Francois obtained a Master’s degree in electromechanical engineering at the KU Leuven in Belgium in 1994. After starting his career in private practice and obtaining the qualifications as a Belgian and European patent attorney, he moved to Chicago, where he managed the operations of Edital (now part of Corsearch) and obtained a Master in Business Administration at the Kellogg School of Management. In 2003, he returned to Belgium and co-headed the patent practice of Gevers. In 2010, he joined a big 4 to start a service line on incentives for research and development activities. This included advising clients on the application of patent box regimes. He re-joined Gevers in April 2020 as co-head of the patent practice. Francois is specialized in mechanics, ICT and computer implemented inventions.
He advises clients on IP strategy, valuation & implementation of a 360 approach (identify – protect – monetize – enforce). Francois is a board member of the Belgian Group of AIPPI, the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property, a member of LES, the Licensing Executive Society, and an active member of beAngels, connecting brilliant entrepreneurs with experienced investors. He is native French & Dutch speaking and is also proficient in English.
