Tjibbe Douma

I am a partner in the Intellectual Property Group based in Amsterdam, with a focus on technology-related matters, in particular patents and trade secrets.

I advise and litigate for clients in among others the life sciences, technology & communications and energy & utilities sectors. I have extensive experience in high-end multi-jurisdictional patent disputes before national courts, at the EPO and in the Unified Patent Court.

I am a UPC representative and am representing/represented clients in six cases before the UPC in Europe (which are publicly listed in the UPC register):
- Lead representative for Dexcom as defendant in UPC proceedings against Abbott before the Local Division in The Hague regarding continuous glucose monitoring devices
- Lead representative Dexcom as defendant in UPC proceedings against Abbott before the Nordic Baltic Regional Division in Stockholm regarding continuous glucose monitoring devices
- Representative for Maxeon Solar as claimant in UPC proceedings against AIKO before the Local Division of Dusseldorf regarding solar panels
- Lead representative for BSRP as defendant in UPC proceedings against HL Display before the Local Division in The Hague regarding a product in the retail sector
- Representative for KPN as claimant in UPC proceedings against Oppo before the Local Division in The Hague regarding a SEP case concerning mobile phones
- Lead representative for Cardo Systems - in a Dutch-Italian team - as claimant in UPC proceedings against ASMAX before the Local Division in Milan regarding a motor cycle product in the retail sector. We succesfully obtained and enforced a UPC ex parte PI order at a trade show in Milan.

UPC milestones include:
- the first ever UPC expert witness hearing (in the Nordic Baltic division)
- the first main hearing before the Nordic Baltic Regional Division
- the first ex parte Preliminary Injunction obtained at the Local Division in Milan (and only the fourth thus far in the UPC)

Our Bird & Bird international team of UPC litigators has recently been ranked Tier 1 in the Juve Patent 2025 UPC ranking.

I have acted for both opponents and patentees as co-counsel in EPO opposition proceedings. I have also represented clients in contractual disputes, including contractual litigation involving milestone claims in the life sciences sector and in arbitration proceedings regarding IP warranties.

I also advise clients on IP strategy and on technology-driven M&A deals including in the venture technology field.

My work has been recognised by rankings over the past years in Chambers Global & Europe, Legal 500 and in 2020 and 2022 by receiving the Client Choice Award for Intellectual Property - Patents in the Netherlands.

• US life sciences company: advised on freedom to operate aspects of a digital health solution.
• Dutch startups: strategically advising on aspects of their own IP position (patents and trade secrets) as well as freedom to operate.

• US life sciences company in the medical devices and digital health: representing in two UPC cases, one pending in the The Hague Local Division and one in the Nordic-Baltic Regional Division. These proceedings are part of a multi-jurisdictional patent dispute with pending national and UPC proceedings both on the offensive and defensive side.
• Multinational energy company: representing in Dutch PI proceedings against a competitor on solar panel technology as well as in UPC proceedings.
• US semiconductor company: representing in Dutch patent infringement proceedings against an implementer of video coding technology, with invalidity and FRAND defences raised, as part of a multi-jurisdictional dispute.
• US life sciences company: representing in various patent infringement actions in the Netherlands regarding medical devices, as part of a multi-jurisdictional dispute.
• Israeli medical device company: Representing and strategically advising on European patent defence and enforcement. This includes (co)representing the company in three EPO opposition proceedings.