Basel, Basel, Switzerland
-Over twenty years as lawyer with major international chemical / agro-chemical / seeds / pharmaceutical companies, incl. heading a TM Department - Broad expertise in respect of IP protection/enforcement/litigation, unfair competition and licensing - Adept in identifying actionable infringement, counterfeit, domain name grabbing, unfair competition / passing off cases worldwide; selecting successful and cost-effective methods for resolution - Capable of analyzing facts in the context of a legal framework and providing strategic legal direction to Business/Legal with regard to licensing, litigation and administrative matters - Successfully managed trademark lawyers, paralegal and admins of diverse cultural background - Experience in team leadership, planning/organizing budget and strategy - Ability to perform strong, quick and effective decision-making; strategic thinking; decisive - Work in and contributing to cross-functional Legal/IP/Security teams - Networking/lobbying: Chair of MARQUES and Member of Exec. Team/Council - Deep understanding of how trademarks can give competitive advantage through Ph.D.-thesis - Good communication skills (writing, oral, presenting, negotiating)
Joachim has extensive expertise in contentious and non-contentious trademark and copyright matters, including unfair competition and patents. He manages various trademark portfolios providing comprehensive counseling service, teaming up with the respective business teams on trademark creation, assessed risks in ensuring adequate protection and defense. He drafted and was involved in various licensing agreements, licensing-out trademarks to 3rd parties or internal country organizations. He currently holds TM-responsibility for the Syngenta's House-marks, Seeds, Flowers and Insecticides, plus he oversees Syngenta’s more important TM-infringements/litigations. A significant proportion of his work is devoted to fight anti-counterfeiting, IP/TM-infringements and illegal parallel imports globally, hereby enforcing Syngenta’s proprietary rights by way of Infringement-, Unfair Competition/Passing Off-, criminal-, administrative and custom actions. Numerous cases in all regions are concluded successfully each year, incl. civil and criminal litigation resulting in damages, seizures, imprisonment/fines and destruction of goods. Joachim selects successful and cost-effective methods for resolution, leads/coordinates external lawyers and the conduct of international litigation and he negotiates settlement of such conflicts. He made numerous presentations to the global, regional and local business educating on the value of trademark creation, protection and particularly its enforcement. After 2006 Joachim was deputizing for the Global Trademark Head. He managed and developed seven direct reports, consisting of lawyers/specialists, paralegals and assistants as well as additional temporary personnel of diverse cultural background. Joachim is Vice-Chair of MARQUES, the Association representing TM owners interests in Europe.
9 months activity as TM lawyer (ext.) replacing lawyer on maternity leave
Wahlstation/Rechtsreferendar