People

UPC Representative and European Patent Attorney 

Lieve Coenegrachts (PhD) is a European Patent Attorney and a registered UPC Representative at De Clercq & Partners with strong experience in patent prosecution, opposition and appeal proceedings and strategic IP advisory work in the life sciences sector. She advises innovative companies on the protection, development and optimisation of patent portfolios. 

Lieve holds a Master’s degree and a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from KU Leuven. Her doctoral research focused on bone diseases and was conducted in close collaboration with clinical and industrial partners. She subsequently gained several years of postdoctoral research experience in gynaecologic oncology, further strengthening her background in translational biomedical research. 

Prior to joining De Clercq & Partners in 2021, Lieve worked for several years as a Patent Agent in private practice. She qualified as a European Patent Attorney in 2018 Lieve’s technical expertise spans a broad range of life sciences fields, including molecular biology, cell therapy, genetics, immunology, microbiology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics and biomarker-based technologies. She is regularly involved in freedom-to-operate analyses, IP due diligence, patent landscape studies and long-term portfolio strategy for research-driven companies. 

Alongside her client work, Lieve is recognised for her thorough and analytical approach to patent drafting and prosecution, and for delivering clear and practical IP strategies aligned with her clients’ business objectives.