Nov 4 – 5, Amsterdam Workshop on IP for Plants

Fleur Tuinzing-Westerhuis specialises in technology-related Intellectual Property matters, with a focus on Patents and Plant Variety Rights. In her daily practice, Fleur represents a wide variety of domestic and international companies that are active in technology-intensive business sectors, such as agrifood and biotech. Fleur is an experienced patent litigator and is one of only a handful of lawyers in the Netherlands with extensive experience in litigation relating to national and Community Plant Variety Rights. Furthermore, Fleur assists clients in implementing customs seizure actions based on the EU Anti-Piracy Regulation. Over the past ten years, Fleur has litigated in various cases before the Dutch courts, the Dutch Board of Plant Varieties and the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market.

Tjeerd Overdijk studied Law at the Leiden University and has been a lawyer since 1984. He is an all-rounder in the field of Intellectual Property for more than 25 years, with a special interest in matters balancing on the edge of IP and information technology as well as Plant Variety Rights. He was involved in the first court case in the world on the concept of essentially derived varieties (EDVs) and he has gained considerable experience on this subject. He also has experience with litigation before the Board of Appeal of the Community Plant Variety Office in Angers, France. Tjeerd regularly teaches in post-graduate programmes on his fields of expertise. He is a co-author of the loose-leaf iIntellectual Property textbook ‘Intellectueel Eigendom’ (chapter on copyright) and of a monograph on Intellectual Property & ICT (chapter on patent law). Tjeerd is a member of various professional associations, including the Netherlands Copyright Association, the AIPPI, INTA, MARQUES and the European Communities Trademarks Association (ECTA).

Philippe specializes in Intellectual Property law, with a particular focus on Patents, Plant Variety Rights, and parallel import issues. He also has an extensive experience with regulatory matters concerning the life sciences and agri-food industries. Further areas of his practice include medical law, media law, and the fair trade practices in a variety of sectors. Philippe regularly lectures at conferences and seminars and publishes articles in prominent IP journals.

Anna Fischer is a lawyer practicing both in Russia and Germany. She provides legal advice for companies and private clients doing business in Russia. Her practive includes Corporate, Customs and Intellectual Property Law with the main focus on Plant Breeders’ Rights and Trademarks. Anna assists clients with all IPR related issuess, including PBR & TM registrations, turn-key trials support, developing the royalty and intra-group licensing strategy, as well as negotiation of third-party license agreements, support during the M&A, transaction including due diligence and assessment of IPR portfolio, mediation and dispute resolution concerning violation of IPR rights.

Thomas Leidereiter is an attorney and the owner of Green Rights in Hamburg, Germany. With nearly two decades’ experience as a specialized IP lawyer, including 14 years at a major German law firm and five years at his own, he has extensive expertise covering Plant Variety Protection, trademarks, designs, copyright and competition law. Thomas advises clients on all aspects of IP protection for plant innovations, including the licensing and enforcement of IP rights. He has been involved in a number of major court cases dealing with fundamental PVR issues in the ornamental and fruit sector. Thomas is a member of INTA, the German Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (GRUR), CIOPORA and CIOPORA Germany. He is a regular speaker on IP topics with several associations and institutions.