Dirk Visser began his law career in 1996, at Stibbe. In 2004 he was made partner at Klos Morel Vos & Schaap. In 2015, along with Jacqueline Schaap and Paul Kreijger, he founded Visser Schaap & Kreijger.
He litigates in preliminary relief proceedings through to the European Court of Justice. He also has mediation experience, and has so far brought many disputes to a successful conclusion through mediation, for example as an expert appointed by the Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal.
"Ace academic and swashbuckling litigator"
(WTR 1000 2015)
In addition, since 2003, he has held the position of Professor of Intellectual Property Law at Leiden University. He is co-author of the legal handbook Copyright Law (Auteursrecht) and editor of Text & Commentary Intellectual Property (Tekst & Commentaar Intellectuele Eigendom). He is also the author of countless books and articles on copyright law, trade mark law, database law, image rights law, related rights, and intellectual property law in general. He is in high demand as a speaker and has made ten IP video shorts ('knowledge clips IP' (‘kennisclips IE’)).
In 1997 he was awarded his doctorate, with a thesis on copyright law and the internet, part of which he wrote during his time at the Max Planck Institute for Intellectual Property and Competition Law in Munich.
Some testimonials for Dirk Visser:
Dirk Visser is the best copyright lawyer where litigation before the Dutch Courts and also the CJEU is concerned. Very sharp, quick on his feet, very efficient, knows everybody, and is involved in all relevant developments where litigation regarding online copyright infringement. (Legal 500 2020). Copyright expert Dirk Visser of Visser Schaap & Kreijger impresses sources with his creativity and pragmatism. Others confirm: "Absolutely stellar on copyright law." (Chambers 2019) He thinks five steps ahead and is very knowledgeable and down to earth." (Chambers Europe 2015). Several sources describe him as an "important lawyer in this field" who is "brilliant at pleadings" (Chambers 2017) and "a walking encyclopaedia with extraordinary IP expertise" and "a most trusted adviser" (Chambers 2019). Another source enthuses that he is "absolutely stellar on copyright law."Dirk Visser is a "well-known figure" in IP and is respected for both his academic and commercial work. Sources value his "gift with words - he manages to translate really difficult concepts into something everyone understands." He covers copyright and trade mark law (Chambers Europe 2014). The "excellent" Dirk Visser is praised for his "fast and effective" approach to cases (Chambers Europe 2013). Dirk Visser is a "well-known figure" in IP and is respected for both his academic and commercial work. Sources value his "gift with words - he manages to translate really difficult concepts into something everyone understands." “Ace academic and swashbuckling litigator Dirk Visser” (WTR 1000 2015). A walking encyclopaedia of case law and a jurisprudence sage. “Inspirational, quick minded and intelligent”, he combines sublime academic aptitude with a finely tuned practical understanding of the law. (WTR 1000 2017).
