Meet the team
Loek Steffanie, MSc
Managing Partner
With more than 25 years in-house experience as patent attorney, Loek has elevated the IP leverage function at DSM-Firmenich towards a strategic business asset. In collaborating with R&D teams and business directors he recognized that patents alone do not always suffice, and deployed trade secrets, designs and trademarks to protect innovative businesses. He led IP infringement cases across multiple jurisdictions worldwide.
Dr. Frans van den Berg
Managing Partner
A strategic, creative and pro-active patent attorney with over 25 years of in house experience in a wide range of technical fields including life science, chemistry and biotech. He has supported various litigation including EP oppositions, IP-related agreements and M&A deals. During his career, Frans has nurtured a business-led attitude for IP.
Ben Brigou
Strategic Partner
Ben Brigou is a chemist and qualified European & Dutch patent attorney as well as UPC representative. Ben is co-founder of boutique patent law firm Lakeside IP (Belgium). Next to regular patent portfolio building and freedom-to-operate work, Ben has been involved in various litigation cases in chemistry and pharmaceuticals, including small molecules and biosimilars.
Henk van de Brink
Strategic Partner
With over 40 years of hands-on as well as information specialist experience in international pharmaceutical industry (Solvay, Abbott, van den Berg IP) Henk has a broad view on many different aspects of research, ranging from classical pharmacology to modern biotechnology. Since 2000 he focussed on bioinformatics and life science patent searching in a broad range of projects recently also covering agriculture, pharmacy and generics.
Dr. Jürgen Dressel
Strategic Partner
Jürgen worked for over 25 years in the pharmaceutical industry (Bayer, Sandoz and Novartis) as a medicinal chemist, patent attorney and litigator. He was responsible for the global patent litigation strategy at Novartis. Interacting with patent offices, judiciaries and trade associations he has been actively engaged in global pharmaceutical patent issues with focus on the US, Europe, Asia, and South America. Jürgen’s main experience is preparing for and executing patent litigation between originators and generics.
Dr. Cornelius Enuezie, LLM
Strategic Partner
With over 25 years’ experience, Cornelius supported global biopharmaceutical organisations through patent search, competitive intelligence and business research to inform strategic decisions. He helped unlock IP value via portfolio optimisation aligned with commercial goals, identifying licensing and monetisation opportunities, reducing cost/risks and strengthening core focus; thereby transforming IP portfolios into strategic business assets.
Henk Gerdsen
Strategic Partner
With an information specialist experience of over 40 years in the chemical industry (AkzoNobel and Nouryon), Henk has performed patent searches in the field of polymers chemical, animal health and pharmaceutical compounds and mechanics such as solar cells. He also has profound knowledge of (chemical) structure searches.
Sjors de Koning
Strategic Partner
Sjors de Koning is a mechanical engineer and qualified European & Belgian patent attorney as well as UPC representative. Sjors is co-founder of boutique patent law firm Lakeside IP (Belgium). Next to an active EPO opposition and appeal practice, Sjors has also handled national and UPC litigation cases. He is also an EQE tutor at the University of Maastricht faculty of Law.