Creates Asia-Pacific - Europe IP powerhouse
- The deal sees The Rouse Group expand further in Europe and build out its expertise before the European, Dutch and Belgian Patent Offices and in countries with UPC courts
- Arnold & Siedsma is a century-old European IP firm with specialisms in patents, trade marks and litigation
- This merger is the second piece of M&A activity for Rouse in 2025 following the announcement that The Wrays Group joined the Rouse Group earlier this month
The Rouse Group ("Rouse"), a leading international IP services business, is further cementing and building on its position in Europe through a merger with European heavyweight Arnold & Siedsma, an established IP firm with 12 offices across the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.
The merger, which was completed in September 2025, creates broader geographic coverage for existing clients and aligns with Rouse's objective of integrating and aligning IP services globally. Through the deal, Rouse will bolster its ability to represent its clients at the Dutch, Belgian and European Patent Offices (EPO) and Unified Patent Court (UPC) and deliver enhanced patent and litigation capabilities. Prior to the merger, Rouse had offices in 16 jurisdictions, including Wrays' Australian presence.
Arnold & Siedsma clients will meanwhile benefit from access to Rouse's expansive and growing network of services and expertise in, trade marks, enforcement, patents and disputes across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe. As well as collaborating to offer enhanced client services in new markets, this merger will enable both organizations to bolster investment in technology, leverage data more effectively, and utilize shared technology platforms, which was a major rationale for Rouse and Arnold & Siedsma to come together.
The ultimate objective is to create a fully integrated and seamless organisation; however, for now, Arnold & Siedsma—which currently employs nearly 170 people across Europe—will maintain its status as an independent brand within the Rouse Group.
Luke Minford, Chief Executive Officer at Rouse, said: "Europe is a hugely important region strategically for us. Through the addition of Arnold & Siedsma to the Rouse Group, we can continue executing our vision to become the first truly global and integrated IP services firm, combining capabilities and services across geographies. A&S has proven and well-established credentials across several important markets in Europe, and we're excited to be able to deliver additional value to our international clients through this deal."
Steve Duxbury, Managing Partner at Arnold & Siedsma said, "Arnold & Siedsma has been a regional leader for decades and, with Rouse, we'll be taking our business to the next level. We have long acknowledged the need to evolve in response to the changing IP services landscape to better meet our clients' needs. While we previously lacked the ideal partner, we have now found that fit with Rouse. Their values align strongly with our own, and we're confident that together we'll be able to take advantage of our complementary but different skills, capabilities and perspectives."
The Arnold & Siedsma merger is another step forward in the Rouse Group's global expansion plans. It follows Australian IP firm Wrays joining the Rouse Group in August 2025 and Swedish management consultancy, Konsert Strategy & IP and European IP consultancy, aera in 2024.
The Rouse Group provides clients with a frictionless, full-service IP offering, with unique scale and capability across Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Rouse was advised by Investec, Pinsent Masons and Grant Thornton.