Stibbe has continued to spread its influence and grow in Europe. In 2002 the firm formed an alliance with Herbert Smith, which in 2010 added German firm Gleiss Lutz. In 2010 Stibbe itself also opened an office in Luxembourg. Key partners of the firm are Ignace Vernimme and Brigitte Dauwe. They act for two of the three largest generic producers in the country, and last year Vernimme advised Mylan on a multi-jurisdictional case on patents and SPCs for medicines. Also on the patent side the firm recently advised Sumitomo on patent matters against Indspec. In a large copyright case, Dauwe defended the state in the Brussels Court of Appeal against copyright owners regarding lending rights and in matters relating to the electronic ID card project, while in trade marks the firm advised clients including Ferrero, the Benelux Trade Mark Office for IP and Bodyshop.