Emmanuel Cornu, Tom Swinnen & Eric De Gryse | Practice Heads
Michaël De Vroey | Other Key Lawyers
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Dutch - French - English - German
Eric De Gryse
Eric De Gryse specialises in intellectual property law. He is a lawyer at the Brussels’ bar since 1994 and member of hte Council of the Brussels’ Bar (NL) (2024-2025).
Eric mainly deals with matters of patent law, know-how and technology transfer in diverse technical fields, in addition to trade mark and design law. He advises clients and acts in national and international litigation, particularly in the areas of pharmaceuticals, chemicals, engineering, food products and retail services. He is registered as UPC representative (Unified Patent Court).
He also has in-depth experience and knowledge of certain specific branches of intellectual property law (such as plant varieties and geographical indications) and in consumer law, trade practices, unfair competition and other regulated areas (advertising in the pharmaceuticals sector, regulation in life sciences, e-commerce, standardisation, certification, collective trademarks and quality labels, labelling and regulation of foodstuffs, wines and spirits, etc.).
Eric De Gryse is a lecturer at the University of Liège, where he teaches the course entitled “Food Industry: geographical indications, certification and labelling” (Master’s in European law: Competition Law and Intellectual Property Law). He has been a researcher with the Intellectual Property Research Centre at the University of Leuven (1994 to 1998) and visiting professor at the University of Ghent (2014-2017).
Eric is an editor of Revue de Droit Commercial Belge (section on intellectual property rights, law and technology) and is the author and co-author of several publications in his areas of practice.
He is ranked in Band 2 in Intellectual Property by Chambers & Partners, and as a Leading Individual by The Legal 500. He is recognised in the Silver band in Trademark by WTR1000, and in the Silver band in Patent by iAM Patent. He is recognised as Trademark Star and as Patent Star by IP Stars, and he is Recommended in Patents and in Trademarks by Who’s Who Legal (Global Leaders Guide).
Eric is an active member of a number of professional associations. He is a former board member of the European Patent Lawyers’ Association (EPLAW) and a current member of the advisory board. He is also a member of the Emerging Issues Committee with the International Trademark Association (INTA), dealing notably with consequences of climate change on IP (anti greenwashing rules), and is the former chair of the Geographical Indications Committee (2016-2017). He has participated in the publication of several reports for the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI).
Eric is also a member of the Benelux Association of Trade Mark and Design Law (BMM), of the Deutsche VereinigungfürgewerblichenRechtsschutz und Urheberrecht (GRUR), the International Competition Law League (LIDC) and the Belgian Copyright Association (ABA).
UNamur (B.A. in Law, 1990)
KUL (Law, 1993)
University of Trier, Germany (Postgraduate Magister luris, 1993)
Member of Brussels Bar since 1994
Rankings
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."





