Maartje is an attorney-at-law at Axon Lawyers with a main focus on the food, feed and pharma sector. She also regularly writes on developments in food and feed law for the blog foodhealthlegal.eu.
Maartje’s daily practice involves regulatory work, such as the classification of various food and feed products, including feed additives, novel foods and flavourings, and advising clients on health and nutrition claims. She also regularly drafts and reviews commercial contracts such as licensing agreements, both within the pharmaceuticals sector, the food and feed sector, and beyond. Advising about the protection of her client’s intellectual property rights forms an important part of that work.
Maartje holds a cum laude master’s degree in Dutch Law from Radboud University Nijmegen, with a focus on intellectual property. She gained relevant work experience at a publisher specialising in IP rights.
In her approach, Maartje is down-to-earth with a keen eye for detail, while her reliable and approachable manner is combined with a genuine enthusiasm for getting to the bottom of a topic. In her spare time, she enjoys spinning, going on city trips and participating in pub quizzes.
Practice areas
Advertising and Claims
In sectors such as medical devices, cosmetics, food, feed, dietary supplements, and related products, the way you communicate about your products is subject to strict and ever-evolving regulations. Whether it concerns nutrition claims, health claims, environmental & sustainability claims, or beauty claims, what you say matters both commercially and legally. Getting it right builds consumer trust. Getting it wrong can lead to regulatory action and reputational damage.
Commercial Contracts
In life sciences, commercial relationships rarely follow a standard template. Whether you are licensing technology, partnering with a research institution, entering a distribution arrangement, or working with a contract manufacturer, the contracts that govern these relationships must account for sector-specific risks such as regulatory change, product liability, intellectual property ownership, data protection, and supply chain continuity.
Intellectual Property and Licensing
Across the life sciences, intellectual property (IP) is a critical asset. Whether you are developing a new pharmaceutical compound, a medical device, a biotech innovation, or a novel food ingredient, protecting and leveraging your IP is essential for long-term commercial success.
Litigation
Disputes in the life sciences sector arise in many forms: product liability claims, complaints, contractual breakdowns, regulatory enforcement actions, intellectual property conflicts, freedom of information procedures, or challenges to product authorisations. Whatever the nature of the dispute, effective litigation in this sector requires more than legal skill. It requires a thorough understanding of the technical and regulatory context in which the conflict arose, as that context often determines both the strength of the legal arguments and the practical outcome of a case.
Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
Life sciences companies regularly find themselves on the receiving end of government action. Regulatory authorities such as the Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ), the Dutch Food Safety Authority (NVWA), the Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP), and the Netherlands Authority Consumers and Markets (ACM) have broad powers to investigate, sanction, and impose corrective measures. At the same time, companies may face freedom of information requests at governmental authorities or need to comply with other legal obligations that risk exposing confidential business data, or must navigate strict procurement rules when contracting with public institutions. In each of these situations, you are dealing with a government body that operates under its own legal framework, and you need a legal partner who knows both that framework and your sector inside out.
Spin-out and Starter Advisory
Spin-outs and life sciences starters sit at the crossroads of company formation, intellectual property, financing, and regulatory compliance. Whether you are a researcher spinning out a venture from a university or knowledge institute, or an entrepreneur launching a life sciences startup, the early decisions you make on corporate structure, IP-ownership, funding, and team incentives will shape the trajectory of your company for years to come. Getting these foundations right from day one is a necessity.
Related publications
As a partner of StartLife, Axon assisted a feed company with the regulatory qualification of its technology. Our reasoned opinion serves as a key document for the company’s funding activities.
Axon supports pharmaceutical companies in licensing their products across Europe and beyond. We draft and negotiate licence agreements tailored to each market, helping clients maximise the value of their intellectual property.
Axon assists medical technology companies in structuring their collaborations with hospitals and universities. We draft and negotiate cooperation agreements that protect our clients’ IP while fostering innovation.