JUVE Comment

This patent attorney firm is very active in the Dutch litigation market, especially when it comes to litigation regarding mobile communication patents, be it implementation patents or SEPs. With Harm van der Heijden and Hans Hutter the firm has two of the best-known Dutch patent attorneys in this segment in its ranks. They are frequently brought in by various law firms for nullity suits or technical support in infringement cases.

Both partners are still representing Nokia as co-defendant of KPN in a dispute with Assia over DSL technology. They work with lawyers from Bird & Bird on the case. In cooperation with Brinkhof lawyers, they were also active in a prominent role for Xiaomi against Sisvel and thus strengthened their position in work for implementors against SEP holders.

Unlike De Vries & Metman, NLO did not expand its activities through new proceedings, which has widened the gap between it and the market leader. For example, De Vries worked for Samsung against Ericsson, even though NLO has a very close relationship with the Korean corporation.

The firm filed numerous electronics patents at the EPO for Samsung and is also very active here for Baidu. NLO therefore enjoys an excellent reputation throughout Europe for prosecution work in electronics. The third mainstay of the patent attorney firm is life science patents. When it comes to pharmaceuticals and biotechnology disputes, however, Mari Korsten is the firm’s figurehead. He comes highly praised for his prosecution work concerning life science patents. Accordingly, it is not the major corporates that stand out from the long list of clients in this segment: NLO is in fact active for a multitude of small, innovative companies such as Carbon Biotech. NLO’s best-known life sciences clients are the Danone divisions for baby and medical nutrition.

Like the other large Dutch patent attorney firms Aomb, Arnold & Siedsma and V.O., prosecution work predominates at NLO. Its number of patent attorneys makes NLO one of the largest practices in the Netherlands. NLO’s work is also on a par with major patent attorney firms in Germany and the UK.

Strengths

Patent disputes conducted by patent attorneys regarding mobile communications and pharmaceuticals.

European strategy

The patent attorney firm has two offices in the Belgian cities of Ghent and Mechelen. Unlike large patent filing practices from the Netherlands and the UK, NLO forgoes an office in Munich, but files many electronics patents at the EPO for Samsung and Baidu.

Its absence from central UPC locations like Munich and Paris could be a disadvantage for NLO in the long term. If it wants to get in position for the new court with its strength in mobile communications patents, it will have to start soon. If the former London sections of the central division were to go to Amsterdam or The Hague, however, NLO would have an advantage over German and UK firms given its strong life sciences specialty.

Recommended individuals

Harm van der Heijden (digital communication and computer technology, electronics), Hans Hutter (digital communication and computer technology, electronics), Mari Korsten (pharma and biotechnology, chemistry)

Team

43 patent attorneys

Specialties

Full service in IP with a strong focus on patents. Predominantly patent prosecution in a broad technical spectrum. Intensive prosecution work regarding electronics patents. Litigation together with external lawyers. IP advice, transaction support.

Clients

Litigation: Nokia (co-defendant of KPN) against Assia over DSL technology; Xiaomi (defendant) against Sisvel over SEPs (settled 2021); Oppo (defendant) against Sisvel over SEPs (settled 2021; public knowledge); Belparts (defendant) against Belimo in EPO opposition over patent regarding the flow control in a fluid-based central heating or cooling system. Prosecution: patent filing and oppositions: Samsung Electronics; patent filing: Allergan, Baidu, Carbon Biotech, Confo Therapeutics, Delta Electronics, Duco, Essity, Novo Nordisk, N.V. Nutricia/Danone, ProDigest, Royal IHC, SBM Offshore, TNO (some public knowledge).