Jos Klaus

I am experienced in advising and litigating on all areas of ‘soft IP’ law, including copyright, design, trade mark and trade name law as well as (misleading) advertising law. I have a strong track record in anti-counterfeiting, customs actions, domain name disputes and in effectively addressing online infringements (e.g. against online intermediaries). I am regularly involved in drafting and negotiating IP related commercial agreements, relating to inter alia licenses, sponsorships, joint developments and cooperations. Last, I often provide assistance in transactions that are IP heavy – and act as a strategical sparring partner to boards, design & marketing teams and in-house counsel.

I believe in-depth industry knowledge is essential to understand our client's business opportunities and challenges. I have accumulated a track record of working with clients in various industries, including automotive, FMCG, fashion, luxury goods & iconic design, tech and retail. I have also intensively worked with clients in the business sectors of sports & sponsoring, food & beverages, life sciences, IT & telecoms and media.

I have had the privilege of joining forces with nationally and internationally operating clients across the globe, ranging from reputed SMEs to (Fortune 500) listed companies. I am always excited on how we can provide tailor-made value to the client's business, either by optimising their IP, realising new opportunities or to quickly and cost-efficiently resolve legal issues that have seen the day. I am keen on providing crystal-clear advice and always keep the bigger commercial picture and long-term goals in mind.

Representative examples I handled include:

• I have successfully taken on the largest serial trade mark filer in history in several matters, on behalf of one of the world's largest tech companies and a reputed Dutch telecoms company.
• I have assisted a world-renowned manufacturer of electronics in closing a > 85 million EUR sponsorship deal with one of the world's most iconic soccer clubs

• For many years, I have been coordinating the worldwide IP enforcement of a Dutch-based leading manufacturer of homeware in relation to a blockbuster kitchen accessory.
• I successfully defended a trending Dutch fashion brand in trade mark infringement proceedings installed by a global streetwear brand and, in doing so, avoiding an EU-wide rebranding by the client.
• I successfully settled on behalf the Estate of a late jazz superstar in relation to copyright and neighbouring right ownership issues after IP court proceedings were installed by a renowned record label.

According to independent legal directories, clients describe my as "an IP lawyer in optima forma who stops at nothing to win" and state that I "will do all in [my] power to find that one thing that can change the case in the client’s advantage." Others state that I have a "logical and commercial way of approaching problems" and that I am "excellent at understanding [my] customers’ needs, envisaging the legal strategy to achieve these goals".

I am an examiner with the Vocational Training of the Benelux Trade Mark and Design Attorney Association (BBMM), a lecturer at the Netherlands' post-graduate IP specialisation course, the mr. S.K. Martens Academy and have lectured on IP at Amsterdam University, Rotterdam University and Tilburg University. I am a member of the International Trade Committee of the European Communities Trade Mark Association (ECTA), the past president of the Congress Committee of the Benelux Association for Trade Mark and Design Law (BMM) and a current member of BMM's Communications Committee. For many years I have been involved in several Study Groups of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI), including on exhaustion of trade marks, descriptive use and 3D marks.

Before joining Fieldfisher, I worked at top-tier Dutch IP boutique firms.

I have registered the following principal legal practice areas in the Netherlands Bar’s register of legal practice areas (rechtsgebiedenregister): Intellectual Property Law (Intellectueel eigendomsrecht).

Based on this registration, I am required to obtain ten training credits per calendar year in Intellectual Property Law, in accordance with the standards set by the Netherlands Bar.