The Legal 500

France

EU, competition and distribution

Within: EU, competition and distribution

The practitioners at August Debouzy are 'very international and highly regarded by their peers'. The 'very responsive, smart and business-oriented' team is jointly headed by Mahasti Razavi, Florence Chafiol and Alexandra Berg-Moussa, who was recently promoted to partner. The group continues to advise Costco on the launch of its activities in France, and senior associate Barbara Nouri is part of the team assisting a number of luxury brands with their distribution and commercial agreements, including contracts pertaining to selective distribution networks. Counsel Renaud Christol is also a name to note.

[back to top]

France: Industry focus

Industry focus: IT, telecoms and the internet

Within: Leading individuals: IT

Mahasti Razavi - August Debouzy

Within: Industry focus: IT, telecoms and the internet

Set apart by its 'can-do attitude and ability to think outside of the box and be innovative', August Debouzy has 'all the US and Anglo-Saxon expertise that is required for even the most sophisticated international clients'. The technology and IT team 'stands out as particularly effective and competent' through its 'first-rate client support and engagement'. Clients such as Veolia and Costco recently appointed the firm to advise on GDPR compliance, while Philip Morris instructed Florence Chafiol's team to remove a number of illicit websites selling tobacco products in France. 'Thoroughly excellent' practice co-head Mahasti Razavi has 'great intellect' and 'the rare ability to address complex issues with practical and effective solutions'; she continues to assist Microsoft with all of its IT needs in France, including litigation, transactional and advisory matters. Counsel Nicolas Quoy recently joined the firm from an in-house position at Hewlett Packard, and Anne-Sophie Lampe was promoted to counsel.

[back to top]

Industry focus: Luxury goods

Within: Industry focus: Luxury goods

August Debouzy has a strong presence in the retail sector and fields a cross-disciplinary team to advise a top-notch client roster on intellectual property, IT, corporate, real estate and employment law, among other matters. The six-partner team includes managing partner Mahasti Razavi and counsel Véronique Dahan, who continues to lead the advice to clients such as jewellery company Repossi and Valentino regarding the protection of their brands and designs. In other highlights, Razavi teamed up with Florence Chafiol and distribution expert Alexandra Berg-Moussa - who was recently promoted to partner - to advise a high-profile luxury brand on the negotiation of a complex global partnership with an online fashion platform, as well as its compliance with GDPR obligations. Associates Noémie Tashjian and Laure Arnon-Duquesnoy are also key names to note within the practice.

[back to top]

France: Intellectual property

Intellectual property: copyright

Within: Intellectual property: copyright

The 'technically excellent and very responsive' intellectual property team at August Debouzy is noted for its 'outstanding industry knowledge and huge strength in depth'. Clients highly recommend 'superb litigator' and counsel Véronique Dahan for her 'excellent client management skills' and 'outstanding commercial lawyer' Mahasti Razavi, who 'has a good sense of what clients need'. The team was recently strengthened by the arrival of Basile Ader and counsel Amélie Tripet from Cabinet d'Avocats Ader Jolibois; the pair recently acted for a wide range of clients on contentious copyright infringement and parasitism claims as well as the negotiation of licensing agreements. In recent highlights, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences instructed the group to handle its claim against L'Oscar Café, which allegedly reproduces the "Oscar" logo and statuette without authorisation. Other key clients include Marlau Editions, Première Media and Edition Pierre Chareau.

[back to top]