Emmanuel Cornu, Tom Swinnen & Eric De Gryse | Practice Heads
Michaël De Vroey | Other Key Lawyers
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French - Dutch - English
Emmanuel Cornu
Emmanuel Cornu specialises in intellectual property law (trademarks, patents, designs and copyrights) and competition law.
He assists national and international clients in the luxury sector, food and telecommunications before both the Belgian courts and the Benelux court, the European Court of Justice, the General Court and the EUIPO (European Union trademark litigation). He also regularly acts as an arbitrator.
Emmanuel is registered as UPC representative (Unified Patent Court). With our team of experienced patent litigators, Simont Braun is ready to navigate clients through the early days of the UPC as the new court develops.
He has been elected as a President of the Benelux Council for Intellectual Property. He has also been appointed by the FPS Economy, for his legal expertise, as a member of the Industrial Property section of the Council for Intellectual Property, whose main mission is to provide the Minister responsible for intellectual property with advice on any matter relating to intellectual property, in particular in the law-making process.
For many years, he has been a member of the committee for patent proxy approvals within the Office for Intellectual Property (2005-2017).
Emmanuel is ranked in Band 1 in Intellectual Property by Chambers & Partners, as a Leading Individual by The Legal 500, and in the Gold Band in trademarks by WTR1000. He is Recommended in trademarks by Who’s Who Legal (Global Leaders Guide) and recognised as a Trademark Star by IP Stars.
Emmanuel has been appointed as a third party decider accredited by the French Bar Association of Brussels in the context of the binding third party decision procedure (more information available here).
Emmanuel Cornu is a member of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI), in which context he is the administrator of the Belgian group and president of the Trademarks Commission. He is also a member of the International Trademark Association (INTA), and of MARQUES, the European Communities Trademark Association (ECTA), the International Literary and Artistic Association (ALAI), the Benelux Association of Trade Mark and Design Law (B.M.M.), and the European Patent Lawyers’ Association (EPLAW).
Emmanuel was the president of the Belgian delegation to the Council of European Bars (C.C.B.E.). He is a former secretary of the Brussels Bar and a former member of the Brussels Bar Council. He has also been president of the “Conférence du Jeune Barreau de Bruxelles” (Young Bar Association).
Since 2009, he is the president, on a pro bono basis, of the Grandes Conférences Catholiques.
Emmanuel is the editor-in-chief of the Revue de Droit Intellectuel-L’Ingénieur-conseil (ICIP, Larcier) and is the author and co-author of several publications on intellectual property rights, including the fifth edition of Précis des Marques with Antoine Braun (Larcier, 2009, 1070 pages) and Les marques: marque Benelux, marque internationale, marque communautaire (Guide juridique de l’entreprise, Kluwer, 2007).
By royal decree of 16 July 2025, Emmanuel Cornu was granted the title of Baron by His Majesty King Philippe, in recognition of his professional and civic contributions.
UCLouvain (Law, 1990) – Magna cum laude
University of Leyden, Netherlands (Degree in International and European Law, 1991)
Member of Brussels Bar since 1991
Rankings
Manuela von Kuegelgen & Steven Callens | Practice Heads
Emmanuel Cornu & Fanny Laune | Other Key Lawyer
IT & TELECOMS
Joan Carette, Eric De Gryse & Maïka Bernaerts | Practice Heads
Emmanuel Cornu | Other key lawyer
Eric De Gryse & Alexis Ceuterick | Practice Heads
Tom Swinnen & Emmanuel Cornu | Other key lawyers
EU REGULATORY: PRIVACY & DATA PROTECTION
Joan Carette, Emmanuel Cornu and Eric De Gryse | Practice Heads
Maïka Bernaerts | Other key lawyer
A commentator reported: "Availability, pragmatism, proactive approach. The level of expertise of all the members of the team, the efficiency of the strategies implemented."
Emmanuel Cornu | Leading Partner
Eric De Gryse | Leading Partner
Michaël De Vroey | Next Generation Partner
Fernand de Visscher | Other Key Lawyer
A commentator reported that "Simont Braun is legally very strong but also very strategic in its approach"
Fernand de Visscher reaffirms his top status as a Senior Statesperson
Emmanuel Cornu retains his top ranking in Band 1
Eric De Gryse solidifies his position in Band 2
Michaël De Vroey solidifies his position in Band 4
Team ranking: Trademarks | Tier 1 - Patents & Copyrights | Tier 2
Eric De Gryse maintains his ranking as Trademark & Patent Star
Emmanuel Cornu maintains his ranking as Trademark Star
Fernand de Visscher maintains his ranking as Patent Star
Michaël De Vroey praised as Patent Star
Team ranking: Patents | Silver Band
"More than just a firm offering a robust, knowledge-centred IP practice, Simont Braun is also a trusted partner dedicated to maximising IP assets for the betterment of its clients’ business."
Eric De Gryse | Silver Band
Fernand de Visscher | Silver Band
Emmanuel Cornu | Silver Band
Michaël De Vroey | Bronze Band
Simont Braun is delighted to be ranked again in Silver in legal trademark expertise by WTR1000.
"The firm boasts a team of adept and sophisticated litigators who expertly harness the firm's extensive expertise and resources. They provide comprehensive legal support that not only meets specific IP needs but also aligns with the client’s broader business objectives."
Emmanuel Cornu is ranked in Gold
"Emmanuel is highly regarded by his peers for his encyclopaedic knowledge of the law. He knows exactly how to deal with complex trademark litigation, consistently offering precise and straightforward advice.”
Eric De Gryse is ranked in Silver
"Eric is celebrated for his ability to handle tricky trademark disputes."
Michaël De Vroey is ranked in Silver
"Michaël is a highly confident and skilled litigator, boasting extensive experience in handling both national and multi-jurisdictional disputes."





