Tjibbe Douma

I am a partner in the Intellectual Property Group based in Amsterdam, with a focus on technology-related matters, in particular patents and trade secrets.

I advise and litigate for clients in among others the life sciences, technology & communications and energy & utilities sectors. I have extensive experience in high-end multi-jurisdictional patent disputes before national courts, at the EPO and in the Unified Patent Court. Moreover, I have ample experience with European patent disputes running in parallel to US proceedings.

I am a UPC representative and am representing/ have represented clients in 16 cases before the UPC in Europe and in 10 of these cases I am the lead representative. Representative cases in this regard are (which information is publicly listed in the UPC register):

Lead representative for Dexcom as defendant in two UPC proceedings against Abbott before the Local Division in The Hague and the Regional Nordic Baltic Division regarding continuous glucose monitoring devices.

Lead representative for GSK as claimant in two UPC proceedings against Moderna before the Local Division The Hague concerning covid-19 vaccines, as well as co-representative for GSK as claimant in two UPC proceedings against Pfizer and BioNTech before the Local Division The Hague concerning covid-19 vaccines.

Lead representative for Cardo Systems - in a Dutch-Italian team - as claimant in UPC proceedings against ASMAX (since 2024) and Reso (since 2025) before the Local Division in Milan regarding a motor cycle communication devices. We succesfully obtained and enforced two UPC ex parte PI orders in relation to a trade show in Milan.

Lead representative for Umicore as claimant in UPC proceedings against Elemental Group regarding a method for recovery of platinum group metals before the Local Division The Hague.

Lead representative for Avient as claimant in UPC proceedings against Xingi regarding ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene multifilament yarns before the Local Division The Hague.

Lead representative for Sinocare in UPC PI proceedings brought by Abbott at the Local Division in The Hague concering continuous glucose monitoring devices, and subsequently at the Court of Appeal in Luxembourg.

UPC milestones include:
- The first ever UPC expert witness hearing (in the Nordic Baltic division).
- The first main hearing before the Nordic Baltic Regional Division.
- The first SEP case filed before the Local Division The Hague.
- The first ex parte Preliminary Injunction obtained at the Local Division in Milan

Our Bird & Bird international team of UPC litigators has recently been ranked Tier 1 in the Juve Patent 2026 and 2025 UPC ranking.

I have acted for both opponents and patentees as co-counsel in EPO opposition proceedings. I have also represented clients in contractual disputes, including contractual litigation involving milestone claims in the life sciences sector and in arbitration proceedings regarding IP warranties.

My work has been recognised by rankings over the past years in Chambers Global & Europe, Legal 500 and in 2020 and 2022 by receiving the Client Choice Award for Intellectual Property - Patents in the Netherlands.

• US life sciences company in the medical devices and digital health: representing in two UPC cases, one pending in the The Hague Local Division and one in the Nordic-Baltic Regional Division. These proceedings are part of a multi-jurisdictional patent dispute with pending national and UPC proceedings both on the offensive and defensive side.
• Multinational energy company: representing in Dutch PI proceedings against a competitor on solar panel technology as well as in UPC proceedings.
• US semiconductor company: representing in Dutch patent infringement proceedings against an implementer of video coding technology, with invalidity and FRAND defences raised, as part of a multi-jurisdictional dispute.
• US life sciences company: representing in various patent infringement actions in the Netherlands regarding medical devices, as part of a multi-jurisdictional dispute.