Sophie van Loon

Trademark law / Patent law / Domain name disputes / IP litigation / Online content / Life sciences / Trade names / Design law / Database rights / Trade secrets / Licencing / R&D / Med tec / Collective rights societies.

Sophie advises and litigates about IP law, with a focus on copyright and database law as well as the protection of technology. She also drafts contracts in these areas. Her practice especially deals with the intersection between IP and competition law, on which she wrote her dissertation “Refusal to license as the abuse of a dominant position” as well.

Sophie obtained a Ph.D at Radboud University with a dissertation on IP and competition law.

She is a member of the editorial board of the academic journal AMI on copyright and information rights.

The Legal 500 EMEA 2022 - Intellectual property: Trade marks, copyrights and design rights - Ranked

Kennedy Van der Laan continues to build on its key areas of specialism; technology, media/the internet and the fashion/luxury goods sectors. It has attracted an impressive number of new clients in these areas and its ‘success rate has been remarkable throughout the years‘ in respect of trade mark protection matters. Maarten Schut, who heads the group with Alfred Meijboom, has extensive trade marks expertise, particularly in the areas of life sciences and advanced technologies and is also a deputy judge at one of the four courts of appeal. Founding partner, Meijboom is known for his work where IP and IT interface and for ‘complex multi-jurisdictional‘ cases. Joran Spauwen became a partner in 2021 – his focus is on internet-based disputes and transactions and he is noted for his cyber security expertise. The ‘exceptional‘ senior associate Reindert Van Der Zaal's focus is brand protection and entertainment law. Sophie Van Loon and Gaya Schultz are other core team members.

The Legal 500 EMEA 2020 - Intellectual property: Trade marks, copyrights and design rights

Kennedy Van der Laan's IP practice handles both contentious and non-contentious work in the areas of trade marks, copyright, designs, licensing, R&D, trade secrets and patents. The firm has a strong presence in the technology, media, and fashion and luxury sectors. Alfred Meijboom and Maarten Schut lead the department. Sophie van Loon specialises in copyright law. Also recommended are senior associates Reindert van der Zaal and Joran Spauwen.

The Legal 500 EMEA 2019 - Intellectual Property: Trade marks, copyrights and design rights

The 'efficient, well-synced team' at Kennedy Van der Laan 'has excellent communication skills; the advice is pragmatic and it has broad experience in brand protection matters'. Alfred Meijboom and Maarten Schut head the department and offer broad expertise in IP, media, and related technology issues. Schut also coordinates the European brand protection work for Nike. Counsel Sophie van Loon has a focus on copyright law and advises international media and publishing clients, including on matters relating to collective rights management societies. The team's impressive client roster includes Ikea, Facebook, and Tommy Hilfiger. Highlight work includes continuous assistance to Converse in its fight against counterfeiting in several European countries and wins against Dutch distributors Van Caem and Goeiemode.

• Advised the pharmaceutical clients of a multinational professional services network regarding Brexit implications on marketing medicines in the EU.
• Successfully represented a multinational fragrant spray brand in infringement proceedings against a UK based FMCG multinational.
• Supported an not-for-profit R&D organization in the health care sector with respect to cross border R&D cooperations, license contracts and other contract negotiations with business partners around the world.
• Advised the life sciences department of a leading global photography brand on the creation of sophisticated IP arrangements, making it fit into the legal framework of the EU.
• Advising a multinational biotechnology company on commercial contracting.