Jean-Christophe Troussel

I am an intellectual property partner and the head of the IP practice in Brussels, where I offer our clients over 25 years' hands-on experience in all sorts of contentious and transactional matters in IP and technology, with in-depth expertise in sectors including food & beverage, life sciences and consumer goods.

From day one, my practice focused on the protection and the monetisation of our clients' innovation and IP assets. This focus made me delve into all types of IP dispute resolution, including patents, trade secrets, trade marks, designs, copyright and unfair competition matters, both national and cross-border.

Aligning litigation with business goals is complex and challenging. It is a key part of my role. I enjoy it very much, as it makes me part of the client's team.

I also manage IP rights as essential corporate assets and became a skilled negotiator and contractual lawyer in stand-alone IP transactions and in other forms of collaboration and corporate deals in which brands and technology are essential. This encompasses the IP aspects of M&A, restructurings and finance-driven transactions, including IP due diligence. I like the mechanics of contract negotiation and contract drafting. I enjoy working with our clients towards contract solutions that make sense for all parts of their business and are compliant with their corporate values and risk culture.

In addition, I help our clients on issues relating to portfolio management and protection, and on new types of challenges such as IP issues in the digital world, including social media.

I am a Vice-President of the Licensing Executive Society International (LESI), a former President of LES Benelux, a former International Counsel to the board of LESI and a former Chairman of the LESI European Committee. I am also an active member of INTA, EPLAW and AIPPI and am a frequent speaker at IP conferences around Europe. I am fluent in English, Dutch and French.

• I have been representing some multi-national companies for a decade, and sometimes two. These companies are sophisticated IP owners and worldwide leaders in the following sectors: life sciences, food & beverage, consumer electronics, perfumes & cosmetics, and luxury goods. The mutual loyalty and trust that is built with these companies and their people is probably the reward that I enjoy most in my professional life.
• My experience includes ADR in IP matters. Both as a WIPO mediator in a R&D soared relationship between a German university and a US start-up company in the life sciences sector, and as a counsel for a large multi-national company in an ICC arbitration around a licensing dispute.

• I currently manage a large cross-border (Belgium, Netherlands, UK, EPO) patent litigation for our client AB InBev against its arch-rival Heineken, which relates to bag-in-bottle technology.
• I am currently the partner in charge of representing of one of the parties in, to our knowledge, the first FRAND litigation ever pending before the Belgian courts.