Hans Bottema studied engineering physics at the University for Technology Delft and, after completing his studies in the field of nuclear physics in 1988, started working at Philips electronics. There he completed his education as a patent attorney and worked in the fields of medical devices and electron microscopy. Hans then moved to Procter & Gamble, where he was involved in patent prosecution and litigation in the field of consumer products. He joined a large patent and trademark firm in The Hague in 1995, where he was a partner from 1999 until 2023.