The Legal 500

France

Administrative and public law

Other recommended firms - ranked: tier 1

Bird & Bird

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EU, competition and distribution

Other recommended firms - ranked: tier 1

Bird & Bird

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Employment

Employment - ranked: tier 3

Bird & Bird

Bird & Bird has an ‘exceptional’ team that ‘delivers expert and perfectly tailored business advice’ with a ‘fast turn around’. The 15-lawyer practice particularly assists leading international and French IT, telecoms and pharmaceutical corporations with restructuring and collective employment law issues and recently advised Albany International on collective redundancy issues. SFR-Numericable, Danaher, HanesBrands and Aptalis Pharmaceutical are key clients. The team is co-headed by Alexandra Stocki and Benjamine Fiedler, who provides ‘exceptional negotiating skills for high-stakes and critical business initiatives and brings incalculable value to clients’ organisations’. Other key names include Nathalie Devernay and counsel Chris Ivey, who ‘is truly irreplaceable, detailed and highly precise, yet highly commercially attuned and practical’.

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Mergers and acquisitions

Other recommended firms - ranked: tier 2

Bird & Bird

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Real estate

Other recommended firms - ranked: tier 1

Bird & Bird

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Tax

Other recommended firms - ranked: tier 1

Bird & Bird

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The regions

The regions - ranked: tier 1

Bird & Bird Lyon, Paris

Bird & Bird has its main French office in Paris and a secondary office of 40 lawyers and professionals in Lyon, which is managed by David Malcoiffe.

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France: Dispute resolution

International arbitration

Other recommended firms - ranked: tier 1

Bird & Bird

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France: Industry focus

Healthcare and life sciences

Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences - ranked: tier 2

Bird & Bird

Bird & Bird has ‘a highly skilled team to handle patent litigation in the pharmaceutical field’ and its ‘very creative, business and client-oriented’ lawyers ‘always provide an excellent service’. On the corporate side, Emmanuel Porte recently joined the firm from Redlink and advised on a number of partnerships and fundraising matters for the development of novel therapeutic methodologies. In notable contentious work, Annet van Hooft successfully represented a major pharmaceutical company in ICC arbitration proceedings arising from the licensing for the commercial production of a blockbuster drug. Additionally, Ariane Mole frequently advises on data protection regulations and the new obligations attached to the GDPR. Yves Bizollon ‘always gives sound and practical advice in a timely fashion’ and jointly heads the patent litigation team with Anne-Charlotte le Bihan; commercial partner Alexandre Vuchot is also recommended.

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IT, telecoms and the Internet

Industry focus: IT, telecoms and the Internet - ranked: tier 1

Bird & Bird

The IT and communications department at Bird & Bird handles IT litigation, cloud computing, big data, telecoms and fintech issues for clients such as Sodexo, Equinix, Mylan and Essilor. Practice head Stéphane Leriche specialises in technology partnerships and transactions while Ariane Mole leads the data protection sub-team with Merav Griguer, who recently joined from Dunaud Clarenc Combles & Associés. The Lyon-based Géraldine Arbant assisted Mylan with the development of a mobile application for medical use, and dispute resolution partner Marion Barbier represented a client in negotiations for a new agreement with one of its customers following the breach of a licensing agreement through its booking platform. In other highlights, the team assisted a major optical lens manufacturer with the implementation of multijurisdictional whistleblowing measures, including advice on data protection and labour law regulations. Cathie-Rosalie Joly joined from Ulys.

Leading individuals

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Luxury goods

Industry focus: Luxury goods - ranked: tier 1

Bird & Bird

Bird & Bird’s luxury team ‘is one of the best in Europe in the areas of privacy, intellectual property and distribution’, thereby impressing with a ‘business approach that is practical and of very high quality’. Among recent successes are Ariane Mole’s advice to a high-end couturier on the deployment of a mobile payment service across its French stores, and IT specialist Stéphane Leriche’s assistance to a ready-to-wear leather company regarding a tactical agreement with a global management consulting firm. On the distribution side, Alexandre Vuchot assisted a fashion company with the setting up of its first franchised outlet in France; and contentious work included advice on trade mark and design infringement matters. Other key names are IP specialists Marc Schuler, Anne-Charlotte le Bihan and Géraldine Arbant who is based in Lyon.

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France: Intellectual property

Patents

Intellectual property: Patents - ranked: tier 1

Bird & Bird

Bird & Bird ‘has a highly skilled team for pharmaceutical patent litigation matters which always provides helpful and appropriate advice’. Practice co-head Yves Bizollon, who stands out for his ‘proactive and pragmatic approach’, and ‘well-prepared’ counsel Jean-Baptise Thiénot recently represented Actelion in revocation proceedings against Icos with regards to its patent in the innovative pulmonary arterial hypertension medical space. In the technology sector, Anne-Charlotte le Bihan is representing Thomson Licensing in several infringement proceedings against Samsung, and counsel Charles Tuffreau teamed up with Bizollon to advise Chavanoz Industrie on the appeal stage of a patent suit against sunscreen manufacturer Mermet with regards to a high-tech yarn used to manufacture fire-retardant blinds and curtains. Also notable is counsel and patent attorney Laurent Labatte who regularly handles complex litigation cases with a particular strength in the electronics and telecoms spaces.

Leading individuals

Next generation lawyers

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Trade marks, designs and copyright

Trade marks, designs and copyright - ranked: tier 2

Bird & Bird

Bird & Bird is ‘excellent in all respects’ and clients ‘are completely satisfied with the service’ provided by the intellectual property team, which consists of four partners and handles portfolio management, transactional support and contentious mandates. Anne-Charlotte le Bihan defended electronics retailer Calor and the SEB group in a design infringement litigation brought by Babyliss with regards to the launch of a new hair curler. In the copyright space, Marc Schuler is representing longstanding client Dailymotion in privacy rights proceedings regarding the use of the image of a former France Télévision entertainer as well as providing pre-litigation advice against a ‘fake views’ service, and coordinating potential action against adblockers. Practice head Yves Bizollon successfully defended Electrolux in copyright infringement proceedings filed by an architect and conceptual artist claiming ownership of a concept. In Lyon, the name to note is Géraldine Arbant.

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France: Private equity

Venture and growth capital

Private equity: venture and growth capital - ranked: tier 2

Bird & Bird

Bird & Bird has particular strength in the life sciences sector. Emmanuelle Porte, who joined from Redlink, jointly heads the team with David Malcoiffe, who is based in the Lyon office. Recent highlights include assisting digital health company Tilak Healthcare with its Series A fundraising with Ibionext Growth Fund and advising Eurolist medtech player Pixium Vision on setting up a venture loan with Kreos. The team also acted for Seb Alliance on its investment in Feeligreen, a company specialising in cosmetic and healthcare innovation. Sodexo, Biophytis and Domain Therapeutics are also clients.

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