Michiel Cramwinckel - Associate Partner

Dutch and European Patent Attorney
Masters degree in Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology

"My favourite invention is the "Proximity detector in a handheld device”. The proximity detector is used in a touch-screen interface for portable electronics devices that can sense when an object, such as a person's finger, is approaching. This technology enables me to draw and paint while listening to music using one portable electronics device during my travels in trains and airplanes. A further advantage is that I do not get dirty fingers while making a finger painting. "

Michiel joined Haseltine Lake in 2010, leading Haseltine Lake’s new branch office in The Hague (Netherlands) with colleague Dr Achim Krebs. Michiel previously worked as a patent attorney in industry since 1992. In the last 11 years he worked at a global energy and petrochemical company as a Patent Portfolio Manager and Senior Patent Attorney.

Michiel has extensive experience in patent drafting, prosecution and opposition procedures before the European Patent Office and Dutch patent office. Michiel’s technical fields include chemical industry processes, homogenous and heterogeneous catalysis, refinery processes, oil products, gas to liquids process (Fischer-Tropsch), coal and biomass gasification and power cycles (e.g. IGCC).

Michiel also has substantial expertise in devising and executing strategies for innovative, proprietary and aggressively exploited new technologies. Michiel also has experience in managing patent portfolios, implementing patent strategies, patent mapping and negotiating complex patent cross-licensing deals.
Michiel assists trainees in the preparation for the Practical Skills Chemistry part of the Dutch qualification examination.

Michiel’s first language is Dutch; he is also fluent in English.