Thera is Partner in Rotterdam office and an expert IP lawyer.
She specializes in contentious IP, including advertising. Thera advises clients on trademark, design, copyright, tradename and domain name infringements, as well as advertising and marketing claims. Formerly in-house at Unilever, she understands both the challenges of in-house lawyers as well as the Consumer Sector amongst others. As an advertising law expert, she has more recently gained recognition in the field of green claims, an essential element in corporates’ ESG efforts and strategies. She is a regular speaker on the topic and advises many clients on the pitfalls and how to mitigate risk, teaming up with international colleagues to provide cross-border advice.
She is a regular lecturer and author in her fields of expertise. Thera started her career at NautaDutilh in 1998 and after her in-house role at Unilever in 2005, joined Simmons & Simmons. In 2012 she joined a Dutch SME law firm, moving back to the international legal arena in 2019 when joining Eversheds Sutherland and is now heading the Benelux IP group as well as being part of the global IP leadership team.
Latest Insights
- legal updatesSoft Focus
- guides and reportsEU: Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive
- legal updatesGreen claims under scrutiny in EU consumer law
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Thera’s experience includes:
- cross-border (EU/UK) advise on corporate communication re. sustainability ambitions, carbon neutrality and net zero goals including RAG review, Good Practice Guidelines, workshops etc
- successful comparative advertising litigation both in interim proceedings and proceedings on the merits for a client in the Industrial sector regarding the technical performance of the products of two main competitors in the sector
- successful ex parte and interim injunction proceedings regards an European Design Registration for a decoration applied on a Sansevieria which was upheld in all instances
- appeal proceedings for a private individual who owns the Benelux trademark WENDY’S and is being under attack since 1995 by the US company Wendy’s International, the third-largest burger fast food chain in the US
- 2024/1 BMM Bulletin – Co-existence agreements: about the (un)certainties as an alternative of opposition proceedings
- February 2024: IATA World Legal Symposium – Climate Litigation: Greenwashing and beyond
- March 2024: ES Symposium Antwerp - Making ESG a Practical Strategy: Current trends and the outlook on climate litigation, including the risks of greenwashing and green hushing
- September 2024: ES Symposium at Depot Rotterdam – ESG: Strategy and Sustainability: Navigating brand, reputation and reporting
- May 2023: ACC Webinar ESG & Greenwashing: what you need to know
- 2018 GRUR Int. 217 published article and live presentation 'Passing of is gaining grounds in the Netherlands - Dutch slavish imitation doctrine’
- 2016/3 BMM Bulletin - Co-existence agreements in trademark law: everyday work but does it lead anywhere? Awarded with the Wim Mak prize
- Named Green Ambassador Europe by Legal 500
- WTR 2024 – Silver ranking Individual, Bronze ranking Team
- Recommended by Legal 500
- BMM Wim Mak Award 2016 – best article in the BMM Bulletin of the year
- Former Board Member, BMM (the Benelux Association for trademark lawyers, attorneys and in-house counsels with 600+ members)
- Founding Member and President, VIEPA, the Dutch association for intellectual property litigators
- Lecturer at the BBMM, the Benelux Trademark and Design Attorney Professional Eductation; Martens Academy
- Post-graduate Grotius Academy - International, European and Benelux trademark law (2001-2002)
- University of Utrecht, Master Civil law (1991-1998)
- Oxford Brookes University, one year bachelor degree (1990-1991)