August Debouzy remains one of the premier copyright practices in the French market, standing out for its strong expertise in the tech space. The department’s broad offering includes the negotiation and drafting of licensing agreements, litigation before civil and criminal courts as well as emergency procedures and infringement seizures. The integration of the French office with the firm’s wider international network means that the group is also well placed to handle its clients cross-border needs. Co-head Mahasti Razavi is a key contact for litigations involving IT, e-commerce, digital and media issues. Co-head Basile Ader has extensive expertise in media and art law as well as press criminal law. Amélie Tripet is another name to note.

Under the leadership of Yves Bizollon, Bird & Bird‘s Paris copyright team takes advantage of the firm’s wider international network, which places the group in good stead when acting on complex cross-border mandates. With a sector-focus approach, the practice is particularly active in innovative industries such as life sciences, healthcare, media as well as fashion and tech. Senior counsel Frédérique Bocqueraz is highly regarded for her track record handling questions of international copyright law and damages assessments in the context of infringement proceedings as well as managing employees’ claims related to IP rights.

De Gaulle Fleurance & Associés handles a busy caseload of matters in the entertainment and media sector, frequently acting on the negotiation and drafting of licensing, distribution and film production agreements, and title clearance proceedings. The firm’s cross-practice capabilities mean that the team is well placed to assist clients with contentious matters as well as other issues such as the financing of film productions and tax schemes. The tech space is another forte of the practice where it advises on the development and structuring of strategic partnerships in relation to AI, blockchain and 3D and 4D printing. The department is headed by experienced quartet Louis de Gaulle, Julien Horn, Philippe Moncorps and Charles Edouard-Renault.

Handling transactional and contentious mandates, Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.‘s Paris copyright practice works in close conjunction with the Brussels office, offering clients in-depth expertise in EU copyright law. Representing producers, press publishers and agencies, the group frequently advises on the collection and payment of royalties. With partners and associates from both IP and TMT departments, the team is fully equipped to assist clients with intersectional issues. The group is jointly led by Raphaëlle Dequiré-Portier, Emmanuel Larere, Jean-Hyacinthe de Mitry and Julien Guinot-Deléry.

With a dedicated media group to lead on mandates in segments including broadcasting, social media, publishing, and advertising and marketing, Taylor Wessing's copyright team offers an array of services to clients in the media sector, advising among others on regulations, licensing and distribution issues, and rights exploitation. The practice works closely with the tax and corporate teams to provide seamless counsel on content-related corporate transactions and tax schemes. In addition to handling copyright infringement and other judicial procedures, the group also assists digital platforms with the development and implementation of policies and alert systems. Christian Valsamidis, Claire Saint-Laurent, Benoît Goulesque-Monaux and Marc Schuler direct the department.

UGGC Avocats‘s premier copyright team maintains an outstanding track record in handling both non-contentious and contentious mandates for clients in sectors spanning fashion and luxury, consumer goods, art, design, sports, music and publishing. While advising on the negotiation and drafting of all types of agreements including assignments, co-ownership and co-branding, the team also assist clients with infringement and unfair competition proceedings before national and European offices and courts as well as ADR procedures. Clients in the fashion and luxury sectors benefit from the team’s high level anti-piracy programmes using Talisman technology from Incopro. The practice is jointly led by Elisabeth Logeais, Corinna Khayat and Anne-Marie Pecoraro.

The copyright practice at Dentons is led by former Clifford Chance practitioner Loïc Lemercier, who joined the firm in March 2021 and has extensive experience in assisting clients in the pharmaceutical, TMT, luxury, internet and technology segments with their non-contentious and litigious needs. The team’s ability to leverage the firm’s international network and work in close conjunction with other departments means it is well placed to advise on complex cross-border mandates.

Under the leadership of experienced litigator Sophie Havard Duclos, Laude Esquier Champey stands out for its strong track record representing French and international clients in litigious matters. Although the group operates in a broad range of sectors, it is particularly active in the fashion space, where it frequently acts on copyright infringement matters and the negotiation and drafting of copyright-related agreements on behalf of fashion and luxury goods brands.

Momentum Avocats opened its doors in September 2020 when practice heads Julien Canlorbe, formerly at Meridian, Julie Carel and Jean-Sébastien Mariez, former practitioners at De Gaulle Fleurance & Associés, joined forces to assist art institutions, tech companies, digital platforms and brands with IP and IT issues. Equipped to handle both litigious and non-contentious work, the boutique is particularly active in the publishing, software, luxury goods, gaming and internet sectors, where it advises on pre-litigation and court proceedings as well as on the negotiation and drafting of agreements.

Benefiting from the firm’s wider international network, Osborne Clarke’s copyright team frequently handles multi-jurisdictional mandates in a broad range of sectors, including music, publishing, TMT, advertising, arts and e-commerce. With a strong track record in IP litigation, the practice is regularly sought after to advise on copyright infringement and intellectual parasitism claims as well as on the negotiation and drafting of licensing, co-branding and distribution agreements. Claire Bouchenard, Xavier Pican and Béatrice Delmas-Linel direct the group.

The copyright team at Taliens is jointly led by Clara Steinitz, who advises clients in the media, content and fashion sectors on the protection and exploitation of IP rights, and Jean-Frederic Gaultier, who has extensive expertise in court litigation and cross-border M&As involving substantial IP assets. The practice offers clients the full range of IP law services and is particularly known for its strong disputes expertise, regularly representing fashion, film, publishing and jewellery clients.

The copyright team at VARET PRÈS KILLY takes advantage of the boutique’s focus on IP, media and information technology law, making the group well placed to advise on intersectional issues. The team’s expertise in art law make it a popular choice for renowned French cultural institutes and museums. Co-head Vincent Varet focuses on advisory and litigation work for clients in a broad range of segments including music, publishing, e-business and advertising. Co-head Xavier Près specialises in IP and information technology law as well as art and business law.

ADVANT Altana is particularly known for its work in the technology, media and publishing sectors, where it advises on the negotiation and drafting of licensing and distribution agreements as well as on the protection and exploitation of publishing, image and neighbouring rights. Through close cooperation with a network of international firms, the practice is also equipped to assist clients with cross-border issues. Co-heads Pierre Lubet and Jean-Guy de Ruffray are key contacts for litigious and non-contentious matters.

Acting for major international groups in segments such as fashion, sports, retail, pharmaceutics and advertising, BCTG Avocats advises clients on various aspects of IP law, particularly copyright protection on the Internet and social media platforms. The practice is well known for its litigation capabilities and benefits from its ability to leverage the firm’s international network of partner firms when acting on cross-border mandates. In addition to her expertise in IP and new technologies, practice head Gaëlle Bloret-Pucci is also known for her in-depth knowledge of music law, regularly representing the rights holders of major composers.

Boutique law firm Cabinet Bouchara Avocats stands out for its strong track record representing clients in pre-litigation and ADR proceedings as well as litigation before civil and criminal courts. The group is particularly active in the fashion, pharmaceutical and gaming sectors, where it advises on an array of issues such as the protection and exploitation of copyright, infringements, unfair competition and parasitism.

Counsel Florentin Sanson leads the copyright practice at CMS, which is part of the firm’s wider IP and TMC department, headed by Anne-Laure Villedieu. Acting for major players in the retail, media and entertainment, social media and sports sectors, the group typically advises on anti-piracy matters, copyright collective management in music, right clearances in TV programmes and licensing agreements as well as on contentious matters. Leveraging the firm’s wider international network, the practice is at home with cross-border issues.

Under the leadership of Vincent Fauchoux, Frédéric Dumont and Jean-Daniel Bouhenic, Deprez Guignot Associés' copyright practice is particularly active in the luxury goods, media and entertainment, and new technologies sectors, where it regularly advises on copyright contracts, anti-counterfeiting and complex litigations involving IP issues. The group also offers clients IT solutions, including ‘HubMarques’ and ‘BlockchainyourIP’, for the management and protection of IP contents and rights.

The copyright group at DLA Piper is led by experienced IP practitioner Frank Valentin, who is well known for handling complex disputes in the TMT and life sciences sectors. The group is noted for advising leading entertainment and media brands on all IP-related issues, including the protection and development of strategies for their intangible assets, the implementation of contracting policies and anti-counterfeiting campaigns.

The copyright practice at Franklin offers transactional and litigious capabilities. On the transactional side, the group regularly advises on the development of IP protection strategies, the negotiation and drafting of contracts and the implementation of policies. On the litigious front, the caseload consists of copyright infringement, unfair competition and parasitic act proceedings in the French courts. Practice head Sandra Strittmatter has extensive expertise in IP and advertising law, frequently representing clients in the food and beverage, technology and fashion sectors.

At Harlay Avocats, the copyright practice is part of the firm’s wider technology, IP and commercial department. The specialised expertise in information technologies, IP and life sciences issues is used for transactional, regulatory and litigious work. The group's strength in new IT copyright makes the team a popular choice for AI and software clients. The practice is jointly led by Sabine Lipovetsky, Fabrice Perbost and Dominique Mallo.

Herald Avocats is particularly known for its strong expertise in the media sector, regularly advising a varied client list, including TV broadcasters, publishers, art institutions, actors, software companies and websites, on copyright protection and exploitation issues. When assisting clients with cross-border matters, the group takes advantage of the firm’s membership in the Geneva Group International. Under the leadership of Richard Milchior, the practice also handles a busy caseload of litigation involving copyright infringements and enforcement as well as counterfeit allegations.

The copyright team at Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP is an integral part of the firm’s wider IP, media and technology practice, which makes the group well equipped to advise on intersectional issues. The practice offers sector-focused advice, with expertise including the e-commerce, cosmetics and automotive sectors, demonstrating the department’s awareness of the necessity to assist client with the particular issues they face in their specific industries. Marie-Aimée de Dampierre, David Taylor and Jane Seager are the key contacts.

Joffe & Associés strengthened its IP practice with the arrival of former August Debouzy practitioner and team head Véronique Dahan in November 2020, who has extensive experience in litigious and non-contentious matters involving commercial and IP law as well as digital marketing and e-reputation issues. The team’s caseload consists of copyright infringement disputes, interim measures, and the negotiation and drafting of contracts. The practice regularly works in close collaboration with the firm’s commercial and luxury goods teams.

Prudence Cadio, whose expertise spans IP, computer law, protection and personal data, and internet law, leads the copyright practice at LPA-CGR avocats. The group is part of the firm’s wider IP and IT department and particularly known for its strong track record in the field of architects copyright, frequently advising on the negotiation and drafting of agreements in addition to assisting clients with pre-litigation and litigation proceedings.