Koen Vanhalst

Background

About Koen Vanhalst

I hold a PhD in Biotechnology from the University of Ghent, Belgium, at the Department of Molecular Biomedical Research, Molecular Cell Biology Unit under Prof. Dr. F. Van Roy (Flemish Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB). Prior to joining De Clercq & Partners I worked for 4 years as an Examiner in the European Patent Office - The Hague Branch, involved in both Search and Substantive Examination of patent applications in the field of Biotechnology in general and Medical Diagnostics in particular. I joined the team of Patent Advisers at the De Clercq office in 2007 and qualified as European Patent Attorney in 2009. In 2011, I passed the qualifying exam for Belgian Patent Attorney. Due to my experience as an Examiner at the EPO, I am involved in the prosecution of patent applications and in drafting European and PCT applications in several fields of biotechnology and related life sciences. I am further involved in opposition and appeal proceedings before the EPO and in providing opinions regarding to freedom-to-operate, infringement and validity of intellectual property rights. I'm a native Dutch speaker, but also fluent in English and French, and I have a working knowledge of German. Specialties: biotechnology, biochemistry, molecular biology, chemistry, plant bio(techn)logy, food & feed technology, bioinformatics, green/cleantech. My tasks include strategic advice, drafting of patent applications, prosecution up to and after grant of patent applications around the world, as well as expert help in IP court procedures for clients or for the Belgian Courts.