Willem is an attorney at law and partner with Ploum where he leads the Intellectual property team.
Willem provides litigation services and advice in the field of trademark, copyright and advertising law. He represents well-known companies throughout Europe in counterfeiting and other infringement matters. He is very experienced in coordinating European brand and marketing-related projects. In the Netherlands he litigates in conflicts regarding intellectual property and in cases about misleading and comparative advertising.
Willem is a strong believer in achieving results for his clients, regardless where these are needed on the globe, by finding pragmatic and creative solutions. He helps his client to keep the helicopter view and realizes that most entrepreneurs rather avoid litigation, but that, nonetheless, it is sometimes needed.
“Willem is a fighter who is motivated to get things done. He is an effective legal communicator with a can-do attitude, who constantly strives for client satisfaction.”. – WTR1000 – 2023
"He is adamant in his convictions and very straight in the pursuit of the client's interests." - Chambers 2023
"He knows what the companies need and knows what makes sense from a business perspective." - Chambers 2023
‘Willem Leppink is an outstanding partner. He is considered, thorough and diligent in providing expert advice that really seeks to achieve the client’s goals. Sabin Tigu is great to work with. He has a great manner with clients and has an in-depth knowledge of trade mark law.’ – Legal 500 EMEA 2023
‘Willem and Sabin have a great team of young lawyers that all have the same solution driven, pragmatic approach. With this team we can have an efficient way of dealing with online and domain name issues.’ – Legal 500 EMEA 2023
‘Willem and Sabin both are very trustworthy, approachable and hands-on lawyers. To the point and willing to think with the business rather than only from a legal point of view.’ – Legal 500 EMEA 2023
‘You can absolutely trust Willem Leppink’s advice. He has a high-level perception of EU-trademark law.’ – Legal 500 EMEA 2023
Willem graduated from Groningen University in 1994. Before that he spent a year at the School of Business of Western Carolina University. He was a partner with NautaDutilh and Simmons & Simmons. There he had various management roles in the International Intellectual Property Practice Group and the TMT Sector Group. In 2009 he joined Ploum, where he set up the intellectual property practice.
Willem Leppink, Michelle Roosma, A practical guide to filing domain name complaints, Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practice, Volume 17, Issue 11, November 2022, Pages 905–914, https://doi.org/10.1093/jiplp/jpac100
Willem Leppink: Reachable 24/7, very pragmatic and commercial thinking lawyer taking into account the best interests of the company. Has a lot of ready knowledge and also thinks out of the box. Acts as a team player and not as an external advisor. – Legal 500 EMEA 2020
Willem is recommended as a trademark expert in the Netherlands in the WTR1000 of World Trademark Review. He is also recommended in Chambers Europe and Chambers Global. He is listed in the Legal 500, the Guide of the World’s Leading Trade Mark Law Practitioners, Best Lawyers for Advertising Law en in PLC’s Which Lawyer. He was twice the winner of the International Law Office Client Choice Award for intellectual property law.
Willem Leppink has registered the following principal (and secondary) legal practice areas in the Netherlands Bar’s register of legal practice areas (rechtsgebiedenregister):
Based on this registration, Willem Leppink is required to obtain ten training credits per calendar year in each registered principal legal practice area in accordance with the standards set by the Netherlands Bar.
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