JUVE Comment

After a successful generational transition in recent years, the team led by younger partners Tjibbe Douma, Peter van Gemert and Carlos van Staveren has once again closed the gap on the market leaders Brinkhof and Hoyng ROKH Monegier considerably. This stems from substantial involvement in proceedings before the UPC local division The Hague, as well as in national litigation.

A notable new instruction saw the team representing Broadcom against Netflix at the District Court The Hague. The team also remains active for key clients KPN and Nokia in mobile communications cases. Pharmaceutical litigation, such as work for Celltrion, continues to feature in national proceedings, albeit at a lower level compared to electronics and mobile communications.

However, it is primarily the firm’s significant UPC involvement that has propelled the team forward. For instance, the practice represents GSK against Moderna, BioNTech and Pfizer in major mRNA cases. UPC litigation now accounts for the majority of the Dutch team’s work. As in the court’s early years, the Dutch lawyers collaborate seamlessly with Bird & Bird lawyers from Germany, France, Italy, and the UK.

Team growth has therefore been a logical step, including the recent promotion of van Staveren to partner. The team has also expanded with the arrival of dual-qualified senior counsel Frodo Ferro from Kilburn & Strode and several new associates. Bird & Bird’s UPC presence now exerts a notable pull on experienced lawyers from other Dutch patent teams.

Strengths

Interoffice cooperation, particularly between the Dutch, UK, and German offices. Pharmaceutical cases, telecommunications litigation.

Recommended individuals

Tjibbe Douma, Peter van Gemert (“has a top tier team and provides good advice at reasonable prices”, client), Carlos van Staveren, Marc van Wijngaarden

Team

19 lawyers, 2 patent attorneys

Clients

Litigation: KPN against High Point and Oppo over telecommunications technology and SEPs; Broadcom against Netflix over HEVC video encoding technologies; Edwards Lifesciences against Meril over heart valve technology; Avery Dennison against Ferm in patent entitlement and trade secret litigation. Frequent litigation for Canon, Nestlé, Nokia, Teva.