Attorney at law, Partner

Willem Leppink

Expertises

Intellectual property rights European Law Trademark and Design registration Marketing and Advertising

Part of team

Technology, Media and Telecom Food E-commerce
+31 6 2021 0504 w.leppink@ploum.nl LinkedIn

Specialisation

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 clients to keep the helicopter view and realizes that most entrepreneurs rather avoid litigation, but that, nonetheless, it is sometimes needed.

What clients say

"Willem Leppink is a guru in the field and has broad and in-depth knowledge of IP law." - Chambers 2025

"Willem Leppink is friendly, open and has a very nice way of presenting which makes him strong in court." - Chambers 2025

"What I like in Willem Leppink's approach is that he makes things understandable in court in a pleasant and convincing way. He has a relaxed personality and remains calm and polite." - Chambers 2025

"Willem Leppink is always thoughtful and considers many angles of our issues." - Chambers 2025

"Willem Leppink is always reachable and very knowledgeable." - Chambers 2025

‘Willem Leppink is the most likeable and measured IP lawyer in the Netherlands. A pleasure to work with and a star in the advertising law arena.’ - Legal 500 EMEA 2025

‘Willem Leppink is the star of the show.' - Legal 500 EMEA 2025

‘Willem Leppink and Sabin Tigu are both outstanding partners. I would not hesitate to work with them and trust their judgment and strategic approach.’ - Legal 500 EMEA 2025

‘Paul Trapman and Willem Leppink deliver high-quality legal services. Quick to answer and explain clearly. They are committed to understanding the individual needs of each client. A wonderful team for IP matters in the Netherlands.’ - Legal 500 EMEA 2025

‘Willem Leppink is an experienced and dedicated lawyer. He always gets the job done and is easy to work with. We would recommend him without hesitation.’ - Legal 500 EMEA 2025

‘Willem Leppink has a very broad knowledge and is able to address complex issues at short notice and provide clear and pragmatic guidance. Sabin Tigu is well-versed in trade mark matters; he is able to see the bigger picture and take into account all aspects in litigation matters.’ - Legal 500 EMEA 2025

Background

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 is a lecturer in trademark law at Leiden University since 2023, where he teaches the master course in trademark and trade name law.

Publications

Memberships

  • MARQUES, the European Association of Trade Mark Owners: Willem is a member of the Executive Committee and in that capacity representing MARQUES in the European Anti-Scam Network
  • Organisation for the Professional Education of Benelux Trademark and Design Attorneys (BBMM): chair
  • WIPO, World Intellectual Property Organization: domain name panelist for both .UDRP and .nl disputes, Legal Rights Objections Expert, as well as Trademark Post-Delegation Dispute Resolution Procedure (Trademark PDDRP) panelist
  • Czech Arbitration Court: domain name panelist .eu domain names
  • Committee on Geographical Names of the Municipality of Lansingerland (Gemeente Lansingerland): acting chair
  • Netherlands Intellectual Property Litigation Attorneys (VIEPA): member of the exam board
  • Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practice (Oxford University Press): member of the editorial board
  • The European Copyright & Design (Sweet & Maxwell): member of the editorial board
  • Dutch advertising blog Reclameboek.nl: member of the editorial board
  • Netherlands Advertising Law Association (VvRr): honorary member
  • International Trademark Association (INTA)
  • Benelux Association for Trademark and Design Law (BMM) 
  • European Trade Mark Association (ECTA)
  • Association Internationale pour la Protection de la Propriété Intellectuelle  (AIPPI)

Directories

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. 

The Netherlands Bar’s register of legal practice areas (rechtsgebiedenregister)

Willem Leppink has registered the following principal (and secondary) legal practice areas in the Netherlands Bar’s register of legal practice areas (rechtsgebiedenregister):

  • Intellectual Property (intellectueel eigendomsrecht)

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.



Articles written by Willem

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