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‘Creative thinking is the key to all innovation.’
Leo Jessen

Leo Jessen

  • Engineering
  • European and Dutch Patent Attorney
  • Partner

Leo Jessen started his career as a patent attorney in 1992 with V.O. He studied Industrial Design Engineering and after passing his attorneys exams Leo studied law.

Leo’s clients are mainly in the field of mechanical engineering. His specialisms are consumer products, medical appliances and ergonomics.

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Together with his clients Leo defines their IP strategy and where appropriate files, prosecutes and defends their IP rights worldwide. This also includes challenging third party rights, licensing and FTO studies.  Leo has a wide experience in patent cases before the court in The Hague and before the EPO.

Leo is actively involved in the training of new patent attorneys in Dutch, European and international patent practice. Furthermore he is an active member (chair) of the IP enforcement and Litigation group of FICPI, the International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys.

Working experience

  • Patent Attorney, V.O. (1992-present)
  • Freelance consultant in Ergonomics and product design (1989-1992)
  • Ergonomics Department, Volvo Cars (1989)

Education

  • MSc in Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology (1989)

Directories

  • Recommended individual (JUVE Patent 2020, 2021, 2022)
  • “Leo Jessen is the man to call for no-stone-unturned freedom-to-operate analyses and futureproofed protection strategies. A hugely experienced patent attorney, he plays a valuable mentoring role and is respected in the wider market as an excellent educator” (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)
  • “Always performs excellently in the courtroom” (JUVE Patent 2020)
  • “Gifted in both prosecution and litigation”, Leo Jessen is “extremely good at building a case” (IAM Patent 1000, 2019)
  • “Peers praise Leo Jessen as a really excellent, strong attorney who’s been around for many years. Jessen prosecutes applications for a wide segment of devotees, who depend on his aptitude in filing, oppositions and appeals to keep their stress levels low throughout the patent lifecycle” (IAM Patent 1000, 2018)
  • “Heineken is one of the big names that engage Leo Jessen for his drafting and prosecution talents” (IAM Patent 1000, 2017)
  • “A key reference for companies in the consumer products sector, Leo Jessen has recently been advising Heineken on the expansion of its patent portfolio” (IAM Patent 1000, 2016)
  • “Leo Jessen is one of a rare breed, having spent his entire career at a single firm. With V.O. since 1992, the quick-witted strategist advises mechanical engineering clients on how to procure, defend and monetise IP rights” (IAM Patent 1000, 2015)
  • “Leo Jessen can address the myriad of concerns which arise in the mechanical engineering space” (IAM Patent 1000, 2014)
  • “Excellent communicator Leo Jessen and Bernard Ledeboer are the top mechanical engineering specialists there” (IAM Patent 1000, 2013)
  • “Leo Jessen is renowned for his creative approach, especially in relation to mechanical patents. Mechanical engineering is his field and he has profound knowledge of consumer products, ergonomics and medical appliances” (IAM Patent 1000, 2012)

Professional & Community Activities

  • FICPI: Secretary of the Netherlands section and member of CET Group 7, IP Enforcement and Alternate Dispute Resolution
  • AIPPI
  • AIPLA

Languages

  • English
  • Dutch
  • German
  • French

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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.

Continue reading