Intellectual Property | Europe

ALTIUS has a longstanding reputation as one of the leading intellectual property firms in Belgium. The team boasts outstanding expertise in the full range of contentious IP matters, representing clients in trade mark and patent infringement proceedings, as well as invalidity claims and preliminary injunctions. The firm is particularly highly regarded by clients from the pharmaceutical, food and beverage and technology industries. It also offers notable experience in copyright matters, the negotiation of licences and authors' rights issues. Team members are esteemed for their ability to advise on matters involving supplementary protection certificates, the protection of designation geographical origins and colour marks.

Crowell & Moring maintains its position in the top tier of the rankings, with a strong portfolio of clients from the TMT and pharmaceutical sectors. The team handles a broad range of intellectual property work, advising clients on copyright and patent infringement proceedings, as well as trade mark disputes and anti-counterfeiting measures. The law firm has notable strength in ambush marketing disputes and trade secrets litigation. For life sciences clients, the team is particularly active in disputes concerning supplementary protection certificates.

HOYNG ROKH MONEGIER remains one of the best intellectual property law firms in Belgium. The firm is particularly popular with high-profile clients from the pharmaceutical industry, but also offers experience acting for clients from the media and manufacturing sectors. The team advises on the full range of intellectual property matters, representing clients in patent litigation, copyright disputes and trade mark infringement proceedings, as well as assisting with non-contentious filings.

Bird & Bird's reputation in the Belgian intellectual property market is underlined by its varied clientele, with the firm a popular choice among clients from the pharmaceutical, food and beverage, technology and manufacturing industries. The law firm is particularly active in trade mark opposition and cancellation proceedings and copyright violation disputes, but also assists with patent protection mandates. Team members also advise clients on anti-counterfeiting and parallel import cases. On the non-contentious side, the team acts for clients on portfolio management mandates, IP licensing agreements and compliance with copyright legislation.

NautaDutilh is a well-regarded Benelux firm that advises clients on trade mark and patent enforcement and defence matters. The team often acts for clients from the food and beverage, fashion and pharmaceutical industries. Team members have experience handling disputes relating to descriptive trade marks, 3D marks and geographical indications. The law firm also represents clients in anti-counterfeiting mandates, as well as advising on negotiations concerning intellectual property sharing agreements.

Simont Braun has a notable reputation for advising clients on the full range of contentious intellectual property matters, handling patent infringement, revocation and injunctive relief proceedings, as well as trade mark infringement and opposition proceedings. Team members also advise on disputes around copyright fees and anti-counterfeiting measures, as well as IP transfer agreements and standard-essential patents. The law firm acts for clients from the life sciences, manufacturing, food and beverage, and luxury goods sectors. Clients also benefit from the fact that members of the firm's dispute resolution practice are admitted to plead before the Belgian Supreme Court.

Stibbe is a well-known law firm in the Benelux region that advises clients on patent and copyright ownership and infringement disputes. Additionally, the team assists with authors' rights issues and trade mark disputes. Team members have experience acting on matters concerning protected designations of origin, as well as assisting with drafting IP sharing agreements.

CMS is particularly active in trade mark mandates, advising clients on opposition and application proceedings, as well as advising on the liability of third-party intermediaries for trade mark infringement. The law firm also has experience representing clients in a number of other contentious IP matters, including ownership disputes, copyright infringement proceedings, domain name litigation, anti-counterfeiting measures and trade secrets cases. The team additionally acts on non-contentious intellectual property licensing mandates.

Fieldfisher remains a popular choice for clients from the fashion, TMT and food and beverage sectors for intellectual property matters. The law firm advises on infringement and opposition claims for patents, trade marks and copyright. On the non-contentious side, the team assists with trade mark filings and the negotiation of IP agreements.

The firm often assists clients with contentious matters, including defending intermediaries in trade mark infringement proceedings, as well as representing clients in trade mark opposition and patent infringement proceedings. The law firm has a number of clients from the technology and pharmaceutical industries. The team also handles non-contentious intellectual property matters, advising on licensing matters. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

Baker McKenzie represents clients in a number of contentious intellectual property mandates, including patent infringement, trade mark litigation and design rights disputes. The law firm also advises on domain name arbitration and disputes involving trade secrets. The team has several clients from the fashion industry. It works alongside the firm's other offices to assist with global portfolio management matters.

DLA Piper acts for clients from the pharmaceutical, technology and media sectors on contentious intellectual property matters. The team advises on trade mark and patent infringement, as well as anti-counterfeiting and trade secrets cases. The law firm also assists clients with compliance with copyright regulations and IP licensing agreements.

Belgian full-service firm Eubelius often assists domestic clients with contentious and non-contentious intellectual property mandates. The team frequently assists clients with negotiating IP licensing agreements and compliance with copyright regulations and advertising legislation. Team members also advise on trade mark and patent infringement claims, as well as image rights disputes and patent ownership litigation. The law firm is notably active in contentious copyright cases, advising on breaches and tariff disputes.

Janson has a strong focus on trade mark disputes, advising clients on invalidity and infringement proceedings. The law firm also represents clients in breaches of copyright litigation, patent infringement proceedings, domain name disputes and the theft of trade secrets. Team members additionally act on anti-counterfeiting measures, as well as non-contentious matters such as intellectual property licensing agreements. The team has a number of clients from the life sciences and fashion sectors.

Lydian assists international clients from the automotive and fashion industries with a range of contentious intellectual property mandates, representing clients in design infringement cases, trade mark disputes, copyright protection mandates and domain name litigation. It additionally assists with non-contentious matters, such as licensing and the transfer of intellectual property rights.

Wiggin is a recently formed team in Belgium that has a strong focus on contentious and non-contentious trade mark mandates, representing clients in infringement proceedings, as well as advising on trade mark applications and portfolio management. The law firm has additional experience in patent infringement proceedings and copyright litigation. The firm has a number of clients from the healthcare and life sciences sector.