Tom De Coster

Tom has acquired extensive experience in advising the firm’s clients on various contentious and non-contentious commercial law matters involving IP rights (including in relation to patents, trademarks, copyright, corporate and trade names) and market practices. Tom has a proven track record in drafting and negotiating agreements relating to all aspects of intellectual property and, more generally, commercial law (agency, distribution, terms and conditions, etc.).

“Tom De Coster’s extensive IP expertise has established his place as an excellent advocate in technology. Clients trust in his ability to “perform a stellar operation behind the scenes, leaving no stone unturned”, and is rightfully lauded for his “fantastic, personable and professional demeanour ”. (IAM Patent 1000 2024)

Work highlights

Tom has advised on a wide range of major transactions. His recent transactions include advising:

• An international glass manufacturing company on the drafting and negotiation of various R&D, license, supply and services agreements with a renowned worldwide electronics technologies conglomerate in relation to a new innovative glass technology which will be revolutionary in the sector
• McDonald’s on the drafting and negotiation of various licensing and other agreements as well as on a large number of copyright, trademark and commercial law matters
• A financial services firm on various EU and Benelux related trademark and licensing issues
• An insurance group on the termination of intra-group IP license agreements and the conclusion of IP assignment agreements in relation to the sale of its Belgian and Dutch insurance businesses
• SWIFT with the drafting and negotiation of various reseller and software acquisition agreements

Tom joined Linklaters in 2010 and has been a Managing Associate in the TMT/IP Practice since 2018.

From July till September 2011, Tom was seconded to TiGenix. From 2015 till 2018, he worked as a teaching assistant at the Catholic University of Leuven. He was seconded to the IP/Dispute Resolution Practice Department of Linklaters in Frankfurt from November till December 2018.

Tom is Linklaters' representative in the IP Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union (AmCham EU).

Tom holds a master’s degree in law from the Catholic University of Leuven (magna cum laude) and a master’s degree in Intellectual Property Rights and ICT Law from the Catholic University of Leuven, Brussels campus (magna cum laude). He also obtained an LL.M at Columbia University in New York City (2014-2015).

He speaks Dutch, English and French.

• De Coster, T., Bauer L., Berry, K. and J. Merdrignac, “Legal update: EU & UK – Platform liability”, Intellectual Property Magazine, September 2021
• De Coster, T., Bauer L., Ellerby, N. and J. Merdrignac, “Copyright Infringement – Is the EU YouTube Case a New Pirate Tale?”, Bloomberg Law, 19 August 2020
• De Coster, T. and Van Den Broecke, P., “Patent Litigation guide”, Chambers & Partners, 2018, 2019 and 2020
• De Coster, T., “The registration of event marks: foul play? Remarks from a freedom of speech and trademark law point of view”, IRDI 2016, issue 4, 284-295
• De Coster, T., “Uitgevers krijgen eigen vergoeding die losstaat van het auteursrecht” (“Publishers receive sui generis compensation unrelated to copyright law”), Jubel, 10 April 2017
• De Coster, T., “Koopjes op kopieerapparaten voor professioneel gebruik” (“Bargains on photocopiers for professional use”), De Juristenkrant 2017, issue 342, 6 (also published on Jubel on 7 March 2017)
• Pauly, D., Van Den Broecke, P., De Coster, T., Kurowska-Tober, E., Debré, P. and Church, P., “Proposals for European-wide protection of trade secrets”, Computers & Law, February/March 2014, Volume 24, Issue 6
• De Coster, T., “De implementatie in de Benelux van het Singaporeverdrag inzake merkenrecht” (“The implementation in the Benelux of the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trade marks”), IRDI 2013, issue 3, 124-135
• De Coster, T., “[Analyse] WK voetbal en merchandising” (“[Analysis] the World Cup football and merchandising”), De Juristenkrant 2014, issue 291, 5