Mr Ignace Vernimme > Stibbe > Brussels, Belgium > Lawyer Profile

Stibbe
CENTRAL PLAZA
LOKSUMSTRAAT 25/ RUE DE LOXUM 25
1000 BRUSSELS
Belgium

Work Department

Intellectual Property, Life Sciences

Position

Partner

Career

Ignace Vernimme’s expertise lies in IP law and covers the pharmaceutical, food and beverage, metallurgic, comic strip, and fashion industries.
Ignace specialises in patents, trademarks, copyright, designs, know-how protection, technology transfer, and specific regulations that apply to pharmaceutical products.

Languages

Dutch, French, English.

Memberships

  • Arbitrator and mediator of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)
  • Panellist at the Czech Arbitration Court (CAC)
  • Founding member and board member of Intellectuele Rechten – Droits Intellectuels (1996–present)
  • Board member of the professional education program for trademark and design attorneys (BBMM)
  • Member and president of the Dutch speaking section of the Patent Agent Accreditation Commission
  • Member and arbitrator of Cepani (Belgian Center for Arbitration and Mediation – Intellectual Property Litigation)
  • Member of the International Trademark Association (INTA)
  • Member of the subcommittee Parallel Import of the International Trademark Association (2006–2007)
  • Member of the Belgian Copyright Association (ABA/BVA)
  • Member of the International Literary and Artistic Association (ALAI)
  • Member of the Supervisory Board of the Benelux Association for Trademark and Design Law (BMM)
  • Member of the International Association for Consumer Law
  • Member of the Licensing Executives Society (LES)
  • Member of the European Patent Lawyers Association (EPLAW)

Education

  • Graduated in Law from Ghent University (1987)
  • Admitted to the Brussels Bar in 1987
  • Graduated in Economic Law from the Université libre de Bruxelles (1989)
  • With the Brussels office of Stibbe since 2007 (Partner since 2007)
  • Professor of the Introduction to Law course at Thomas More University of Applied Sciences
  • Coordinator for the professional education programme for Benelux trademark and design attorneys

Lawyer Rankings

Belgium > Industry focus: Media and entertainment

Stibbe advises players in the industry spanning sports associations, media platforms, record labels and broadcasters on an array of contentious and advisory matters. The firm has also developed a strategic focus on the fast-growing gamification sector. TMT specialist Erik Valgaeren heads up the practice; his varied portfolio of work incorporates advice on pre-employment background checks and compliance with the Electronic Communications Act. Sports law expert Elisabeth Matthys frequently handles litigation involving discrimination issues and anti-doping rules. Publishers rely on Ignace Vernimme for informed counsel on diverse trade mark and copyright issues.

Belgium > Intellectual property

(Hall of Fame)

Ignace VernimmeStibbe

Stibbe complements its focus on national and multi-jurisdictional IP litigation with advice on matters such as IP structurings and technology transfers. Patent, trade secret, and copyright mandates are notable areas of strength for the team. Team co-head Ignace Vernimme‘s broad IP expertise is prized by clients from a varied spectrum of sectors ranging from the pharmaceuticals space to the fashion industry. Fellow co-head Philippe Campolini frequently handles patent and trade mark litigation for clients in the life sciences and medical devices industries. Drafting IP clauses in contracts is a staple of Louis Bidaine‘s practice.

Belgium > EU regulatory: Pharma, medical devices and biotech

The IP and life sciences team at Stibbe works closely with the firm’s public law department to advise on regulatory issues affecting pharma companies and other key players in the healthcare sector. Recent highlights have ranged from representing clients in disputes with the Belgian pricing authorities, to assisting with the development of clinical trials. Ignace Vernimme and Philippe Campolini are the key senior names to note.

Belgium > Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences

(Leading partners)

Ignace VernimmeStibbe

The team at Stibbe handles the full gamut of regulatory issues relating to hospitals, EU co-promotion agreements, and cases concerning public procurement contracts. Practice co-head Ignace Vernimme is known for his longstanding experience of representing clients before regulatory authorities, including the Belgian Medicine Agency and the Belgian Pharmaceutical Association, while co-head Philippe Campolini primarily focuses on patent litigation and joint research agreements. Louis Bidaine has a great deal of experience in handling multinational patent disputes, in addition to a wide array of non-contentious matters, including rebates, marketing strategies, and promotional practices.