Karen Ongena

In 2009, Karen founded IP Porta, now one of the most experienced and dedicated IP, IT & media law firms in Flanders, Belgium.

Karen earned her stripes in technology and media cases, as well as in cases involving intellectual property rights. Since 2009 she has been recommended in the "Legal 500" and "Chambers" (Intellectual Property, Belgium).

Clients appreciate her incisive analyses and ability to synthesize, her openness and clear communication style, her writing skills, enterprising spirit and strategic insight.

Education, experience and publications

  • Law degree: KULAK and KU Leuven (1997), Paris Panthéon-Sorbonne (1996) 
  • LL.M. from Cambridge University (1998)
  • Loeff Claeys Verbeke – Allen & Overy (1998-2004), Ambos Law (2005-2009), IP Porta (2009-heden)
  • Member of the Commission for the Accreditation of Belgian Patent Attorneys
  • Third-Party Decider on Domain Names (CEPANI) 
  • Lecturer "Law for Innovation" at the Antwerp Management School (2013-2016)
  • Practical course on Intellectual Property at KULAK (2006-2019)
  • Publications: multiple publications on seizure of counterfeit goods, copyright, trademark law, gambling and market practices

“Karen Ongena has a very wide and incredibly in-depth knowledge of all IP matters, which she combines with a very good understanding of technical issues.”

Chambers Europe2022

“Clients appreciate the firm’s ‘good follow-up and quick response to questions’. The ‘carefully prepared and eloquent’ Karen Ongena, ‘combines many years of experience with openness and a positive attitude’. Another source highlights her ‘good analysis and synthesis’.”

Chambers2019

“Karen Ongena climbs the rankings due to impressive feedback from market sources, who laud her all-round IP knowledge, good communication skills and strategic thinking.”

Chambers2010

Laurence Hubert

Laurence has been a part of IP Porta from the start. She has over 20 years of experience as a lawyer in IP, privacy and general commercial law. Together with Karen, she leads the IP Porta team.

She has strong assets: Laurence is bilingual, has a broad legal background and outstanding persuasive skills. Because of her ability to take a helicopter view on disputes, she invariably chooses the right solution-oriented approach. She understands the mindset of entrepreneurs.

In addition to drafting and negotiating your contracts, devising legal strategies and conducting court proceedings, Laurence can also assist you in reaching a mediated solution.

Education, experience and publications

  • Law degree: UGent (1999)  
  • De Schrijver-Vandegehuchte (1999-2003), Amboslaw (2005-2009), IP Porta (2009-heden) 
  • Accredited mediator in civil and commercial matters (UGent and UAntwerp 2014)
  • Collaborative lawyer (2020)  
  • Arbitrator  
  • Local Ombudsman in consumer disputes with lawyers (2016-present)

“The 'bright and accurate' Laurence Hubert stands out for being a proactive thinker and very pleasant to work with.”

Chambers2010

“We’ve been working with Laurence since the start of our production company in 2010. Laurence has seen every side of our story: from intellectual matters to privacy matters. She was always there to listen and guide, always seeking mediation before confrontation. She has helped us with a wide number of matters and redirects us to colleagues if she knows they can help us better. It has been a pleasure working with her in the past and I’m sure we will continue to work together in the future!”

Geronimo Productions

“Samenwerken met IP Porta, in het bijzonder met Laurence Hubert als expert, is een plezier en dit omwille van meerdere reden: de snelheid, accuraatheid, de diepgaande kennis van de complexe materie en de persoonlijke benadering, zorgen voor een onderling vertrouwen.”

V. BobelynVBK België

Michael Kinyentama

Michael joined IP Porta in 2014. He has a passion for creativity and technology. You will find him to be an expert in traditional intellectual property rights, as well as new technologies and creative industries. Patents, R&D projects and copyrights are his forte.

Michael attaches great importance to understanding the entrepreneur and his business, the researcher and his invention, and the author and his creation. He prefers to work with risk-takers, thinkers, dreamers and tenacious fighters.

He prepares contracts, conducts negotiations and provides assistance in disputes. In procedures, he always looks for – and finds – the most effective arguments.

Education, experience and publications

  • Master of Laws: KU Leuven (2013), Université Jean Moulin III in Lyon (2012)
  • LL.M. in intellectual property law and competition law from the Université de Liège (2014)
  • Guest lecturer "Software, Intellectual Property Rights & Information Technology" (2017-present) and "Privacy Law" (2019-present), University Colleges Leuven-Limburg (KU Leuven Association)

Sofie De Pourcq

Sofie joined the IP Porta team in September 2018, when she left the academic world for the legal profession.

Sofie has excellent writing skills which come in handy every day as a lawyer. She strives to use plain and simple language in her letters, advice and conclusions. She also likes the challenge of thoroughly understanding your case so that your interests can be optimally defended. 

Education, experience and publications

  • Master in de rechten: KULAK en UGent (2012), Université Catholique de Louvain (2011)
  • Doctoraat KU Leuven, campus KULAK Kortrijk (2018) ‘De bescherming van ondernemingen tegen oneerlijke handelspraktijken in de contractuele verhouding’.
  • Multiple publications on trade and market practices.
  • TPR award for the comparative-law article on the liability of booking sites for abusive reviews (2014).
  • Gastspreker op verschillende studiedagen.

Ida Pauwels

Ida trad in 2023 in dienst bij IP Porta als Office Manager. Na het afronden van haar opleiding Office Management, met een specialisatie in Bedrijfsvertaler-Tolk aan de Hogeschool Gent, deed zij enkele jaren ervaring op als Sales Assistant. In deze rol ontwikkelde zij belangrijke vaardigheden zoals snel schakelen en oplossingsgericht denken, wat haar organisatorische kwaliteiten verder versterkte.

Bij IP Porta is Ida verantwoordelijk voor onder andere de boekhouding, marketing en social media. Door deze taken op zich te nemen, stelt zij de vennoten en hun medewerkers in staat zich volledig te richten op hun kerntaken en hun cliënten optimaal te ondersteunen. Ida houdt van een uitdaging en zoekt actief naar manieren om processen te optimaliseren en efficiënter te werken.

Naast deze veelzijdige taken is Ida voor veel cliënten het eerste aanspreekpunt van het kantoor, omdat zij de telefoongesprekken beantwoordt. Met haar vriendelijke en professionele aanpak staat zij u altijd met een glimlach te woord.

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