The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > France > Intellectual property: Patents

August Debouzy's particular strength lies in litigating on behalf of pharmaceutical companies, although the 'large team of patent professionals' also provides assistance with non-contentious matters, including drafting patent applications. The team represented Gaztransport & Technigaz in complex opposition proceedings before the European patent office in a cross-border matter, which ended successfully for the client. Joint team heads Grégoire Desrousseaux and François Pochart are 'outstanding professionals allying technical and legal skills'. Also recommended are counsels Lionel Martin and Mathilde Rauline, and senior associate Martin Brion. Counsel Loïc Lemercier joined Clifford Chance in October 2019.

Bird & Bird frequently handles contentious matters for clients from a wide spectrum of sectors, in particular life sciences and healthcare (Amgen and Accord Healthcare), and technology and telecoms (Broadcom). Yves Bizollon leads a team which is defending Nespresso in a cross-border patent infringement case, which would affect all types of machines produced in the last ten years; the action has been brought by the company set up by its former CEO. Anne-Charlotte Le Bihan is representing longstanding client Honeywell in an infringement action initiated by a French company based on a European patent. Other key names to note are Lyon-based Géraldine Arbant and counsel Laurent Labatte.

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. fields 'a responsive, thorough, creative, to-the-point and highly effective' team. The firm has strengthened its range by taking on noteworthy new clients from the technology sector, including Apple and Verasonics. Litigation is an important focus; Emmanuel Larere and Raphaëlle Dequiré-Portier are acting for Bristol-Myers Squibb and its licensor, Japanese laboratory Ono Pharmaceutical, which specialises in cancer treatment, with two appeals before the Paris court regarding the refusal, by the French patent office, of two SPCs related to two major immunotherapy treatments. Other key names to note are Jean-Hyacinthe de Mitry, Grégoire Triet and Arnaud Michel.

Many leading players within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors turn to the team at Jones Day for patent advice, including Coloplast, the European market leader for urinary catheters, and Naos, well-known in the skincare industry. The firm handles the full range of contentious matters, including patent infringement litigation and appealing patent decisions, often working across borders. Thomas Bouvet, who jointly heads the practice with Emmanuel Baud, is acting for Vestergaard Frandsen in proceedings against the client's former employee for trade secret violations.

Aramis has gained a number of new clients in various sectors, including food and beverage (Belmoca), banking (Banque Publique d’Investissement), and software (Enyx). The group handles a strong mix of contentious and advisory matters, and are praised for 'anticipating, adapting and identifying appropriate solutions'. The firm is representing Teoxane in cross-border patent infringement litigation in a matter worth €150m. Practice head Benjamin May is 'subtle in his advice and his approach and assessment of situations'. Also recommended are associate David Roche and senior associate Louis Jestaz.

Dentons acts for high-profile clients from a wide range of sectors, including life sciences, telecoms and fashion. Practice head David Masson is representing a major player in the technological industry in an international patent dispute, showcasing the firm's strength in advising on contentious cross-border matters. The team is also defending Industrie Cartarie Tronchetti (ICT), a manufacturer of absorbent paper, in patent litigation launched against it in France and Germany by the group SCA Tissues France, in a matter which involves close collaboration between teams in Paris, Frankfurt and Barcelona.

The 'excellent mix of professional talent' at Simmons & Simmons allows the team to assist clients from a variety of sectors, focusing especially on pharmaceutical and life sciences, in which industries it has gained new clients including Merck KGaA. It handles the gamut of contentious and non-contentious matters. 'Swift, accurate, patient' Marina Cousté is leading a team with François Jonquères, which is defending telecoms company Sigos in a patent infringement action in which the European patent is claiming priority over the French patent at stake, initiated by Araxxe, and worth €5m. The other key name to note at the practice is that of 'outstanding negotiator' Sarah Bailey.

Abello's patents offering has a particular focus on advising clients from the mechanics and telecoms industries, including noteworthy names such as Nokia. The firm expanded its influence with the addition of multiple new clients from these sectors. The team is highly active in contentious matters, especially patent infringement litigation. Practice head Michel Abello leads a team which is defending Manitou Group in a patent infringement case brought by J.C. Bamford Excavators in a high-value cross-border matter.

Altana's team focuses on the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, electronics and mechanical sectors. Armand Aviges and Frank Valentin are representing clients from these industries in national and cross-border patent infringement litigation. The team also assists clients with non-contentious matters, including analysing competitors' patent portfolios, reaching out to competitors on behalf of clients to avoid patent infringement and advising on the intellectual property aspects of launching a new product. Other key names to note are Pierre Lubet, Jean-Guy de Ruffray, senior associate Cédric Meiller and of counsel Charlotte Hébert-Salomon.

The team at De Gaulle Fleurance & Associés is particularly active in the transactional field, with a strong emphasis on advising clients on transfer of technologies, joint ventures and the intellectual property implications associated with start-ups. Louis de Gaulle, who jointly heads the practice with Francine Le Péchon-Joubert, leads a team which is drafting various co-ownership and licensing agreements for Alstom relating to its a joint venture with Ademe. The group has recently expanded its client base in the manufacturing and biotechnology sectors, where new clients include Cahers and GenOway. Also notable are Blandine Fauran, Julien Horn and Cécile Théard-Jallu.

Dechert LLP makes full use of its global presence and 'very good cohesion in the team' to assist clients with international matters, focusing particularly on the US. The team is particularly strong in non-contentious matters, especially in negotiating licensing and co-ownership agreements. The team advised Lysogene on the conclusion of an exclusive licence agreement with Sarepta Therapeutics, in a cross-border deal worth €108m. The firm has gained new clients from the pharmaceutical and asset management industries. Practice head Marie Fillon is recommended for her 'great skills' and is supported by associate Louis de Chezelles.

DWF (France) AARPI is recognised for its strength in contentious and non-contentious patent matters, particularly in the area of utility patents. Led by Simon Christiaën, the team assists industrial groups, pharmaceutical, hi-tech and IT services companies with the various stages of invention, creation and innovation.

The practice at Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP is organised by sector, which ensures that clients are assisted by lawyers who are familiar with the particular issues and problems faced by their specific industry. The team is especially active in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector, representing clients in contentious cross-border matters, including pan-European patent disputes and patent infringement litigation. On the non-contentious side, it advises on patent enforcement strategies. The key name to note is Stanislas Roux-Vaillard.

Boutique firm Taliens fields 'one of the best teams in France'. Its 'large spectrum of expertise' has allowed it to take on several high-profile new clients from the telecoms sector, including Sprint and Sierra Wireless. The team is assisting the latter with a Letter of Request presented to a French court for the collection of evidence in support of US litigation against KP. Facebook also instructed the team to advise it on developing collaboration deals and R&D projects with French and foreign research institutions and universities. Practice head Jean-Frédéric Gaultier 'gives good, timely and actionable advice'.

The team at boutique firm Bardehle Pagenberg is 'an expert recognised by the courts in patent matters' and 'has a unique experience in tackling difficult cases and turning likely defeats into wins'. The team frequently represents clients, mainly from the telecoms sector, in patent infringement disputes. 'Rigorous and creative' practice head Julien Fréneaux represented Free Mobile in a software-related case before the French courts and the Court of Justice of the European Union. The firm was further strengthened by the arrival of attorney Marie-Léa Rols from Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I..

CMS advises on the full spectrum of patent issues, including contentious and non-contentious matters. The team acts for clients from a diverse range of sectors, including construction, life sciences, and cosmetics. Counsel Jean-Baptiste Thiénot, who joined the firm from Bird & Bird, headed a team which successfully represented claimant Trilogiq in patent infringement proceedings launched against its main competitor before the Paris Court of First Instance, in a deal worth €5m in damages claimed. Another key name to note is Anne-Laure Villedieu.