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‘Simple ideas are often the best inventions, but are the most difficult to protect. I enjoy the challenge of safeguarding those inventions.’
Bernard Ledeboer

Bernard Ledeboer

  • Engineering
  • European and Dutch Patent Attorney
  • European Patent Attorney Litigator
  • Partner

Bernard Ledeboer started his career as a Patent Attorney with V.O. in 1997. Before, he worked at a large law firm in Amsterdam. He holds an MSc in Mechanical Engineering, and an LLM in Intellectual property litigation.

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Bernard’s general expertise lies in the field of mechanical and civil engineering. He has specialized in machine construction, flexible manufacturing systems, conveyor systems, offshore techniques, surgical instruments and consumer products. His clients are of all sizes, with a focus on midsized industrial supply companies. Bernard has a pragmatic approach to IP protection, and is a word smith who enjoys direct communication with his clients. Bernard’s practice is divided between patent prosecution and patent litigation. He has wide experience in patent litigation cases before the court in The Hague, and opposition and appeal cases before the European Patent Office. Bernard is also qualified to act as European Patent Attorney Litigator before the Unified Patent Court, Europe’s centralized patent court. He applies his litigation experience to build strong patent portfolios for his clients.

Bernard is Head of the Engineering and Hightech & Electronics section. Also, he is founding member of the V.O. China Desk and member of the steering committee of V.O.

In addition to his work at V.O. , Bernard works as part time patent judge at the Unified Patent Court.

Working experience

  • Patent Attorney, V.O. (1997-present)

Education

  • LLM in IP Litigation, Nottingham Law School (2011)
  • MSc in Mechanical engineering, Delft University of Technology (1995)
  • Economics, Beloit College USA

Directories

  • Recommended individual (JUVE Patent 2020, 2021, 2022)
  • “In the mechanical and civil engineering fields, it’s hard to find a better expert than Bernard Ledeboer. He syncs up perfectly with company legal and inventor teams, and has the experience and perspicacity to solve their prosecution and litigation issues” (IAM Patent 1000, 2021)
  • Recognized as IP Star (2015, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022) by Managing Intellectual Property
  • Recommended Individual (IAM Patent 1000, 2020, 2021, 2022; JUVE Patent 2020)
  • Recommended in Who’s Who Legal 2020
  • Bernard Ledeboer “has tremendous experience in dealing with the courts and has a knack for presenting cases clearly and effectively” (IAM Patent 1000, 2019)
  • Bernard Ledeboer “particularly impresses, and he is frequently singled out by peers as an example of what a prosecutor should be. The engineering aficionado also boasts qualifications and experience in litigation. He stands out for his recent efforts in conjunction with colleagues in the Belgian office, excelling in opposition proceedings on behalf of plastics giants, and for his instrumental technical contribution to infringement proceedings between medical devices supremo B Braun Melsungen and its arch-rival Beckton Dickinson. He has a pragmatic approach to IP protection, and is a wordsmith who enjoys direct communication with his clients” (IAM Patent 1000, 2018)
  • “A founding member of the firm’s China desk, Bernard Ledeboer is a font of insight on the Middle Kingdom” (IAM Patent 1000, 2017)
  • “Mechanical engineer Bernard Ledeboer has an LLM in IP litigation and is regularly tested in infringement cases; he recently obtained a favourable judgment for Ascom, working together with Peter Hendricks of Freshfields fame” (IAM Patent 1000, 2016)
  • “Bernard Ledeboer is another consistently high-functioning mechanical engineering connoisseur. Operating on both sides of the contentious/non-contentious divide, he is well positioned to disburse holistic advice” (IAM Patent 1000, 2015)
  • “Bernard Ledeboer is the first port of call for lawyers looking for technical assistance on litigation briefs” (IAM Patent 1000, 2014)
  • “Excellent communicator Leo Jessen and Bernard Ledeboer are the top mechanical engineering specialists there” (IAM Patent 1000, 2013)
  • “Bernard Ledeboer’s legal training and experience of cases before the court in The Hague make him a joy to work with – he understands the difficulties facing lawyers and intuitively knows how a case should be presented to a judge. A civil and mechanical engineering specialist, Ledeboer has niche expertise in machine construction, conveyor systems and surgical products” (IAM Patent 1000, 2012)

Publications

  • ‘Patent Litigation at the patents County Court’, Extended Piece of Work for the LLM in Intellectual Property Litigation at Nottingham Law School, Nottingham Trent University, 2011.

Professional & Community Activities

  • Technically qualified judge (part time) for the Unified Patent Court (UPC)
  • Member of the Netherlands Patent Attorney Organization, EPI, AIPPI, CEIPI, UNION

Languages

  • English
  • Dutch
  • German

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News

New European patent system launched

As of 1 June, the new European patent system is in force and the Unified Patent Court (UPC) finally opens its doors. This completes the preparations that had begun back in 1975 to create a truly European patent court.Continue reading

The Legal Quick Scan – your documents in order

Within your organization, various legal documents circulate daily – from employment contract to license and NDA. But is your company’s intellectual property contractually well regulated in these documents­? With the Legal Quick Scan we can assess this for you quickly and at a fixed rate.Continue reading

Your European patent: file an opt-out or not?

When the unitary patent and the Unified Patent Court (UPC) come into force on June 1 this year, all European patents can be involved in enforcement proceedings before this new European Patent Court. This court will then decide enforcement measures and invalidity proceedings in all 17 EU countries at once.Continue reading

Events

Grand Finale UT Entrepreneurial Challenge 2023

Muziekcentrum Enschede, Noorderhagen, Enschede

Since 2017, the UT Entrepreneurial Challenge has offered students the opportunity to further develop their own ingenious ideas, prototypes and research projects into business plans. The main goal and mission is to challenge students to come up with great innovative solutions to societal problems out-of-the-box, and translate them into real products and business plans.

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Grand Finale WUR ReThink Waste Challenge 2023

Omnia Auditorium, Hoge Steeg, Wageningen, Netherlands

Six months ago, 190 students from 33 different countries started their journey with the ReThink Waste Challenge to come up with a circular and biobased innovation to reduce, reuse or recycle waste. After two milestone reports, entrepreneurial trainings and several workshops, only 46 of them are still in the competition. The top 10 teams are now preparing to face the Rethink Waste Challenge Jury on 21 June during the Grand Finals.

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Grand Finale TU/e Contest 2023

Auditorium, Eindhoven, Netherlands

Each year, the TU/e Contest offers students the opportunity to further develop their own ingenious ideas, prototypes and research projects into business plans. The main goal and mission is to challenge students to come up with great innovative solutions to societal problems out-of-the-box, and translate them into real products and business plans.

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