Mr Tom Heremans > CMS EU > Brussels, Belgium > Lawyer Profile

The retail practice at CMS advises across commercial leases, distribution networks, IP, and data protection work related to retail. High-end international companies are amongst those relying on the expertise of the team. Renaud Dupont leads the team, specialising in distribution agreements, franchising, and licence agreements. Trademarks and copyright matters are also mainstays of Dupont’s practice. Also leading the team is Tom Heremans, who has vast IP and TMT knowledge, with a focus on copyright, trademark, and patent law. Pierre-Axel Chabot regularly advises domestic and foreign investors and occupiers. Sophie Berg plays a key role in the team, with employment and pensions expertise.

The practice CMS advises on sports, gaming, and e-sports, particularly in relation to financing, sports rights marketing, and regulatory requirements. The practice works closely with offices of the firm in other jurisdictions, allowing it to handle EU and international media and sports law issues. Tom Heremans leads the practice, with vast expertise spanning copyright, trademark and patent law, along with Dirk Van Liedekerke, who also heads the team. Van Liederkerke’s practice centres on EU and Belgian competition law.

At CMS, the dispute resolution team is ‘very responsive and diligent’, representing clients across a range of sectors in complex, cross-border litigation matters. Shareholders’ rights issues, unfair trade practices, and litigation spanning insurance, IP, and competition are all strengths of the team. A number of clients active in the technology industry turn to the team for advice, with members of the group routinely handling novel and significant litigation. Renaud Dupont is head of the team, specialising in copyright, trademark, and patent work. Leading the team alongside Dupont is Tom Heremans, with similar IP experience, as well as media and technology expertise.

The ‘dedicated’ IP practice at CMS represents high-profile clients in the retail, media, and consumer goods sectors on a range of work across intellectual property, covering trademarks, patents, and copyrights. Tom Heremans acts as co-head of the team, with specific expertise in AI. Also leading the team, Renaud Dupont is a ‘very clever legal advisor in IP matters’ and commended for being ‘very pragmatic’, with knowledge of copyrights, trademarks, and patents. Lisbeth Depypere is noted, with a focus on the protection of trade secrets. Florence Van Damme is ‘very competent’.