JUVE Comment

The Dutch patent practice of this international firm has undergone a fundamental transformation. In less than two years, the team led by partner Wim Maas has closed the gap to the market-leading practices in the Netherlands. This is thanks to its substantial presence in UPC cases for core clients such as Abbott, Ericsson and Pfizer, as well as high-profile instructions in national proceedings for Pfizer, Samsung Bioepis or Fresenius Kabi.

However, it was not only significant investment in new cases that gave the team a strong boost. Following the transatlantic merger of Taylor Wessing UK and US firm Winston & Strawn, the Benelux offices (Amsterdam, Brussels, and Eindhoven) now operate as a franchisee under the new brand Winston Taylor. For the Dutch team this new US alliance quickly translated into instructions from Snapchat at the UPC.

This strategic realignment was accompanied by the most spectacular move in the Dutch patent market over the past decade. The existing team around Maas was strengthened by the arrival of a group from Simmons & Simmons, including partners Bas Berghuis van Woortman and Sebastian Versaevel. The addition of counsel Geert Theuws two years ago, who acts now for Pfizer, is also viewed by competitors as “a real gain for the team”. Meanwhile, this successful team is also attracting further counsel from other law firms.

This counterbalances the departure of partner Eelco Bergsma to Ericsson, which could be seen as a strategic investment in the relationship with a key client.

These moves significantly bolster the firm’s already strong life sciences practice, adding to its established expertise across a much broader technical spectrum than ever before. Patent attorney Versaevel also complements the litigation focus with a solid EPO opposition practice, primarily for life sciences clients such as Omnia and Cathay Biotech.

Strengths

Life sciences disputes. UPC litigation in electronics and telecommunications, with cross-border aspects.

Recommended individuals

Bas Berghuis van Woortman (“an experienced and thorough litigator”, competitor), Wim Maas (“he’s having a tremendous run at the moment and knows how to keep things going”, competitor), Sebastian Versaevel

Team

11 lawyers, 4 patent attorneys

Partner moves

Bas Berghuis van Woortman and Sebastian Versaevel (from Simmons & Simmons), Eelco Bergsma (to Ericsson)

Clients

Litigation: Pfizer (co-defendant with BioNTech) against Moderna over mRNA vaccine technology; Fresenius Kabi against Millenium over monoclonal antibody vedolizumab/Entyvio (public knowledge); Samsung Bioepis against Janssen over antibody for treating ulcerative colitis ustekinumab/Stelara (settled 2026); Cathay Biotech against Wegochem over technology for the green production of nylon; I4F against Van Dijk Postforming & Vlakverlijming over flooring technology; Wensch against I-Mop over cleaning-device; Insite Innovations against Squeezely over a software-related technology; frequent litigation for Dana Farber and Ericsson. Frequent EPO oppositions for Advanced Brain Monetoring, Biovirid, Cathay Biotech, Genepharm, Omnia, State of the Netherlands.