Benoit Van Asbroeck

As a partner and IP/IT specialist here at Bird & Bird in Brussels, I lead our Belgian Data Protection, Tech & Comms and Media practices, advising our clients on legal issues in privacy, data, e-commerce, digital marketing, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, AI, 3D printing, cookies, electronic signatures, intermediary liability and automated objects. I also co-head the Bird & Bird international special interest group on Copyright due my large experience in copyright matters with the Court of Justice of the European Union.

My practice is both transactional and litigation. I have extensive experience in drafting and negotiating complex TMT contracts. In addition, I have exceptional expertise in counselling our clients on issues that require the coordination and integration of a variety of legal solutions, such as intellectual property, information technology, media, sport, competition and telecommunications issues.

Advising on contentious matters in front of arbitral tribunals and national and EU courts, I have successfully conducted landmark matters with the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) (in Copyright/Trademark and E-commerce). In the context of our Public Affairs practice I lobby public authorities in relation to the EU and national legislative processes. With my team we are participating as legal partners in number of H2020 EU-funded consortia all focusing on data driven economy issues.

Over the years, I have written extensively and spoken at a variety of events on data, IP and ICT subjects. I am lecturing at various EU universities on IP on data and on contracts (Free University of Brussels (ULB), University of Lyon III, University of Valenciennes and Catholic University of Leuven (KUL). I also act as a substitute commercial judge and mediator/arbitrator at the World Intellectual Property Office.

I recently co-authored the book 'Vers un droit européen de la protection des données?' (Larcier), in which I focused on companies' compliance obligations with respect to the GDPR. I am one of the twelve expert members of the Belgian Council of Intellectual Property which advises the Government on new IP legislation.

• CJEU C-833/18 Brompton Bicyles
• CJEU T-122/17 Devin AD vs EUIPO
• CJEU C-70/10 Scarlet Extented vs Sabam