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Wouter is head of the IP group in The Hague. Before studying law, he studied architecture and building construction for several years. After having done research at the Tilburg University Law Faculty from 1986 until 1989, he was admitted to the bar in 1989, specialising in IP. His main focus is on patent litigation, which allows for a blend of legal and technological innovations. He handles a wide range of patent disputes, varying from mechanical issues through software and business method patents to biotech disputes. Wouter has represented major electronics, biotech and pharmaceutical companies in international patent litigation.

In addition, Wouter is also involved in quite a lot of trade mark and copyright litigation. He is also a Dutch Supreme Court litigator and has handled cases before Benelux Court of Justice. In Supreme Court, Wouter recently successfully represented KaZaA, a developer of peer-to-peer software, against claims for copyright infringement.

Dutch courts are known to grant cross border injunctions for the whole of the European Union in IP matters. The legal basis for this is in the Brussels Convention. Wouter has extensive experience in litigating such injunctions, in many cases for companies based outside The Netherlands and often as part of an international strategy involving litigation in multiple jurisdictions.

The Netherlands also are an attractive country for IP holdings, due to the favourable taxation on royalties. This opens opportunities for companies with large IP portfolios. The Hague office has all the know how to advise clients on how to structure their Dutch licensing policy.