JUVE Comment

The well-positioned patent litigation team of this Dutch full-service firm is known in the Netherlands for pharmaceutical disputes. Young partner Jeroen Boelens managed to maintain this despite the loss of long-standing team leader Anne Marie Verschuur in 2023 to De Brauw. Now that the small team has recovered from this blow and stabilised, it is once again focusing on expansion. A second partner alongside Boelens would give the team greater flexibility in the Dutch patent market, as well as for UPC cases.

Currently, the team’s most visible case is the work for Galenicum Health in a nullity suit over pharmaceutical compositions for diabetes drug sitagliptin. In addition, the team is representing a generic drug company in a dispute with Sanofi over a multiple sclerosis drug. But in 2023 and 2024 the patent team has again showcased its technical breadth, even if its clout in mobile communications cases is not what it was in former years. On the other hand, the team represented REV’IT concerning motorcycle apparel and MTS Euro Products regarding dispenser technology for toilet paper. Advisory work also constitutes a large part of the patent team’s business.

European set-up

Unlike some other Dutch full-service law firms such as BarentsKrans, Nauta Dutilh has international IP teams in Brussels and Luxembourg, where it has seasoned IP litigators. In France, Germany, Italy and the UK, it relies on cooperation partners. These connections occasionally lead to the team litigating the Dutch proceedings of pan-European disputes.

Currently, the team focuses mainly on national litigation. It is not present in any UPC cases as main representative but is advising a client together with a German firm in preparing a new UPC case.

Close links with German IP boutiques currently bring the team into play for national German proceedings when their clients have proceedings in the Netherlands. For example, the Nauta Dutilh team represents Arctos Showlasertechnik with Grünecker, and a generics manufacturer with Preu Bohlig in a dispute at the District Court The Hague concerning a multiple sclerosis drug. The NautaDutilh team could make use of such connections more often to achieve greater presence in UPC cases.

Strengths

Patent litigation regarding life sciences patents.

Recommended individuals

Jeroen Boelens

Team

7 lawyers

Clients

Litigation: Galenicum Health against Insud Pharma in nullity suit over pharmaceutical compositions for diabetes drug sitagliptin; frequent advice and litigation for REV’IT over motorcycle apparel; MTS Euro Products against Essity over dispenser technology for toilet paper; Arctos Showlasertechnik against competitor over laser technology. Advice: frequent advice regarding IP strategy, licence agreements and transactions for Synaffix and NX Filtration.