a well-known IP litigator in the market.

Crowell & Moring is recommended for trade mark and copyright disputes. The key IP lawyers in the firm's IP department are Kristof Roox, Jan-Diederik Lindemans and Thomas De Meese.

De Clerq & Partners is also recommended for trade mark prosecution and portfolio management. The key contacts at the firm are IP star Ann De Clerq, Joost Muylle and Sakina Bounaga. Soft IP case studies show the team has worked for clients such as FlandersBio vzw and A'Domo.

Stijn Debaene and Hakim Haouideg are the leading IP practitioners at Fieldfisher's Brussels office. Both practitioners handle contentious trade mark matters as well as copyright advisory work. The firm has clients in sectors such as entertainment and publishing.

European IP firm Gevers is recommended for trade mark registration and portfolio management work. The firm is led by CEO Gaëlle Gevers. The firm has a large team of experienced trade mark attorneys, notably Benjamin Gevers and Charlotte Cosyns.

European IP law firm Hoyng Rokh Monegier is often instructed to handle complex cross-border trade mark and copyright disputes. Benoit Michaux, Fabienne Brison and Carina Gommers are among the experienced soft IP practitioners in its Brussels office. Trade mark case studies show the team advised companies such as Philip Morris International.

The Belgian IP department of Linklaters is headed up by Pieter Van den Broecke. Another notable IP practitioner in the department is Van den Broecke, who leads a team of associates on soft IP instructions including licensing.

NautaDutilh's IP team is recommended for soft IP disputes and IP-related transactions. The key individuals in the team include Philip Peters, Florence Verhoestraete and Tanguy de Haan. Trade mark case studies show the team advised companies such as GSK, Coca-Cola and BMW.

Simont Braun is one of the best law firms in Belgium for trade mark and copyright advice. Fernand de Visscher, Emmanuel Cornu and Eric De Gryse are among the experienced IP practitioners in the firm.

Stibbe is recognised for its soft IP disputes and transactional practice. Ignace Vernimme leads the firm's IP practice. Trade mark case studies show the firm represented companies such as Akzo Nobel Paints, Euroclear, Orbix Group and AB Inbev.

Boutique firm Van Innis & Delarue is experienced in advising clients in the creative industries such as fashion, media and technology. A key contact in the firm is partner Thierry van Innis, who is highly recommended for trade mark and copyright disputes. The firm was involved in the Christian Louboutin shoe trade mark dispute which reached the CJEU. The firm won Managing IP's Firm of the Year (2019) award for copyright and designs work.

VO is a well-known IP agency in the Benelux region. The firm is recommended for trade mark protection and portfolio management. The attorneys in the firm are experienced in advising clients in a range of sectors, including chemistry, electronics and life sciences. Partner Marco Box and senior associates Annemie Jaeken and Annemie Swinnen are the key trade mark contacts.