The Patent 1000 focuses exclusively on patent practice and has firmly established itself as the definitive 'go-to' resource for those seeking world-class legal patent expertise.
Highly recommended - Individuals: prosecution
Zacco continues to be an outfit of choice for a wide range of domestic and international players and its recent acquisition of local Norwegian set Tandberg has further strengthened its position as a top-quality offering at the intersection of commercial and technical understanding. Four of its practitioners – Hans Langan, Rita Lillegraven, Anna Sønstevold and Stein Aamot – are ranked in the guide this year, and they embody a client-oriented approach. Langan is considered by peers to be “one of Norway’s leading patent attorneys” and he draws on his mechanical engineering background to provide clear and technically sound guidance that always puts his patrons’ goals first. Leveraging a background in chemistry, Lillegraven effortlessly manages portfolios for names such as Dynea, a leading entity in industrial coating additives. She frequently teams up with Sønstevold. Recently, the duo assisted renewable energy company Neste Oyjin with several opposition matters. “As he manages patent portfolios and produces crucial strategies, Aamot demonstrates a keen comprehension of technical concepts.” He brings ideas to fruition with ease and supports his service users as they grow.
Joining Zacco in March 2009 as an IP Consultant, Stein Aamot has over 20 years of international industry experience within intellectual property, research and development and startups. His primary focus has been within the fields of sensor or encryption technological development, but he also has extensive expertise in communication products, control systems and biotech. He combines these with his experience within business development and strategy to help his clients explore the commercial viability of their ideas.
His experience running IP development and establishment projects continues to further his reputation as a capable mediator, able to draw the most from the expertise and capabilities of those he works with.
In 1988, Mr Aamot graduated from the University of Dundee, Scotland, with an honours degree in electronics and microcomputer systems. He followed this with his master's studies at BI, Oslo, in the fields of international marketing strategies and economics.
His experience since includes over 10 years as CEO of startup research and development companies Sospita (1997-2000) and High Density Devices (founder 1998, CEO 200–-2008) working with encryption products within the field of data security and including close cooperation with the US Department of Defence Norwegian defence department and other North Atlantic Treaty Organization members’ security agencies.
Mr Aamot’s expertise and knowledge now see him working with a combination of clients from multiple high-tech sectors within the fields of artificial intelligence, software, the Internet of things, e-commerce, communications, life sciences and biotech, among others.
Zacco is an international full-service IP solutions and brand protection specialist, with around 125 authorised patent attorneys and 75 authorised trademark and design attorneys, operating globally and in most sectors. Our combined aim is to view the world as our customers do, building practical strategies that cover their IP, brand character and content.
Zacco became a part of the OpSec Group in 2023 so we are now around 1300 experts. Together we help organisations to develop, manage and protect the value of their IP throughout its lifecycle. Combining physical and digital brand protection solutions to bring authenticity and assurance, from the creation of new assets and identities, to monetisation of rights and content, to protection against infringement and abuse.
Zacco, and many of our colleagues, regularly achieve Top Tier rankings and recommendations from Managing Intellectual Property, World Trademark Review, Intellectual Asset Management and The Legal 500, which we believe independently verifies our commitment to quality, excellence and innovation.
Patent, Trademark and Design Prosecution
Our international presence means a single point of contact can handle IP prosecution in multiple jurisdictions. Many of our patent attorneys are authorised EPAs so we have an expert ready to advise you on nearly all current and emerging fields of technology. As a client, you will find a skilled and knowledgeable practitioner able to help you secure, monetise and enforce your ideas, whether you work physically in chemistry, greentech, mechanics, materials or biotech, or digitally in digitalisation, software, AI or machine learning, among other areas. We also provide many IP portfolio management and in-sourced services, such as in-house paralegals.
Our trademark and design practice assists all industries with filing and prosecution, availability and infringement opinions and has a special focus on EU trademark practice, including oppositions, cancellations and appeals before the EUIPO.
We cover ten European jurisdictions directly including the EUIPO/EPO, the United Kingdom, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Austria and Switzerland, and operate internationally through a comprehensive network of trusted long-term global partners.
Litigation and Disputes
When in need of expertise in IP litigation and dispute matters, clients can rely on Zacco. We are renowned experts in IP, with both the legal and the technical proficiency in-house to successfully represent your interests and enforce your IP rights. This could be directly, in cooperation with leading law firms, or providing litigation and technical support to other counsel or trusted representatives before the authorities.
The legal practice serves all industries with advice and assistance related to IP. This includes due diligence, drafting and negotiation of contracts or licensing agreements, or Data Protection, marketing law and other compliance matters. We also advise on e-commerce, litigation, domain name conflict resolution, customs surveillance and counterfeit prevention, among other areas. Zacco has successfully represented international clients in proceedings before national courts and the European Court of Justice.
Digital Brands and Security
With a significant portion of IP infringement now taking place online, we have introduced services to help clients stay ahead of new and emerging threats to both physical and digital IP. Our Digital Brands team can actively monitor your IP and brand rights online, assisting with registration and securing of traditional and emerging domains, and identifying and removing potential counterfeits or infringements across online marketplaces, social media and the metaverse. We also provide cybersecurity training and testing, digital forensics and secure software development services.
IP 360: The Future of Intellectual Property
Zacco takes care of our clients’ innovation, identity and digital assets – everything that you literally cannot put your finger on. We help define them, evaluate them, release their hidden value and protect them, both now and in the future.
The world changes, and so do we. Zacco continuously evolves to best serve the changing needs of IP. Digitalisation means traditional borders or sectors no longer apply and we have broadened our scope of services to meet the implications, threats and opportunities that emerge.
More than 150 years of innovative thinking
We have a long history of protecting, monetising and enforcing IP, and list many leading brands and innovators as clients. Our focus on close collaboration, technical expertise and high quality makes Zacco one of Europe’s leading IP solutions specialists.