Michaël De Vroey Email & Phone Number

Brussels, Brussels Region, Belgium

I specialise in all aspects of intellectual property law litigation (trademarks, copyright, patents, designs, software, customs seizures) and related areas (such as trade secrets, domain names, unfair competition, market practices and new technologies), with a particular focus on IP enforcement for clients in the design & fashion, technology & videogaming and consumer goods & retail industries. I have extensive experience in advising multinational and domestic companies on IP related issues and defending their interests before the Belgian, Benelux and EU courts and IP offices. I also handle commercial disputes in court and arbitration, and regularly advise clients on digital media and copyright related issues, consumer and advertising law, and audiovisual media services regulations.

Brussels Area, Belgium

Heading the Belgian IP practice of Baker McKenzie and leading a team of four specialised IP lawyers. Advising multinationals and SMEs on all aspects of IP law (patents, trademarks, trade names, copyright, designs, software, trade secrets, domain names, customs seizures and more general anti-counterfeiting work), and unfair competition/commercial law (consumer law, unfair trade practices, commercial contracts, e-commerce), and defending their interests in national and multi-jurisdictional IP and commercial disputes before the Belgian and EU courts, administrative bodies (such as the BOIP and EUIPO) and arbitration institutions (like CEPINA).Examples of my work include: - defending 15 companies of a major medical technology group in a patent infringement and damage action - representing a British Consumer Goods & Retail company in two trade mark infringement and unfair competition proceedings against a local competitor for putting a look-alike product on the market- defending a manufacturer of household appliances in a design infringement claim brought by a Dutch technology company for infringement of its design rights in a new type of fryer- advising an American multinational agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation on the protection of biotechnological inventions as trade secrets under EU law- advising an American multinational technology company on digital broadcasting rights and music licensing requirements under Belgian media law

Antwerp Area, Belgium

• Manage and coordinate all EMEA legal matters from the Kontoor EMEA HQ in Antwerp, reporting directly to the global GC• Draft, review and redact complex Distribution, License, Franchising, Marketing, Consulting and Information Technology contracts and provide high quality, pragmatic and efficient legal advice relating thereto.• Modify the revised contracts after negotiations, incorporating the new agreed terms and conditions.• Ensure any contract/agreement approval/execution process fully complies with the corporate Contract Policy.• Maintain contracts & legal comments records.• Provide legal expertise and counsel on Distant Selling Regulations, EU Consumer Protection, Antitrust and Data Protection laws.• Liaise with relevant business departments to ensure that where legal risks have been identified appropriate course of action have been taken.• Assist with legal entity management, including coordinating with various jurisdictions and outside counsel.• Follow up the EMEA IP enforcement activities and provide support for the European Marketing Departments.• Update and use legal department databases and management of legal records.• Manage outside counsel and maintain adherence to an allocated legal budget.

Brussels Area, Belgium

- manage and coordinate all Belux legal matters- legal support for the core marketing, promotion and protection of products, - support of customer development, - ensure compliance with competition laws, - input on claims development and defense, - input on product and innovation support and regulatory action including marketing materials - - support, advice on IP issues including copyright, trademarks, promotions and licensing, - advice on product liability and advertising law, - coordination on protective strategies and brand activation best practice, - legal advice on contractual relationships including support for corporate and M&A transactions, - advice on all legal matters affecting corporate reputation and policy, etc.

- traditional IP litigation and counseling- handling complex patent litigation for innovative pharmaceutical companies and regularly advising clients in relation to their trade mark portfolio- assisting pharmaceutical companies (advisory and contentious work) with the regulatory aspects of life sciences- legal proceedings before the Belgian Courts and the Constitutional Court.- contributing to the monthly VBB Newsletter on developments in the IP/IT field.

- reviewing and drafting commercial contracts, - data protection compliance, - negotiating and executing settlement agreements, - coordinating litigation with external counsel, etc.

Llm, Intellectual Property

Master, Law

Grieks-Wiskunde