Our team is big enough to handle any case, and small enough to guarantee excellence at every level. Dieter Delarue, who founded the firm in 2013, is complemented by partner Anthony Van der Planken, counsel Alexander Heirwegh, senior associate Thomas Baetens, associate Ilona Min, and highly committed support staff.
Dieter Delarue
dieter@co-delarue.be
T +32 3 369 59 01
M +32 477 56 10 42
LinkedIn
Dieter is the co-founder and managing partner of the firm. His primary focus is on high-stake or complex trade mark infringement proceedings and litigation over design and copyrighted works of all kinds, very often in the worlds of fashion and other design, media and entertainment, and technology. Legal directories and the clients they quote refer to Dieter as “an absolute star in IP jurisprudence, who possesses a strong future-proof outlook”, “one of the finest trade mark litigators in Belgium and the EU”, “one of the toughest, smartest and most strategic litigators in Belgium”, and “always two steps ahead of the other side”. Dieter was voted Belgian IP Practitioner of the Year at the 2024 MIP Awards.
Anthony Van der Planken
anthony@co-delarue.be
T +32 3 369 59 05
LinkedIn
Anthony joined the firm in 2014. Before that, Anthony spent time at the EUIPO, where he served as a clerk of the First Board of appeal and authored numerous decisions in trade mark proceedings. Anthony is the first point of contact for “smart” contentious prosecution work (such as opposition and cancellation proceedings) and also manages complex issues involving trade mark, copyright or design infringement. Legal directories and the clients they quote refer to Anthony as “one of the rising stars in the field of trade mark law”, who is “smart and good to work with”, and who is “unwavering in his commitment to the cause and provides invaluable insight thanks to his previous tenure at the EUIPO”. Since 2024, Anthony serves as a member of INTA’s Non-Traditional Marks Committee.
A remarkable talent to make complex things simple - the lawyers go to the core issues and identify them, and sideline all unnecessary things. They are exceptionally skilled and highly proficient when it comes to handling complex and sophisticated legal matters.
Alexander Heirwegh
alexander@co-delarue.be
T +32 3 369 59 03
LinkedIn
Alexander joined the firm in October 2019. Before that, he gained experience in the IP team of a US firm and in a Belgian IP boutique firm. Alexander has a particular interest in non-traditional trade mark litigation, often at play in the fashion and luxury goods industry, and he is very familiar with all IP issues that affect the audio-visual sector and high tech. The WTR 1000 lists Alexander as a “Leading Expert” on Anti-Counterfeiting. Alexander is also referred to as a “Rising Star” in the IP Stars ranking of Managing IP and as a “Key Lawyer” in the IP rankings of The Legal 500.
Ilona Min
ilona@co-delarue.be
T +32 3 369 59 04
LinkedIn
Ilona joined the firm in February 2025. Before that, she gained experience in the IP team of a Belgian boutique firm. Ilona is passionate about handling legal cases related to copyright and design infringements, particularly in the art and fashion industries.
Thomas Baetens
thomas@co-delarue.be
T +32 3 369 59 06
LinkedIn
Thomas joined the firm in October 2019, then continued his career in another Belgian IP boutique firm in 2021 and rejoined CO & DELARUE in April 2025. Thomas has a knack for high-level copyright, design and trademark cases, both in an offline and online environment. He is also well versed in cases involving unfair market practices. Since 2024, Thomas works as a teaching assistant at the Centre for IT & IP Law of the KU Leuven. He has been recognized as a “Rising Star” in the IP Stars ranking of Managing IP. Since 2025, Thomas serves as a member of BMM’s Young BMM Committee.
