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Key contacts
CEO: Sidsel Hauge
Group Vice President: Kristina Walls
Group Vice President: Ai-Leen Lim
Quick facts
Established

1897

Number of Partners

65

Number of Practitioners

215

Languages

Chinese – Mandarin and Cantonese, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish and Swedish

Key practice areas
Patent prosecution
Trade mark prosecution - patent & trade mark attorney firms
Trusted Talent
Firm overview

AWA is a leading IP firm with over 370 employees across 22 offices in Belgium, China, Denmark, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

We believe tomorrow is today’s emerging business – rising up from untapped potential within established industries and start-ups. No matter the size or industry, we help our clients create business out of their ideas and innovations.

AWA was founded in 1897 by Swedish engineer Anders Wilhelm Anderson. His initials form our company name and remind us of our proud history.

We supply a full-service offering of IP law services in prosecution, dispute litigation, aftermarket services, legal advice, strategy and commercialisation. Our IP professionals are experts in patents, trademark, design, copyright and domain names.


What sets up apart

Global: AWA has a presence in Europe and Asia with an extensive network of qualified preferred partners all over the world. We can handle your IP needs globally and follow-up in real-time.

Diversity and Colloboration: Our people come from diverse backgrounds with practical industry knowledge. Their technical capability means they understand the small details and how this differentiates you in the marketplace. Our teams comprise engineers working closely with attorneys at law and vice versa. This seamless collaboration ensures that the right skillset and legal knowledge is available and utilised for our client’s innovations. We pride ourselves on our comprehensive trainee programme for future IP leaders.

Strategy: We focus on the long-term – building a business is a journey that requires strategy. We support companies throughout the corporate cycle to protect and enforce IP rights, but to also identify and capture the value of intellectual assets.

Digital Innovation: We live in the digital era and are constantly looking at tools that reduce workload and save time. From the AWA Client Porta, to our domain management services – we are innovating the IP tools of the future.

Employee Owned: AWA is 100% owned by the employees with more than 50% of us choosing to invest or hold shares in the Group. This reflects our personal and long-term commitment to both our firm and our clients.

AWA Asia

Part of the AWA Group, AWA Asia supports and manages international clients’ IP needs throughout the region with a head office in Hong Kong – a location known for its successful business environment, world-class infrastructure and effective legal system.

Our Beijing office is our wholly owned licensed trademark agency, allowing us to file and enforce trademarks directlybefore the China Trademark Office and the administrative authorities, without the need to use local third-party agents.

Today, China is one of the largest IP markets in the world and is increasingly being selected as a key venue for IP litigation by foreign and local entities alike.

AWA Asia has strong value proposition that consists of an East-meets-West approach, with a bilingual and bicultural team of IP professionals (trademark lawyers, patent attorneys and IP strategists). Our international-level service delivery comes with deep local knowledge and is business minded, pragmatic and tailored.

 

Network memberships: AIPPI, APAA, ECTA, epi, FICPI, INTA, The Lawyer Network, LES Scandinavia, MARQUES, Union-IP

Practice Areas & Sector Specialisations

Practice Areas:

  • Copyright
  • Designs
  • IP transactions
  • Life sciences
  • Patent contentious
  • Patent litigation
  • Patent office proceedings
  • Patent prosecution
  • Patent strategy & counseling
  • Trade mark contentious
  • Trade mark litigation
  • Trade mark office proceedings
  • Trade mark prosecution
  • Trade mark strategy & counseling
  • ITC litigation

Sector Expertise:

  • Advertising
  • Aerospace & defence
  • Agriculture
  • Automotive
  • Biotechnology
  • Chemistry
  • Computer technology & services
  • Construction & materials
  • E-commerce
  • Electrical
  • Electronics
  • Fashion & luxury goods
  • FMCG
  • Food & beverage
  • Furniture
  • Healthcare
  • ICT & software
  • Industrials
  • Instruments
  • Internet
  • Life sciences
  • Manufacturing
  • Mechanical
  • Medical device
  • Nanotechnology
  • Pharmaceutical
  • Renewable energy
  • Retail
  • Semiconductors
  • Technology hardware
  • Telecommunication
  • Universities
  • Utilities
Address:
2, Rue de la Faïencerie CH-1227 Carouge,
Geneva
Tel:+46 40 98 51 00 Fax:+46 40 26 05 16 Email:Contact Us Web Address:http://www.awa.com
2026 Edition
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AWA
Overview

AWA is one of the leading IP firms in the Scandinavian region for IP rights protection and portfolio management. It also has a team of lawyers for contentious and non-contentious legal advice. 

The firm has experienced patent attorneys in Switzerland to advise on patent matters in major technical fields such as life sciences, mechanics, and chemistry.  

Notable patent practitioners: Astrid De Ro.  

Notable trademark practitioners: Milana Pantelic.  

Linked Reviews
Trusted Talent

Patent  

The firm represented Selexis SA in assorted freedom-to-operate analysis, contractual renewal and prosecution. It also undertook due diligence and licensing counsel for a biotechnology client.  

Trade mark 

Case highlights include oppositions, enforcement and strategy for the security sector. Portfolio management was also completed for a pharmaceutical client  

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