Netherlands > Intellectual property: Patents > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings

Brinkhof 'undoubtedly has the top patent lawyers in the Netherlands acting for multi-national and domestic clients across all scientific fields and has a pipeline of exceptionally talented associates'. Richard Ebbink, Mark Van Gardingen, Koen Bijvank, and Daan De Lange are 'standout' partners. The team acts for Sandoz, the generics division of Novartis, in a dispute related to the client's biosimilar of AbbVie’s blockbuster drug Humira used in the treatment of chronic diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease. The practice's roll call of clients also includes Amgen, Astra Zenica, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and Becton Dickinson. 'Rising stars in the associate ranks' include Jan Pot, Rik Lambers, and Rien Broekstra.

HOYNG ROKH MONEGIER is well known for its IP expertise, especially high-stakes pharma and biotech patent litigation. Bart van den Broek heads the practice and Simon Dack and  Geert Theuws are noted practitioners. Willem Hoyng has been acting for AstraZeneca on a number of matters including the long-running case against Resolution in respect of his client's blockbuster drug Crestor, a matter which was successfully concluded at the Supreme Court.

The Bird & Bird LLP team is considered to be 'one of the strongest patent litigator teams in the Netherlands and has great collaboration with patent attorneys'. Wouter Pors and Armand Killan, 'who does an outstanding job', are two of the senior and highly regarded practitioners; Killan continues to act for Nokia in patent infringement actions against Apple; the notable Marc van Wijngaarden counts Teva among his clients; associate Peter van Gemert is reported to 'have the skills to really become a great attorney'. The team is acting for biopharma company Ablynx in a complex, cross-border case again Unilever pertaining to the scope of patent licence agreements and the difference between medicinal products and functional foods.

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a trusted advisor on the full range of IP matters including cross-border patent protection and enforcement; 'it combines a very good understanding of IP with commercial understanding and finds creative solutions'. Gertjan Kuipers' expertise spans a range of sciences and electrical and mechanical, computer, and pharmaceutical technologies and is cited for being 'business savvy' and for 'having a profound knowledge of the law'. Together with Tobias Cohen Jehoram, Kuipers represented Merck Sharp & Dohme regarding cancer immunotherapy patents, on the Dutch leg of a multi-jurisdictional dispute; the patents were held by Ono Pharmaceutical, under which Bristol Myers Squibb had an exclusive licence. With an engineering background, senior associate Oscar Lamme is also noted.

At Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Rutger Kleemans heads the IP team in Amsterdam and has a focus on patent litigation, while fellow partner Peter Hendrick leads the international patent litigation group. Acting with Hendrick, principal associate Jelle Drok is representing Bristol-Myers Squibb in a case against Pfizer concerning the ownership of a European patent relating to ground-breaking new medicines for the treatment of cancer. Also of note is senior associate Ruben Laddé, who concentrates on patent work in addition to broader technology matters.

Ruud van der Velden heads the team at Hogan Lovells International LLP and together with Bert Oosting and Klaas Bisschop attracts complex patent infringement work in the pharma, chemicals and electronics arenas together with regulatory matters. The team acted for Merck Sharp & Dohme in a landmark case against Teva that went to the Supreme Court and concerned a second medical use patent protecting a combination therapy for the treatment of hepatitis C.

Simmons & Simmons 'has what is needed for pan-European litigation'. The substantial team consists of specialists with a range of scientific and technical specialisms in addition to its IP expertise. Bas Berghuis van Woortman's focus is on broad technology and life sciences as well as patents and Mattie De Koning, who has an MSc in chemical technology, undertakes national and cross-border patent litigation in areas including ICT and life sciences and is considered 'a natural go-to person for technical questions, can produce winning arguments and understand business logic'. The team handles high-value litigation for multinationals and in highlight work, it continues to act for Allergan in numerous cases in the Court of Appeal and at the European Patent Office in relation to the protection of its patents.

The BarentsKrans team offers comprehensive IP expertise across mechanical engineering, electronics, telecoms, chemistry, and life sciences sectors and represents clients including Bayer, Nutrition Sciences, and Accord Healthcare. The team's lawyers are 'respected; have a broad network; and go into depth to understand technology'. Marleen Van Den Horst who heads the team 'is highly valued and driven but never loses oversight and focus'. Jaap Bremer and senior associate Claudia Zeri are key members. The team is assisting longstanding client Mylan in preliminary relief in patent infringement proceedings initiated by ICOS and Eli Lilly.

DLA Piper excels in its offering of global IP services and 'its teamwork combined with its European network' is a noted strength. The practice is representing Canadian company Smart Technologies in a patent infringement claim against Dutch company CTouch in respect of patents relating to interactive whiteboards. Experienced IP litigators Paul Reeskamp and Johan Renes are acting for MBH International and its Dutch distributor, Medical4You, against Coloplast before the Court of Appeal concerning a patent for a medical device. Legal director Alexander Tsoutsanis is a key team member.

Specialist boutique Vondst Advocaten N.V focuses on contentious and non-contentious IP, especially in the pharma, life sciences and IT sectors. Otto Swens and Ricardo Dijkstra lead the team together with Arvid van Oorschot who joined from Brinkhof. Carly van der Beek has also joined from Hogan Lovells International LLP. Dijkstra led a team that acted successfully for Teva in a case against ICOS concerning the latter's blockbuster product Cialis. The matter involved invalidity and preliminary injunction proceedings.

Frits Gerritzen heads the IP practice at Allen & Overy LLP which offers a global network in addition to its local expertise and is especially adept in life sciences. The team, which is made up of 'pragmatic, nice people with commercial understanding', is acting for Glycotope, a global leader in glycobiology, in a patent infringement dispute with DC Prime, an immunotherapy developer. The group is also advising Janssen Pharmaceutica (part of Johnson & Johnson) in a dispute relating to the performance of a joint development agreement with Philips Electronics Netherlands and the subsequent termination of that agreement.

Anne Marie Verschuur, who heads the NautaDutilh practice, is a litigator with significant patent experience across a range of industries. Her work includes acting for Medac on the Dutch leg of patent litigation initiated by Accord Healthcare. Of counsel Charles Gielen is noted for his expertise in IP disputes.

Wim Maas and 'highly skilled, accurate stand-out partner' Judith Krens head the IP and IT practice at Taylor Wessing, where 'lawyers and patent attorneys provide great quality work'. Carreen Shannon leads the life sciences group and is appreciated for 'guiding clients through the litigation process'. The practice undertakes patent protection work in a broad range of industries in addition to pharma and biosimilar matters. In recent work, the team acted for Pfizer against Genentech/Hoffmann La Roche in a significant biotech/biosimilar case regarding the nullity and declaration of non-infringement actions involving several patents.