JUVE Comment

With a particularly strong presence in life sciences cases, Hogan Lovells’ Amsterdam patent team remains among the most active patent litigation practices in the Netherlands. Due to its strength in pharmaceutical and biotech matters, the team currently handles national cases more frequently than other Dutch teams, which have shifted significantly towards UPC work. Following its highly successful campaign for Bristol-Myers Squibb concerning Factor XA inhibitor Eliquis/apixaban, Hogan Lovells now represents Merck Sharp & Dohme in another major pharma dispute before the Dutch courts regarding cancer drug Keytruda. Merck Serono also instructed the team in proceedings against the Dutch Patent Office concerning an SPC for multiple sclerosis drug Mavenclad.

Whilst most other major Dutch patent litigation teams – such as those at Brinkhof, Bird & Bird and Winston Taylor – now focus predominantly on UPC cases, Hogan Lovells maintains a balanced mix between UPC work and national proceedings, reflecting its strong pharmaceutical focus. However, in national proceedings involving other technologies, the team maintains a lower profile than its competitors.

The UPC activities of the team led by three partners – Gertjan Kuipers, Ruud van der Velden and Dirk-Jan Ridderinkhof – reveal technical diversity. For HMD, the focus is on SEPs, whilst for Yealink Network Technology it concerns diagnostic technology used in the automotive industry. However, the standout instruction at the UPC remains representing Moderna against GSK in relation to mRNA patents. For this instruction, a team led by Kuipers prevailed over Freshfields, Moderna’s regular advisors.

The appointment of rising star Ridderinkhof to partner in early 2026 was long overdue. The Dutch team is now well positioned to manage its substantial workload and to play a strong role alongside the large German team within the pan-European practice.

Strengths

Patent disputes for innovator pharmaceutical companies. Integrated European team for cross-border litigation. Also strong in mobile communication disputes.

Recommended individuals

Gertjan Kuipers (“very impressive performance on the opposing side”, client), Dirk-Jan Ridderinkhof, Ruud van der Velden (“very pro-active lawyer who is strategically, technically and legally strong”, competitor)

Team

10 lawyers

Clients

Litigation: Merck Sharpe Dohme against Halozyme over cancer drug Keytruda; Bristol-Myers Squibb against Sandoz, Stada and Teva over apixaban patent for Factor XA inhibitor Eliquis; Merck Serono against Dutch Patent Office over SPC for multiple sclerosis drug Mavenclad; Solvay against Ciner over patent relating to soda ash; CureVac against Amsterdam University Medical Centre in entitlement proceedings regarding mRNA; Organik Kimya against Argon Kimya and Ekkochem regarding abuse of trade secrets over polymeres; Meril Life Sciences against Edwards Lifesciences over heart valves; Huisman against Royal IHC over ships for pipelaying systems; Zelig Mappa Farmers against Danziger over plant variety right for Ofarim (settled 2026). Frequent litigation for Eli Lilly, Fering and Hoffmann-La Roche.