MAARTEN MEULENBELT focuses his practice on EU regulatory affairs, litigation, and competition law issues affecting the life sciences sector in Europe.
In addition to advising on EU life sciences matters, Maarten also handles competition litigation at the EU and national levels. He has extensive litigation experience before the EU Courts, national courts and competition authorities, the European Commission, and national regulatory authorities in several EU Member States. Maarten has significant competition law experience in a variety of sectors.
Maarten has acted before the EU courts to defend regulatory data protection for combination products, to ensure the compatibility of national pricing laws with EU law, and to ensure the highest science-based standard of review by the European Medicines Agency. He represented one of the intervening parties in Case T-738/16 on the compatibility of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield with EU data privacy laws. Before EU and national courts, and regulatory and competition agencies, Maarten is acting to uphold the EU marketing authorization system, and to ensure that decisions on market access and pricing of pharmaceuticals and medical devices reflect the value and risk of product development.
Maarten writes and speaks widely on legal issues affecting the life sciences industry and is featured prominently in the life sciences and competition rankings of leading bar publications, such as Chambers, Who’s Who Legal, and Best Lawyers. Most recently, Maarten was featured in Chambers Europe 2021. Sources in the previous 2020 edition describe him as “very good” and “a nice man to work with.” Clients in the 2019 edition report that he has “a huge knowledge of case law” and “is very knowledgeable about the industry and can help in relation to a number of different areas.” In the 2018 edition, clients underline that “it is always a pleasure to work with him. He is very knowledgeable and provides pragmatic and usable advice.” Clients also comment that “he is great on strategy and knowing the law as it pertains to our case. He also has a great network of contacts within the industry” (Chambers Europe 2017). Maarten has been recognized in the LMG Life Sciences Guide for regulatory and non-IP litigation enforcement. Who’s Who Legal 2018 ranked him as one of the top five “Thought Leaders” in Europe for Life Sciences. Sources describe Maarten as “outstanding,” “a prominent practitioner in the space,” and their “first choice” thanks to his “extensive experience and expertise.” Most recently, he has been named a “Thought Leader — Global Elite” for Life Sciences in Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders 2019 and has been recognized in the 2022 edition of Best Lawyers in Belgium for Competition/Antitrust and Regulatory Law.