Fleur Tuinzing-Westerhuis
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Fleur Tuinzing-Westerhuis specialises in technology-related intellectual property matters, with a focus on patents and plant variety rights. In her daily practice, Fleur represents a wide variety of domestic and international companies that are active in technology-intensive business sectors, such as agrifood and biotech. Fleur is an experienced patent litigator and is one of only a handful of lawyers in the Netherlands with extensive experience in litigation relating to national and Community plant variety rights. Furthermore, Fleur assists clients in implementing customs seizure actions based on the EU Anti-Piracy Regulation. Over the past 10 years, Fleur has litigated in various cases before the Dutch courts, the Dutch Board of Plant Varieties and the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market. Legal 500 has recognised Fleur as Next Generation Partner in the field of Intellectual Property: Patents.
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Next Generation PartnerLegal 500, Patents (2024 Edition) -
"A client mentions that: ‘Fleur Tuinzing-Westerhuis has excellent procedural knowledge, is very pleasant to work with, and is always readily available. She adds a lot of value for us. Thijs van Aerde is also a strong procedural lawyer and a Supreme Court lawyer specialised in patent law’."
Legal 500, Patents (2024 Edition) -
“Fleur Tuinzing-Westerhuis has been involved in some of the most pioneering cases in the area. She leads the life sciences side and is a recognised figure on a global level.”IAM Patent 1000, Intellectual Property (2023 Edition)
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Next Generation PartnerLegal 500, Patents (2023 Edition)
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Next Generation PartnerLegal 500, Patents (2022 Edition)
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“Fleur Tuinzing, counsel, stands out because of her committed, down to earth approach to complex legal issues. As for the entire team, her ability to see the bigger picture allows her to come up with sensible solutions in litigation and deal situations alike.”Legal 500, Patents (2022 Edition)
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RecommendedLegal 500, Trade marks, copyrights and design rights (2022 Edition)
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Next Generation PartnerLegal 500, Patents (2021 Edition)
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“Fleur is a ‘problem-solver’ who is extremely committed to her clients. Her ability to keep the eye on the ball in complex disputes really benefits her clients, but also helps to find proper commercial solutions rather than litigation forever.”Legal 500, Patents (2021 Edition)
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“Fleur Tuinzing-Westerhuis: very pleasurable to work with/has carved out a bit of a niche practice in plant variety rights.”Legal 500, Patents (2021 Edition)
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“Fleur has vast experience in non-contentious and contentious IP matters including patent litigation and one can tell this when she handles a case.”Legal 500, Trade marks, copyrights and design rights (2020 Edition)
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“Fleur has vast experience in non-contentious and contentious IP matters including patent litigation and one can tell this when she handles a case. Her eye for detail is phenominal yet she knows exactly where the opportunities are to negotiate in real world commercial settings.”Legal 500, Patents (2020 Edition)
Fleur has extensive experience in drafting and advising on licence agreements, R&D agreements, manufacture and distribution agreements and advising on technology transfer and know-how protection. Furthermore, Fleur frequently assists in technology-related transactions and corporate restructuring. Fleur regularly lectures on the protection of innovations and enforcement of intellectual property rights. Fleur is a member of the Houthoff AgriFood Practice Group. Fleur is a member of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI), the Licensing Executive Society (LES), CIOPORA (the International Community of Breeders of Asexually Reproduced Ornamental and Fruit Plants) and the Associazione Internazionale Giuristi di Lingua Italiana (AIGLI).
She was also mentioned as one of the Recommended Individuals in the Netherlands by IAM Patent 1000: "Fleur Tuinzing-Westerhuis is a plant variety rights superstar with an entrepreneurial mentality. When it comes to scouting for potential business prospects, she has a fastidious eye for detail."
She was also mentioned as one of the Recommended Individuals in the Netherlands by IAM Patent 1000: "Fleur Tuinzing-Westerhuis is a plant variety rights superstar with an entrepreneurial mentality. When it comes to scouting for potential business prospects, she has a fastidious eye for detail."
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Advised 3i on the sale of the Weener Plastics group, producer of high-quality plastic packaging products, to US manufacturing company Silgan Holdings.
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Advised Corre Energy B.V. ("Corre Energy") on the establishment of a 50/50 joint venture cooperation with SemperPower B.V. ("SemperPower") for the realisation of one of the largest battery storage facilities in Europe, located at the Zuidwending site in the Netherlands.
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Assisted global semiconductor player Nexperia with its acquisition of Netherlands-based Nowi Energy
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Advised Bosch Rexroth on the sale of its Large Projects business to Van Halteren Group. Bosch Rexroth is an internationally operating group specialized in mechanical and installation engineering solutions using advanced technologies and extensive industry knowledge.
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Represented Agilitas Private Equity Services Limited in the acquisition of TenCate Advanced Armour Holding B.V., the global leading manufacturer of lightweight survivability solutions.
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Advised publicly traded Swedish company XVIVO Perfusion AB on the acquisition of 100% of the shares in Organ Assist BV for a purchase price of EUR 24 million. Organ Assist’s business focuses on developing machines and disposable components for liver and kidney perfusion.
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Advised Mzuri Holdings Ltd, owner of amongst others Decora Blind Systems, a European manufacturer and distributor of indoor window coverings on the acquisition of Coolblinds, an online retailer of made to measure blinds (better known as 123jaloezie.nl, plissegordijn.nl and rolgordijnland.nl).
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Assisted Shenzhen Goodix Technology Co. with its agreement with NXP Semiconductors under which it will acquire all assets of NXP Semiconductors' Voice and Audio Solutions (VAS) for USD 165 million.
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Assisted Twence, a waste processing company that produces energy, in the acquisition of Empyro. The Empyro plant produces pyrolysis oil, green steam and electricity from biomass by polygeneration.
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Houthoff advised Nobia on the acquisition of Bribus Holding B.V., a Dutch kitchen supplier with annual sales of approximately EUR 65 million. Bribus was founded 90 years ago and is acquired from Bernhard ten Brinke, who remains in the company.
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Advised H2 Equity Partners on the sale of Reparenco, a Dutch paper and recycling business, to Smurfit Kappa Group plc for a cash consideration of approximately €460 million. Smurfit Kappa Group plc is one of the world's largest integrated manufacturers of paper-based packaging products with operations in Europe and the Americas.
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Houthoff represented the shareholders of Plaxinvest B.V. on the sale of their interest in Plaxinvest B.V. to Bentley Systems, Inc. Plaxinvest is the parent company of the Plaxis Group, the leading provider of geotechnical software. This strategic acquisition by Bentley, leading global provider of comprehensive software solutions for advancing infrastructure, serves to make Bentley a complete source for geotechnical professionals.
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Houthoff represented Mr Perridon and current management of Trust, a consumer electronics manufacturer, on the sale to Egeria. Trust's current board of directors will maintain its active role within the company.
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Represented the shareholders of Boal in the sale of a majority stake in Boal Group to Equistone Partners Europe. Headquartered in Naaldwijk, the Netherlands, BOAL Group has 48 years of experience in designing and manufacturing aluminium roofing and sidewall systems for greenhouses and holds a market leading position in the horticultural greenhouse industry. It also supplies the construction, engineering, and transport sectors with aluminium extrusions.
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Houthoff (co-counsel to Kirkland&Ellis and Dechert LLP, M&A, VDD) advised Wyndham Worldwide Corp on the sale of its European vacation rental business (Landal part) to private equity firm Platinum Equity for approximately USD1.3 billion.
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Representing the French medical device company Biobank in patent litigation proceedings, relating to both validity and infringement of its patents relating to a process for preserving and regenerating human bone.
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Representing the Italian (veterinary) pharmaceutical company Innovet (part of Epitech Group) in patent litigation proceedings, relating to both validity and infringement of its patent relating to pharmaceutical compositions containing micronized compounds.
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Representing the French medical device company Biobank in patent litigation proceedings, relating to both validity and infringement of its patents relating to a process for preserving and regenerating human bone.
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Advising VAR, a subsidiary of Attero, in a patent infringement dispute relating to a concrete crushing installation.
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Successfully representing Nador Cott Protection sarl, holder of the Community Plant Variety Rights relating to the leading mandarin variety Nadorcott, in plant variety rights disputes against various Dutch importers.
