Julie Schmitt

Founding Partner

Julie launched Umami Law in 2020 to offer strategic, business‑driven advice to brand owners across Europe and beyond. As a French‑qualified lawyer with more than a fifteen years of experience in EU trade mark and design law, she guides clients from first filings through to complex enforcement, with a particular focus on luxury, beauty, fashion and innovative tech sectors. Fluent in English, French, German and Spanish, she represents clients before the EUIPO, national trade mark offices where permitted, and the General Court in Luxembourg.Julie is admitted to the Paris Bar in France since 2010 and to the Bar in Luxembourg since 2025 (Liste IV).Managing IP recognised Julie as an IP Star in 2025, reflecting her track record on high‑stakes, cross‑border projects and discreet portfolio mandates for leading international brands.Outside the office, Julie swaps case files for recipes. She is passionate about cooking, with a particular love for pastry, and often says that if she had not become a lawyer she would have trained as a pastry chef instead. This attention to detail, balance and finishing touches in the kitchen mirrors the way she approaches brand strategy and complex IP projects in her practice.

Representative experience

Coordinating a multi‑jurisdictional trade mark strategy for a leading global luxury beauty group, covering launches in Europe, Asia and the Americas and aligning protection with anti‑counterfeiting efforts.
Managing a worldwide trade mark and design portfolio for one of the largest confectionery, food and pet care brand owners, including strategic expansion of protection around iconic product lines.
Successfully representing an iconic fashion house in appeal proceedings before the General Court, the EU’s second‑highest court, in a high‑profile trade mark dispute.
Acting for a premium coffee and hospitality group in enforcement proceedings before the General Court in Luxembourg, securing protection for its core brand identity.
Defending a renowned designer in multiple EUIPO design invalidity actions concerning perfume and cosmetic packaging, safeguarding signature product shapes.
Advising a major international insurance group on the restructuring and enforcement of its EU trade mark portfolio, including clearance and rebranding work across more than 50 jurisdictions.
Designing and implementing global filing strategies for high‑end fragrance and fashion brands, with a particular focus on combating dupes and online counterfeiting.
Supporting crypto‑native and Web3 ventures on brand protection, including trade mark filing, defence and enforcement for digitally native projects across key markets.
Leading strategic negotiations to resolve complex trade mark conflicts for purpose‑driven SMEs, enabling continued use of their brands while avoiding disruptive litigation.