Leeway > Amsterdam, Netherlands > Firm Profile
Leeway Offices
BARBARA STROZZILAAN 101
1083 HN AMSTERDAM
Netherlands
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Leeway > The Legal 500 Rankings
Netherlands > Industry focus: Media and entertainment Tier 2
Leeway offers comprehensive advice across the media and entertainment sector from copyright protection and sponsorship agreements to advertising and marketing. Co-leading the team, Michiel Odink advises on matters concerning music publishing, film production and IP protection. Heading the team alongside him, Marga Verwoert regularly assists clients such as actors, vloggers and media companies. With more than three decades of experience in the field, Eric Keyzer is another go-to lawyer at the firm.Practice head(s):
Marga Verwoert; Michiel Odink
Other key lawyers:
Eric Keyzer; Nini Blom; Lotte Rutgers; Max van Oostrum
Testimonials
‘Eric Keyzer, Marga Verwoert and Michiel Odink form a great team together with associates Nini Blom, Lotte Rutgers and Max van Oostrum. Leeway’s team is excellent, and they are very nice to work with. They also have a great international network of firms they cooperate with.’
‘Marga Verwoert has a very strong reputation. She is a master in contract negotiations. She regularly teams up with Eric Keyzer, who is an absolute hero in this area. They offer creative solutions, which is absolutely a must when the market is evolving so quickly while legislation is always behind.’
‘Leeway listens carefully to the needs of the clients. They are very approachable and deadlines are always met.’
‘Eric Keyzer is one of the best lawyers we have ever worked with. He is very empathetic and he has excellent legal skills.’
‘Leeway has a pragmatic approach and their in-depth knowledge of the media, film and advertising industry is very important. The Leeway team is great at drafting and negotiating complex media/production agreements within the international media arena.’
Key clients
Warner Music Group
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc
Pathé Thuis
TopCast Media
PriveeKollektie B.V.
Q-Music
Chet Baker Estate
Lukassen Producties
Wieden+Kennedy
Joy Tomassen
Rooftop Studios
180 Amsterdam
Work highlights
- Advising Pathé Thuis on a new project to offer on-demand screenings at a network of boutique private cinemas across Europe.
- Assisting Fruits Music with all aspects of the initial establishment of the company, along with ongoing advice on commercial agreements with external producers, musicians and content creators.
- Advising PXR Media on a partnership agreement with Talpa TV to develop a show called ‘VI Today’.
Netherlands > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyrights and design rights Tier 2
Leeway focuses solely on soft IP matters, advises well-known names in the retail and fashion sectors on trade mark prosecutions and litigation across the Benelux region, acting for plaintiffs in infringement disputes and supporting clients facing cancellation and opposition proceedings before Dutch and European courts. The team is led in tandem by the ‘very knowledgeable’ Michiel Odink, a specialist in the retail and digital services sectors, and ‘IP superstar’ Marga Verwoert, who advises fashion brands and celebrities on the protection of their IP portfolios. Jos Klaus is a name to note for online IP infringement, advising on marketing campaigns and matters concerning misleading advertising, with Nini Blom acting for clients in domain name disputes and advising on licensing and distribution agreements.Practice head(s):
Marga Verwoert; Michiel Odink
Testimonials
‘Jos Klaus is like a pitbull for his clients. He will do all in his power to find that one thing that can change the case in the client’s advantage. Nini Blom is a great attorney. She is very dedicated and makes the client feel at ease. Her knowledge of the IP field is amazing.’
‘We often work with Marga Verwoert. She thinks like a transaction lawyer, which makes it very easy to involve her in complex transactions with an important IP angle.’
‘The Leeway team is small but provides high quality advice, and is very much hands-on.’
‘Marga Verwoert has built a great practice in litigating the commercial aspects of IP. She is strong, a high quality lawyer and very much to be reckoned with. She has a clear focus on the commercial goal of the client and does not let herself get distracted by side issues.’
‘Marga Verwoert is an absolute IP superstar, she is always one step ahead, a smart and a fast thinker who is very reliable in her advice. Michiel Odink is very knowledgeable. I have also worked with Jos Klaus and Nini Blom, two associates that absolutely will skyrocket in the IP world.’
‘This practice is outstanding because it unites a great bunch of very keen and intelligent individuals.’
‘Leeway has very good coverage across the practice area, and provides comprehensive advice.’
Key clients
Action Nederland
easyGroup Ltd.
Baidu Inc.
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Beter Bed
Chet Baker Estate
HEMA B.V.
Vacu Vin
Dataprovider.com
DPG Media
O2
PAL Sporting Goods
Royal Boch BVBA
Pathé Thuis
Scotch & Soda B.V.
The Agent-C
Warner Music Benelux B.V.
Wieland Electric
Wahl Corporation Inc.
OSLO skin lab
Work highlights
- Acted for Baidu in cancellation and opposition proceedings against BAIDU marks owned by a company called Baidu Europe, owned by Michael Gleissner.
- Represented Warner Bros in several trade mark disputes, including against Ferrero regarding the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory brand.
- Represented HEMA in a dispute with Lidl concerning an alleged infringement of its copyrights in relation to “lettercrate,” a HEMA design for a foldable basket.
Netherlands > Industry focus: Information technology Tier 3
Guiding clients through substantial IT and outsourcing initiatives, Leeway’s sector expertise encompasses areas such as software and data licensing, procurement and implementation of SaaS solutions, as well as ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements. The practice, directed by Michiel van Ast, addresses both contentious and non-contentious IP and IT matters for clients in the areas of digital business, media and retail. Michiel Odink focuses on digital transformation, IP disputes and commercial contracts, while Jos Klaus lends his expertise to major tech companies in matters related to domain names.Practice head(s):
Michiel van Ast
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘It’s a small high-quality firm. They leave the fuss out of the way and are truly focused on bringing value.’
‘Leeway works with a small team with high profile individuals, enabling them to work efficiently.’
‘Michiel van Ast takes the time to get to know you and is always realistic about timing and expectations.’
‘Michiel van Ast combines in-depth knowledge of the sector and the law with a practical approach. He is very accessible and can act quickly if the situation requires so.’
‘Leeway is one of the larger IP, tech and media boutique firms in The Netherlands. Leeway truly understands the legal and business needs of their clients.’
‘Michiel van Ast and Michiel Odink are both great and likeable lawyers, sharp as a knife and very business-minded. They get the deal done.’
Key clients
Shell Recharge Solutions
PVH Europe (Tommy Hilfiger & Calvin Klein)
Danone
Baidu Inc.
Backbase
Signify
Axelera AI
Source.ag
O2 Worldwide
Karl Lagerfeld
Captin
Royal Swinkels Family Brewers
Eezeetags
The Fabricant
Physee
Lab Digital
Scotch & Soda
Unica ICT Solutions
Logpay
BlueAlp
Sourceful ICT
Ambitious People Group
IJsvogel Retail
SocialBlox
NBD Biblion
PM Factory
Quanza
Work highlights
- Advised Axelera AI on the development of its Early Access Programme and on a contract with a strategic partner for critical emulation (verification) services.
- Advised Baidu on cancellation proceedings and opposition proceedings against BAIDU marks owned by a company called ‘Baidu Europe’.
- Advised Shell Recharge Solutions on negotiating an agreement with a supplier of a business-critical range prediction and IV routing platform, supporting negotiations over its vMSP and roaming agreements, drafting app terms of use and advising on compliance matters.
Netherlands > Industry focus: retail Tier 3
Taking on a diverse range of mandates, Leeway is particularly focused on brand protection in the retail sector, where it assists fashion and leisure clients with the protection of their IP rights. The team is led by ‘problem solver’ Marga Verwoert, who handles the spectrum of IP issues and also advises on distribution and franchise matters, and Michiel Odink, a specialist in media and IP law, with a practice built upon trade mark and copyright matters. Former practice co-head Remco van Leeuwen moved to Arnold + Siedsma, Attorneys at Law and Patent Attorneys in September 2022.Practice head(s):
Marga Verwoert; Michiel Odink
Other key lawyers:
Jos Klaus; Lotte Rutgers
Testimonials
‘Very engaged team, extensive knowledge, good communication and results.’
‘The Leeway team has a lot of experience across the retail sector, and is a good one-stop-shop for clients active in this area.’
‘Marga Verwoert is a very smart, pragmatic and hands-on lawyer.’
‘Leeway has one of the largest IP teams, combining a wealth of legal knowledge and industry insight.’
‘Marga Verwoert is exceptional at distilling complex matters into language that resonates with lawyers, judges and non-lawyers, creating openings to solutions that work. She is a problem solver, readily available anytime to dive into a matter and fix it.’
‘Very engaged team, extensive knowledge, good communication and results.’
Key clients
Action
HEMA B.V.
Vacu Vin
Jumbo Supermarkten B.V.
Beter Bed
Stox Energy Socks
La Place
easyGroup Ltd.
Royal Boch BVBA
Scotch & Soda B.V.
The Agent-C
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Wieland Electric
Work highlights
- Assisted Action Nederland in relation to a wide selection of its soft IP matters, as well as advising this client on several IP-related agreements.
- Acted for HEMA on a dispute with Lidl concerning an alleged infringement its copyrights in relation to ‘lettercrate,’ a HEMA design for a foldable basket.
- Represented PAL Sporting Goods in a dispute against international skateboarding & clothing brand Palace Skateboards, which alleged that PAL was infringing a selection of its trade marks.