04/01/21

New partner at Inteo

Belgian intellectual property law firm Inteo welcomes Simone Vandewynckel as a partner on 4 January 2021. The hire is a boost for the boutique firm, adding depth and expertise to support its growth.

Simone started her career at Benelux law firm Stibbe in 2008 to move to an in-house role as global head of intellectual property at Velcro Companies in 2018. She is a board member of the Belgian AIPPI group. Simone co-authored a handbook on the procedural aspects of intellectual property enforcement in Belgium. At Inteo, Simone will work with founding partners Sofie Cubitt and Kristof Neefs, and associates Stéphanie de Potter and Annouk Naze.

The Mechelen-based outfit opened for business in December 2016. Four years in, Inteo has become an active player in intellectual property litigation. The firm’s non-contentious service offering includes assisting technology and research-driven companies in negotiating licensing and research agreements. Clients and peers have labelled Inteo ‘a breath of fresh air’ and ‘one to keep on your radar’ in the Belgian IP scene.

Simone Vandewynckel: “I am thrilled to join Inteo, one of the most exciting law firms in the Belgian IP landscape. I look forward to working closely with Sofie, Kristof, Stéphanie and Annouk, and to continue advising clients in both litigation and transactions.

Sofie Cubitt : “We do not take hiring decisions lightly at Inteo—at any level. But moving forward with Simone is a no-brainer. Our talks made clear that we see eye to eye on running a law firm focused on clients and people. Simone is a native French speaker, adding to Inteo’s arsenal to serve national and international clients in the multilingual Belgian market.

Kristof Neefs: “We couldn’t be happier with the fit. Simone is an intellectual property all-star with a skillset that perfectly matches our work. Her experience as a litigator will bolster our contentious practice. At the same time, having worked as head of IP at a multinational, Simone brings a lot to the table to support our clients in research-driven deals.

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