About the firm’s offer

Based on my extensive experience I am focusing on advice and representation in disputes relating to trademark, design and unfair competition law. I file and prosecute trademark and design applications in Germany and at the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (Community Trademarks and Community Designs). Further, I manage trademark and design portfolios on behalf of my clients and I assist in trademark and design transactions and licensing.

About me

I am dealing with intellectual property matters in an international context since more than 10 years now.

As lawyer I like to be in direct contact with my clients and learn about their business. I believe that it is important to listen to my clients and to find tailored solutions which suits their business size and needs best.

In my advice I give the company’s framework and goals special attention and aim at finding solutions with the right cost-benefit ratio.

I like to sit at the bargaining table for my clients as much as I like to go to court and defend my client’s interests. I take special pride in having negotiated already some agreements where negotiations got stuck before and an agreement seemed unlikely to be reached.

As private person I like being outdoors, doing sports or rehearsing with my pop choir.

2007-2014 Associate / Senior Associate at Hogan Lovells International LLP (until 2010 Lovells LLP), Hamburg, with the following focus:

  • Representation of clients in and out of court in trademark and design infringement matters and unfair competition matters
  • Representing clients in application, opposition and cancellation proceedings relating to trademarks before the German Patent and Trademark Office and the Federal Patent Court
  • Trademark clearing searches
  • Customs applications / Customs seizures to hinder the import of counterfeit goods
  • Checking advertisings and promotional measures on unfair competition issues
  • Advice on trademark strategy

2004-2007 Associate at Hogan Lovells, Alicante, with the following focus:

  • Advising on Community trademark and Community design applications
  • Filing Community trademark and Community design applications
  • Trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings before OHIM
  • Trademark clearing searches
  • Advice on global trademark strategy

2004 Associate at Freshfields, Munich, with the following focus:

  • Advice and representation in trademark, design and unfair competition law matters
  • Checking advertisings and promotional measures on unfair competition issues
  • Due Diligence in the areas of copyright, IT and general contract law
  • Appeal to the European Court of First Instance in a Community trademark matter

2014 Course to become a certified lawyer specializing in Intellectual property („Fachanwalt Gewerblicher Rechtsschutz”)

2006 Residential Course in Intellectual Property Law, University of Bristol, England

2003 Second State Exam / Frankfurt am Main, Germany

2001-2003 Legal training at the District Court Frankfurt am Main, Germany

2001 First State Exam, Mannheim, Germany

1999-2001 Studies at the University of Mannheim, Germany

1998/1999 Master of Comparative Law, University of Mannheim, Germany / University of Adelaide, Australia

1997/1998 University of Burgos, Spain

1995-1997 Studies at the Christian-Albrechts-University in Kiel, Germany

2004-2007 Associate at Hogan Lovells Alicante, Spain

1998/1999 Master of Comparative Law, Mannheim, Germany, and Adelaide, Australia

1997/1998 Studies in Burgos, Spain

1992/1993 Stay in San Francisco, USA

German: Native

English: Proficient knowledge

Spanish: Fluent

French: Basic knowledge

INTA (International Trademark Association)

GRUR (German Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property)

HAV (Hamburg Lawyer’s Society)

Others about me:

„Though a more junior member of the team, Bettina Clefsen, is gaining client recognition as a skilled lawyer and impresses with the quality of her work.“

„Senior associate Bettina Clefsen continues to impress clients, who describe her as “always approachable, friendly and helpful.”

Ranked in Chambers 2013 and 2014 among notable professionals.

„Bettina Clefsen of b/cl recently opened her own practice and offers advice on trade marks, including filing, monitoring and infringement issues. She also advises on design and unfair competition matters.”