Ipsilon and NLO Join Forces: A Game-Changer for the Belgian and Luxembourg IP Market

Ghent, 26 March 2025 – Ipsilon, a prominent French intellectual property firm, and NLO, a leading IP consultant headquartered in the Netherlands, are proud to announce their partnership. This collaboration, facilitated by Waterland Private Equity, marks a significant milestone also for the Belgian and Luxembourg IP market.

In its recent history, Ipsilon acquired the Luxembourg IP boutiques Distinctive (renamed Ipsilon Benelux) and Lecomte & Partners as well as the Belgian company IP Hills. The acquisitions have since been operating as part of Ipsilon Group. At the end of 2024, Lecomte merged into Ipsilon Benelux. Soon, IP Hills and NLO Belgium will merge and both operate under the new name Ipsilon Belgium, uniting all acquisitions in BeLux under the single, strengthened brand Ipsilon.

A Stronger Position in Belgium and Luxembourg

The collaboration between Ipsilon and NLO creates a powerful combination of complementary expertise, establishing Ipsilon also as a top-three supplier of IP services in the BeLux-region.

• IP Hills and Lecomte house trademark & contract attorneys, as well as patent experts in traditional technologies like mechanics, electronics, photonics, machineering and materials, and complex-to-patent domains like software, AI, and machine learning.
• NLO Belgium is highly regarded for its IP expertise in life sciences, pharmaceutics, bio and chemistry.

By merging these specializations, Ipsilon offers a 360° comprehensive range of IP services, ensuring expert support across all technological and scientific sectors.

Expanded Team and Strategic Office Network

Ipsilon will now operate in Belgium-Luxembourg with over 50 experts across five key locations:

• Ghent – both IP Hills and NLO have established offices here.
• Leuven – home to IP Hills.
• Louvain-la-Neuve – an IP Hills office.
• Mechelen – home to NLO Belgium.
• Luxembourg – previously Lecomte & Partners, now integrated with IP Hills since their collaboration began several months ago.

Strategic Expansion into Brussels

To further enhance its regional presence and improve accessibility for international clients, Ipsilon Belgium announces the opening of a new office downtown Brussels in May 2025. This expansion is designed to better serve local SMEs and start-ups in Europe’s capital, and international clients seeking optimal protection for their intellectual property across Europe.

A Unified Vision for the Future

The partnership between Ipsilon and NLO strengthens their commitment to innovation, excellence, and comprehensive IP support. By combining their complementary expertise and expanding their geographical presence, Ipsilon is also positioned to deliver unparalleled IP services to clients across Belgium, Luxembourg, and beyond.

“This partnership allows us to deliver a broader range of services with unmatched expertise,” said Axel Plas, CEO Ipsilon Belgium . ” By merging our strengths, we are not only enhancing our ability to protect and support our clients’ intellectual property — we are also creating the largest IP firm in Europe, further strengthening our position to deliver exceptional value.”

About Ipsilon

Founded in 2001 by Valérie Feray, Ipsilon is a leading international intellectual property (IP) consulting firm headquartered in Paris, France. Ipsilon’s multidisciplinary teams of about 250 professionals support those who are creating tomorrow’s world in protecting and promoting their innovations through the filing, monitoring, maintenance and defense of all IP rights: patents, trademarks, designs, domain names and more across all key technological fields.

Ipsilon’s rapid expansion in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and the US is powered by a dynamic strategy of external growth, based on partnerships with prestigious firms sharing the same values of excellence, innovation and boldness.

Ipsilon collaborates with a diverse portfolio of innovation-driven clients, including L’Oréal, Essilor, Renault and the CEA.

About NLO

N.V. Nederlandsch Octrooibureau (“NLO”) is a leading European firm of patent and trademark attorneys, renowned for its top-tier legal expertise and deep technical know-how. Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, NLO operates across Europe with offices in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, serving a diverse international client base.
Founded in 1888, NLO combines a strong heritage with a forward-thinking approach, providing full-service intellectual property solutions. The firm comprises 12 partners and a team of over 200 professionals, including more than 80 attorneys and trainees — all dedicated to protecting and strengthening innovation. NLO provides specialized IP services across key industries, including:

• Chemistry & Pharmaceuticals
• Life Sciences
• Physics & Engineering
• Telecoms & Software
• Trademarks & Designs

NLO’s client list includes a broad spectrum of innovative corporate clients, including Samsung, Heineken, Essity, and Danone..

Contactperson: Axel Plas, CEO Ipsilon Belgium, aplas@ipsilon-ip.eu , +32 474 96 03 91