JUVE Comment

The Amsterdam team at this international full-service firm remains active in national patent cases across a broad technical spectrum. The team’s work, led by partner Oscar Lamme, spans life sciences disputes – such as the recent case for key client Samsung Bioepis against Janssen – through to computer and IT technology matters, including the case for NST concerning chip technology. A particular highlight for the Amsterdam team in national proceedings was its work for Simmons & Simmons’ long-standing client Honeywell in a licensing dispute over conveyor belt technology.

The breadth of the team’s technical expertise becomes even more apparent in UPC disputes, where it collaborates particularly closely with the Munich and London teams. On behalf of Apple, the team is working alongside other Simmons & Simmons offices on a mobile telecommunications case involving confidentiality issues. The team also represents Honeywell before the new court and supports the Munich team in matters for Mediq and Microtech concerning medical devices.

However, the firm’s pan-European patent team has recently been hit hard by several departures, which have not spared the Amsterdam practice. Following the departure of senior partner Bas Berghuis van Woortman and European patent attorney Sebastian Versaevel to Winston & Strawn (now Winston Taylor) in late 2025, the Amsterdam patent litigation team is undergoing restructuring. Many market observers currently view Simmons & Simmons as facing challenges in regaining its former strength. Nevertheless, the firm has managed to retain Lamme, thereby stabilising the Dutch team. Another positive development is the arrival of a counsel from De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, who brings 15 years’ experience in patent litigation for major clients in the life sciences and TMT sectors.

As the firm increasingly focuses on UPC cases, some restructuring of the European team – which had grown rapidly over several years – was inevitable given the declining national caseload across Europe. Having weathered a difficult period, the Amsterdam team now has the opportunity to position itself strategically and potentially serve as a model for the European patent practice as a whole.

Strengths

Patent disputes in a broad technical spectrum.

Recommended individuals

Oscar Lamme

Team

8 lawyers

Partner moves

Bas Berghuis van Woortman (to Winston Taylor), Johan Renes (to Plasseraud)

Clients

Litigation: Samsung Bioepis against Janssen over EU SPC waiver for Stelara biosimilar of ustekinumab; NST against Qualcomm regarding witness examination for US proceedings over chip technology patents; Honeywell against Solvest in licensing dispute over conveyor belt technology.