Michael Schandorf Sørensen

Partner at Zacco
Ranked in Denmark
IAM Research

The Patent 1000 focuses exclusively on patent practice and has firmly established itself as the definitive 'go-to' resource for those seeking world-class legal patent expertise.

Recommended - Individuals: prosecution

Zacco is widely applauded for its specialists in an array of fields. With such capability, its services are adapted to each client and for each task that may arise. Patrons have a positive outlook on the firm and trust that matters are dealt with diligently and properly. “The team comes wholeheartedly recommended to anyone seeking an excellent IP service provider.” On the mechanics front is Thomas Sundien. “Clients continue to be satisfied by Sundien’s strong understanding of complex details relating to mechanical issues, meticulous drafting work and vast knowledge of the field.” An engineer with an academic background in applied physics, “Camilla Rendal Nielsen offers trustworthy and creative strategies during patent prosecution.” A telecommunications expert, Nielsen is a key point of contact for a wide array of players in Europe, China, and the United States. Tomas Wässingbo draws on in-house experience at Sony to offer his services to those within the telecommunications technology arena. With over 15 years in the field, Wässingbo utilises his time to offer comprehensive patent portfolio management, strategic assistance and litigation support around the world. Molecular biologist Michael Schandorf Sørensen “is one of the best European patent attorneys. Creative and with particular know-how on obtaining the best results for clients, Sørensen draws on a broad perspective of both US and European patent law during strategy meetings. He is great with customers and a true pleasure to work with.” Also on deck is biotechnology and chemistry ace Casper Struve, a favoured choice among pharmaceuticals companies seeking litigation support. Struve draws on his extensive expertise and time as a research chemist at biotechnology company PreciSense A/S to handle technically complex cases. Chemical engineer Pernille Thorsboe offers her assistance in contentious and non-contentious matters relating to food technology, biochemistry, organic chemistry and pharmaceuticals. Bolstering the group’s technical capabilities, IAM Patent 1000 newcomers Anders Fredriksson and Elmin Tutkur are highly praised: “Fredriksson is highly recommended for his filing and opposition work. He utilises a strong commercial understanding of software and mechanics, paired with seamless cooperation and in-depth knowledge. Tutkur transforms large amounts of data and complex details into straightforward suggestions, and relays his findings in a concise manner to various internal stakeholders. Able to stick to a tight deadline, he is also experienced in patentability assessments for computer-implemented and AI inventions. Additionally, he drafts superb, well-written applications. Tutkur goes above and beyond for his clientele, and it is a joy to work with him.”

Michael Schandorf Sørensen's Profile

Michael Schandorf Sørensen has an MSc and a PhD in molecular biology from the University of Aarhus. Mr Schandorf Sørensen has worked in IP counselling since 2006. Before entering the IP field, he worked as a scientist and senior scientist in the biotechnology industry for approximately a decade in the field of target discovery and validation. He is the co-inventor of a combinatorial library screening technology.

Mr Schandorf Sørensen has solid scientific knowledge with a wide range of technical disciplines, including recombinant protein expression, vector technology, combinatorial libraries, gene transfer, retrovirology, assay development, compound screening and flow cytometry.

Mr Schandorf Sørensen’s technical experience is within the fields of biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, epigenetics and cell biology. He has considerable experience in drafting and prosecuting patent applications, particularly in the field of diagnostics, medical uses in general, immunotherapy, biologics and stem cell applications. He is also experienced in drafting opinions on patentability, freedom-to-operate analyses and advising clients in the strategic use of intellectual property.

Previously, Mr Schandorf Sørensen was the key accounts manager for life sciences for one of Scandinavia’s largest research institutions. He joined Zacco in 2012 and re-joined after a short period at Novozymes in 2015.

Firm Profile

Zacco is an international full-service IP solutions and brand protection specialist, with around 125 authorised patent attorneys and 75 authorised trademark and design attorneys, operating globally and in most sectors. Our combined aim is to view the world as our customers do, building practical strategies that cover their IP, brand character and content.

Zacco became a part of the OpSec Group in 2023 so we are now around 1300 experts. Together we help organisations to develop, manage and protect the value of their IP throughout its lifecycle. Combining physical and digital brand protection solutions to bring authenticity and assurance, from the creation of new assets and identities, to monetisation of rights and content, to protection against infringement and abuse.

Zacco, and many of our colleagues, regularly achieve Top Tier rankings and recommendations from Managing Intellectual Property, World Trademark Review, Intellectual Asset Management and The Legal 500, which we believe independently verifies our commitment to quality, excellence and innovation.

Patent, Trademark and Design Prosecution

Our international presence means a single point of contact can handle IP prosecution in multiple jurisdictions. Many of our patent attorneys are authorised EPAs so we have an expert ready to advise you on nearly all current and emerging fields of technology. As a client, you will find a skilled and knowledgeable practitioner able to help you secure, monetise and enforce your ideas, whether you work physically in chemistry, greentech, mechanics, materials or biotech, or digitally in digitalisation, software, AI or machine learning, among other areas. We also provide many IP portfolio management and in-sourced services, such as in-house paralegals.

Our trademark and design practice assists all industries with filing and prosecution, availability and infringement opinions and has a special focus on EU trademark practice, including oppositions, cancellations and appeals before the EUIPO.

We cover ten European jurisdictions directly including the EUIPO/EPO, the United Kingdom, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Austria and Switzerland, and operate internationally through a comprehensive network of trusted long-term global partners.

Litigation and Disputes

When in need of expertise in IP litigation and dispute matters, clients can rely on Zacco. We are renowned experts in IP, with both the legal and the technical proficiency in-house to successfully represent your interests and enforce your IP rights. This could be directly, in cooperation with leading law firms, or providing litigation and technical support to other counsel or trusted representatives before the authorities.

The legal practice serves all industries with advice and assistance related to IP. This includes due diligence, drafting and negotiation of contracts or licensing agreements, or Data Protection, marketing law and other compliance matters. We also advise on e-commerce, litigation, domain name conflict resolution, customs surveillance and counterfeit prevention, among other areas. Zacco has successfully represented international clients in proceedings before national courts and the European Court of Justice.

Digital Brands and Security

With a significant portion of IP infringement now taking place online, we have introduced services to help clients stay ahead of new and emerging threats to both physical and digital IP. Our Digital Brands team can actively monitor your IP and brand rights online, assisting with registration and securing of traditional and emerging domains, and identifying and removing potential counterfeits or infringements across online marketplaces, social media and the metaverse. We also provide cybersecurity training and testing, digital forensics and secure software development services.

IP 360: The Future of Intellectual Property

Zacco takes care of our clients’ innovation, identity and digital assets – everything that you literally cannot put your finger on. We help define them, evaluate them, release their hidden value and protect them, both now and in the future.

The world changes, and so do we. Zacco continuously evolves to best serve the changing needs of IP. Digitalisation means traditional borders or sectors no longer apply and we have broadened our scope of services to meet the implications, threats and opportunities that emerge.

More than 150 years of innovative thinking

We have a long history of protecting, monetising and enforcing IP, and list many leading brands and innovators as clients. Our focus on close collaboration, technical expertise and high quality makes Zacco one of Europe’s leading IP solutions specialists.

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