Described as a ‘strong practice in litigation’, NautaDutilh pulls together a strong offering with patent and trade mark related advice and litigation the core pillars of the practice, which is also equipped to handle disputes concerning trade secrets, copyright and domain names. Florence Verhoestraete and Tanguy de Haan co-head the team; Verhoestraete frequently leverages her knowledge of EU regulatory frameworks for contractual work, while de Haan’s strong focus on EU courts makes him a key contact for complex pan-European litigation. Philippe Péters is sought out by clients from the automotive industry, and commercial and IP specialist Sien Vandezande is singled out for her drafting skills.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Very strong practice in litigation and complex Pan European proceedings.’

  • ‘Tanguy de Haan is an excellent practitioner. He understands the stakes at issue and has a natural elegance.’

  • 'Tanguy de Haan is an exceptional IP advocate, with significant expertise in EU General Court and CJEU matters.'

Key clients

  • Allergan
  • Castel Frères
  • Duslo
  • GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
  • Hästens
  • ING Belgium
  • LEGO
  • Levi Strauss & Co.
  • L’Oréal
  • LVMH
  • Pernod Ricard (Chivas, Havana Club, Soho, The Absolut Company)
  • Reckitt
  • SAJ (Belgian Journalists' Copyright Society)
  • Salaisonniers corses
  • Scotch Whisky Association
  • Société du Tour de France
  • Super Brand Licensing
  • The holders of the PINK LADY trade mark
  • We Brand (Trend Fin)

Work highlights

  • Successfully assisted Levi Strauss & Co. before the Brussels Court of Appeal in enforcing Levi Strauss & Co.'s rights on the reputed "Arcuate" trade mark in the EU.
  • Successfully advised Hypertherm Inc. in design proceedings before the General Court of the EU about the protection of consumables and potentially captive markets by designs.
  • Successfully assisted Reckitt with the defence of one of its key trade marks, disparaged in comparative advertising by Lidl.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame
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Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Florence Verhoestraete, Tanguy de Haan

Other key lawyers

Philippe Péters, Sien Vandezande