Otto Swens (1970) is co-founder of Vondst Advocaten (2007). Otto’s practice deals with all aspects of intellectual property, but it has a strong focus on patents, Otto advises and litigates patents particularly in the field of pharma & biotech, chemistry, medical devices and mechanical engineering.
Further, Otto is active in the life sciences regulatory practice. He advises amongst others about marketing authorisations, (orphan) medicinal products, paediatric indications and incentives and rewards for pharmaceutical research, such as data exclusivity, market exclusivity and patent term extensions (SPC’s), Otto also advised on medicinal product pricing, parallel imports, reimbursements, product liability and promotion.
Otto represents clients in litigation before the Dutch national courts, the General Court / European Court of Justice in Luxembourg and (as per 1 June 2023) the Unified Patent Court, such as the local divion in The Hague, the Central Division and the Appeal Court in Luxembourg.
Otto is recognized internationally as patent and life sciences specialist in guides such as Chambers Europe, Chambers Global, Legal500, IAM Patent, Juve and Managing IP. Otto also regularly lectures and publishes on patent law and life sciences topics, at conferences and in national and international journals. Otto is co-author of Oxford University Press handbook ‘Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology and Chemical Inventions: World Protection and Exploitation’.
Otto is President of the Dutch Advisory Committee IP legislation and also a member of various professional associations, including AIPPI, EPLAW, the Dutch Association of Pharmacy and Law, PTMG and the Dutch IP litigator assocation VIEPA, with specialisation patent law.
Specialties:
– National and UPC patent litigation in pharmaceuticals & life sciences, medical devices, chemistry, biotechnology and mechanical engineering.
– Regulatory work relating to pharmaceuticals & life sciences, including litigation before national courts and General Court and European Court of Justice.
– Other IP issues, such as trademarks, copyrights, design rights etc.
Otto 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, Otto 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
