Bird & Bird is a strong place for IP litigation, handling trade mark infringement and unfair competition matters for clients from France and abroad, with strong focuses on the life sciences, technology, media, entertainment and sport sectors. The team is also active in supporting clients in their non-contentious endeavours, advising on trade mark prosecutions and wider brand management. The team is led by Anne-Charlotte Le Bihan, an experienced litigator who also advises on contractual matters, and Géraldine Arbant, who advises on the filing and registration of trade marks and models in addition to representing her clients involved in disputes. Yves Bizollon, primarily a patent specialist, handles contentious matters for clients in the pharmaceuticals, food, telecoms, energy, defence and automotive industries.

De Gaulle Fleurance & Associés offers a wide range of trade mark services, representing clients in contentious matters before French and EU courts and IP offices, handling the full spectrum of soft IP matters, including trade mark clearance and licensing issues, and assisting clients with the IP aspects of M&A deals. The team also works closely with the firm’s tax, competition and employment practice’s to ensure their clients are best advised on the appropriate course of action. Louis de Gaulle and Georgie Courtois are known for their contentious expertise, appearing before civil and criminal courts, while Julien Horn handles transactional IP matters in addition to pleading cases. Francine Le Péchon-Joubert advises on contractual IP matters and disputes, including R&D and licensing agreements. Serge Lederman represents clients from the fashion, design, media and food sectors in trade mark litigation.

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. offers French and foreign clients a leading IP litigation service, handling trade mark disputes before French and European courts and the EUIPO, with a particularly strong track record in the luxury and fashion industries. Infringement and parasitism cases form the base of the firm’s work in this area, with cancellation proceedings and invalidity actions rounding out the practice’s offering. Emmanuel Larere is an experienced trade mark litigator, while also assisting with the creation, filing and management of IP rights, and Raphaëlle Dequiré-Portier leads on contentious matters in France and Europe, focusing on the life sciences sector. Jean-Hyacinthe de Mitry advises technology companies on infringement disputes and technology transfer agreements.

Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP‘s IP team is renowned for its international litigation practice, representing clients from the consumer goods, social media and technology sectors in trade mark disputes in addition to its work in the areas of design rights, domain names and copyrights. The practice is also regularly instructed to handle IP matters in conjunction with corporate transactions, in addition to conducting prior use searches, opposition proceedings and negotiating IP agreements. The leadership group consists of Marie-Aimée de Dampierre, an IP and unfair competition litigator; David Taylor, who is an expert in online IP matters and domain names; and Jane Seager, who assists clients with brand protection strategies. Olivia Bernardeau-Paupe departed the firm for Dechert LLP in January 2023.

Jones Day excels in representing wine and spirits and life sciences clients before French and European courts and IP offices, handling trade mark infringement proceedings, and cancellation and revocation actions. On the transactional front, the firm advises on complex licence agreements in addition to assisting clients with managing IP rights and carrying out due diligence in relation to M&A transactions and joint ventures. The practice is led by Emmanuel Baud, a litigator who also advises clients on matters concerning protected geographical indications and appellations of origin. Co-head Edouard Fortunet advises on brand strategies, IP creation and enforcement work, and IP matters relating to IPOs.

ADVANT Altana‘s international network allows the IP team to handle cross-border matters, both disputes and non-contentious matters, including trade mark clearances, domain name filings and portfolio management work. The team is equipped to handle complex litigation before French courts and the EUIPO, representing clients engaged in infringement matters and anti-counterfeiting actions in France, the EU and China. Litigator Pierre Lubet focuses his practice on the manufacturing and luxury goods sectors, and leads the practice alongside Jean-Guy de Ruffray, who represents clients in mandates at the crossroads of IP and IT law, supporting them through litigation and advising on digital law and related licences and contracts.

Casalonga‘s international presence positions the group favourably in respect of cross-border trade mark matters, with the firm regularly taking instructions that cover Europe, the US and Canada, China and South America. The team advises on trade mark and design prosecutions and assists clients with the management of their IP portfolios. The practice’s main focus is on trade mark litigation, where the firm is renowned for its prowess in handling multi-jurisdictional infringement cases, in addition to validity and opposition matters. Caroline Casalonga leads the trade mark and design prosecution and counselling team, supporting electronics, pharmaceuticals and consumer products clients. The New York-qualified Karina Dimidjian-Lecomte is responsible for foreign clients, advising them on the management of their IP portfolios. Arnaud Casalonga and Marianne Gabriel lead the firm’s litigation team.

The IP team at Dentons advises major French and foreign clients on a broad range of trade mark matters, taking on both contentious and non-contentious work. Application filings with the French and EU trade mark offices are a particular strength of the practice group, which works hand in hand with its offices across Europe to handle clients’ IP matters. Practice head Loïc Lemercier represents clients from the pharmaceuticals and telecoms industries in infringement litigation, in addition to assisting with R&D and licensing contracts. Senior counsel Isabelle Leroux has a wealth of experience in assisting luxury, fashion, food and beverage and internet clients on issues of industrial, artistic and literary property, in addition to performing IP due diligence checks and audits.

Gowling WLG‘s IP practice is able to handle a broad range of matters centred on trade marks and patents, advising clients on the management of portfolios and representing them before the French courts and the EUIPO. The team, led by the highly experienced litigator Céline Bey, advises on infringements of French and EU IP, in addition to validity and nullity actions. Trade mark clearances, risk assessments and opposition motions form the core of the firm’s non-contentious work. Philippe Rousseau handles commercial litigation, including contract negotiations and the termination of commercial relationships. Clémence Lapôtre left the firm in October 2022.

IP litigation and portfolio management are the key pillars of Osborne Clarke‘s trade mark practice, with the firm handling opposition proceedings, infringement cases and unfair competition issues. The team is also able to assist clients with negotiating coexistence, partnership and reseller agreements, with further expertise in handling the IP aspects of corporate transactions and joint ventures. The team is jointly led by Claire Bouchenard, who offers advice to a wide range of clients on contracts and carries out audits in addition to her contentious practice; and Xavier Pican, who supports clients engaged in litigation and negotiations revolving around trade mark, data licensing and technology transfer matters. Béatrice Delmas-Linel left the firm in January 2022 to take up an in-house post.

Focusing on cross-border matters, the Taliens team is adept at handling complex trade mark issues, working with the firm’s teams in Munich and Madrid to support clients in major litigation and prosecution cases, and assisting global luxury brands in both bringing and defending trade mark violation claims before the courts. The team is also adept at handling international portfolio management and transactions, supporting clients with the registering of trade marks and drafting of commercial contracts. The leadership team of Jean-Frédéric Gaultier, who works on soft IP matters, and Clara Steinitz, who handles disputes for clients in the luxury goods, film and TV, food and beverage and art sectors, was strengthened by the arrival of experienced litigator Grégoire Triet in January 2022.

The Taylor Wessing IP and IT team handles a wide variety of trade mark transactions and disputes, advising international clients on the management and exploitation of their trade marks, while also defending clients before the courts. The team is adept at handling contentious matters with a digital aspect, with team leader Marc Schuler having experience handling infringement matters for clients in the technology and media sectors; he also advises clients on brand management and IP transactions. Inès Tribouillet is recommended for her soft IP skills, assisting clients with trade mark clearances, oppositions and renewal actions.

UGGC Avocats‘s trade mark offering encompasses a broad spectrum of commercial and contentious work, including the registration and protection of trade marks within France and the EU, searches and analysis and due diligence when handling the IP aspects of corporate transactions. On the contentious front, the firm is active in initiating anti-counterfeiting measures, and handling infringement, cybersquatting and unfair competition cases. The team, led by litigators Anne-Marie Pecoraro and Corinne Khayat, and licensing specialist Elisabeth Logeais, also offers arbitration and mediation services. Rodolphe Boissau is noted for his experience handling contentious trade mark matters.

Aramis‘s IP team handles trade mark litigation before the French and European courts, representing clients from the cosmetics, biotech and life sciences sectors in infringement and unfair competition proceedings. The firm maintains ties with a number of counterparts across Europe and the US, allowing it to support clients engaged in global disputes. Benjamin May leads the team, focusing on contentious trade mark issues and also advising on contractual matters. Florent Mattern is noted for his litigation experience, while Louis Jestaz is adept at handling cross-border trade mark cases.

Cabinet Bouchara Avocats assists major French and international clients, particularly those in the fashion industry, with the protection of their trade marks. Under the leadership of Vanessa Bouchara, the firm is able to represent clients in contentious issues such as infringement, parasitism and unfair competition cases, while also advising on trade mark registrations and the drafting and negotiation of IP contracts.

The IP team at CMS Francis Lefebvre handles contentious trade mark work, ranging from infringement cases to cancellation, revocation and opposition actions, while also managing client’s IP portfolios and assisting with IP rights licenses and assignments. Companies from the cosmetics, automotive, pharmaceuticals, media and leisure industries rely on the firm for trade mark advice. Anne-Laure Villedieu and Jean-Baptiste Thiénot head up the firm’s IP team, with Sabine Rigaud leading the trade mark and designs sub-team.

De Pardieu Brocas Maffei assists clients with defending trade marks before the French courts and representing them in infringement and unfair competition proceedings. Under the leadership of Barbara Levy, the team advises French and foreign companies, in addition to government bodies, on trade mark disputes, applications and portfolio management issues. The firm regularly oversees the IP aspects of major M&A transactions, supporting both private companies and governments with IP due diligence and global licence agreements. Associate Barbara Epstein offers dispute resolution assistance.

Acting at the crossroads of IP, digital technology and data law, DS Avocats assists clients with the creation, management and protection of trade mark portfolios. Partnership, licence, distribution and R&D agreements are all part of the firm’s commercial IP offering. Catherine Verneret, who advises distributors, fashion and perfume brands, and industrial design clients among others, is frequently instructed on contentious matters revolving around trade mark infringements and misuse of domain names, pleading cases before the French and European courts.

Jacobacci has significant experience in assisting clients with trade mark infringement claims before French and EU courts, acting both for plaintiffs and defendants. The team also provides online and offline brand protection advice and is active in dealing with customs surveillance and counterfeiting matters. The team is headed up by Jean-Mathieu Bertho, who specialises in trade mark enforcement and litigation; registered design expert Olympe Vanner and Alexia de Maulde, who manages the firm’s anti-counterfeiting team.

Joffe & Associés has continued to grow its IP practice, with Emilie de Vaucresson, who advises on the protection of IP and intangible assets and leads on contentious matters, joining Véronique Dahan‘s team after EDV Advocats merged with the firm in March 2022. The team conducts trade mark audits for clients and assists with the drafting of contracts, including licence, coexistence and assignment agreements. On the contentious front, the practice group handles mass trade mark infringement disputes and seizures in addition to UDRP proceedings.

The group at Linklaters has extensive experience in handling the IP aspects of M&A transactions, ensuring the smooth handover of trade mark portfolios. In addition, the team is also able to advise on a variety of non-contentious IP matters, including strategic partnerships, licensing deals and franchising matters. The firm also represents clients involved in cross-border trade mark disputes, with practice head Pauline Debré frequently representing healthcare and telecoms clients before the French and European courts. Jean-François Merdrignac advises clients from the pharmaceuticals and electronics industries.

Momentum Avocats is noted for handling complex trade mark litigation, with particular expertise in the fashion and luxury sectors. On the non-contentious front, the firm assists with the registration of new trade marks, management of IP portfolios and marketing arrangements. The practice leadership is shared between Julien Canlorbe, who represents listed companies, start-ups and designers in trade mark disputes; Julie Carel, who advises clients on the structuring of their IP portfolios; and Jean-Sébastien Mariez, who supports IT, media and gaming sector clients in trade mark litigation.

The January 2022 merger with Rhadamès Killy‘s firm allowed VARET PRÈS KILLY to expand its trade mark practice, adding an experienced sports IP practitioner to the firm’s established IP, IT and media specialisms. Xavier Pres and Vincent Varet are experienced in assisting publishers, luxury goods companies and cultural institutions with both transactional and contentious matters.

McDermott Will & Emery AARPI