Speaker: Reini van Leeuwen-Torenstra

Intellectual Property is seen as “the oil of the 21^st century”. It is the biggest asset of all businesses: from global corporations like Coca Cola® to independent advisors whose value lies in their trademarks, copyrights, designs, patents, and knowledge.

As an entrepreneur: Are you protecting your knowledge and innovation? Is there a way to better exploit your intellectual property? How can intellectual property enhance your market value?

And if you are in the corporate arena: What happens to your intellectual creation? To what extent are you the owner of your own work? How can you protect yourself?

Our guest speaker Reini van Leeuwen-Torenstra is Managing Counsel Intellectual Property (IP) in the Intellectual Property Services team of Shell Group. She and her teams provide world-wide advice regarding all aspects of Intellectual Property arrangements for Shell Group. This spans from technology transfer arrangements and Intellectual Property development activities with third parties to mergers and acquisitions. Other areas of IP activities are software licensing, advice on the subject of copyright licensing, trademarks, and domains across the various companies forming the Shell Group.

With a degree from Delft University of Technology Reini started her career as a naval architect for – at that time – the largest Dutch ship building company. Having acquired a law degree from Leiden University she then joined Shell as a patent attorney trainee. With a qualification as a Dutch and European patent attorney she first worked in the patent team of Shell’s Intellectual Property Services team where she dealt with all aspects of patent generation, prosecution, maintenance as well as opposition procedures. Currently, Mrs. van Leeuwen is managing counsel Intellectual Property for the Shell Group.

Join us on September 9^th when Reini van Leeuwen will introduce us to strategies and answers our questions on a highly relevant subject in our 2010 theme: “Protect your Innovation”.

Participants are welcome to network from 19:00 to 20:00. The program begins at 20:00.

Registration and Guest Policy: Registration is required for members (15 euro) and guests (35 euro). Attendance fee includes snacks and drinks. Guests are allowed to attend two EuropeanPWN-Amsterdam functions per year. Please contact Caroline van Leuven, our VP Membership.

Breaking news: finally there seems be an increase in the number of female partners at the large law firms in the Netherlands. The total number of female partners has increased at the top 10 law firms from 57 last years to 61 this year, whereas the total number of partners decreased in that top 10 from 450 to 430. These data are published in De Stand van de Advocatuur 2010. On 26 March the first copy of this document will be handed over to Saskia Stuiveling, president of the general Court of Auditors and member of the Council of recommendation of the Dutch order of lawyers.

There is also less good news for the champions of diversity: at the top 10 last year  a total of 865 female lawyers worked, this year that number has decreased to 808. Also the number of male lawyers decreased, from 1,211 to 1,168. In terms of percentage the proportion male and female lawyers now amounts to at the top 10 of offices 59.4% for 40.6%, in contrast to last year 58.9% and 41.1%.

This text has been translated from: http://www.advocatie.nl