JUVE Comment

At this Dutch mixed IP firm, patent attorneys make up the majority of fee earners. However, Arnold & Siedsma also stands out for its small but nimble team of lawyers who are highly active for predominantly Dutch SMEs at national courts across a broad range of technologies. Current examples include work for OneWay Plastics concerning patisserie piping bags, and Blister Partners regarding drug packaging technology. The firm consistently handles these cases with mixed teams of its own lawyers and patent attorneys. The legal team also supports Wilmar in an entitlement case concerning a patent for functional plant-based proteins.

With further instructions from Jozef Nelissen concerning a medical device and Maars Partitioning Systems regarding modular wall solutions, the firm made a solid start at the UPC. Nevertheless, other Dutch boutiques such as Brinkhof and Hoyng ROKH Monegier maintain a more visible presence before the European court.

Recently, Arnold & Siedsma’s international ambitions have grown. The most significant development over the past year was its merger with the global, private-equity-backed IP group Rouse. After more than 100 years of independence, the former partnership was dissolved, with the partners becoming shareholders in the Rouse Group. For now, the firm continues to operate under the Arnold & Siedsma brand. The merger provides the financial backing and international network to attract larger cross-border disputes. To capitalise on this, Arnold & Siedsma’s lawyers and attorneys must demonstrate that they can leverage Rouse’s strong position amongst Asian clients for more work before the Dutch courts and, crucially, at the UPC.

Rouse’s appetite for Arnold & Siedsma was likely driven primarily by the strong patent attorney practice. It enjoys an excellent reputation for prosecution work in pharmaceutical, electronics, and mechanics patents. Regarding litigation, partners such as Martin Luten already have an outstanding renown for disputes concerning electronics and mechanics. The patent attorney business gives the Rouse Group a stronger footprint in Europe. However, the merger is only the first step. There remains scope for further integration and expansion within Europe.

Strengths

Litigation across a broad technical spectrum, mainly for SMEs

Recommended individuals

Rogier Brouwer (“a mastermind in his technical field”, competitor; medical technology), Martin Luten (electronics, mechanics, process and mechanical engineering)

Team

35 patent attorneys, 4 lawyers

Clients

Litigation: OneWay plastics against Implast over patisserie piping bags; Blister Partners against Global Factories over drug packaging technology; Tractive Suspension against SRI and JRZ over automotive technology; Wilmar against Napiferyn Biotech in entitlement case over patent regarding functional plant-based proteins; Vonroc against Nielsen over collapsible ladder.