Pauline Debré > Linklaters > Paris, France > Lawyer Profile
Linklaters Offices

25 RUE DE MARIGNAN
75008 PARIS
France
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Pauline Debré

Work Department
IP/TMT
Position
Pauline heads the IP/TMT practice of Linklaters in Paris and has considerable experience in IP litigation and specifically patent litigation.
She focuses on handling complex cross-border patent and trademark litigations, notably in the healthcare and telecommunications sectors. She assists major clients in all types of proceedings, including preliminary injunctions, seizures (saisie-contrefaçon), revocation and infringement actions, arbitration and mediation, often in a global context (parallel litigation in the US, pending oppositions before the EPO).
Pauline works in close coordination with our competition experts, notably on standard essential patents related cases.
Pauline also assists clients from various industries with negotiating and drafting contracts related to IP rights (JV agreements, R&D agreements, co-existence agreements) and on projects and corporate deals (acquisitions, carve out) where IP is a key asset.
Pauline co-heads the Patent Commission of the French group of AIPPI, as well as the Standing Committee on Patents and Standards. She is also a member of EPLAW (European Patent Lawyers association), APRAM, APEB and LES.
Pauline is ranked amongst France’s best IP lawyers.
Her team is ranked Band 1 by Legal 500 (2020) and won the Award of the Best patent team in 2020 (Trophées du Droit, Leaders League 2020).
Career
2015 to date: Partner, Intellectual Property/Technology, Media and Telecommunications Department, Linklaters Paris
2012 – 2015: Counsel, Intellectual Property/Technology, Media and Telecommunications Department, Linklaters Paris
2011 – 2012: Counsel, Bird & Bird Paris
2006 – 2011: Associate, Bird & Bird Paris
2004 – 2006: Associate, Lamy & Associés, Paris
2001 – 2004: Associate, Duclos, Thorne, Mollet-Viéville & Associés, Paris
Languages
French, English, Spanish
Memberships
Active member of AIPPI (International Association for the Protection of the Intellectual Property, Member of the Comité Directeur of the French Group, Secretary of the Standing Committee on Patents and Standards (Q222)) ; APEB (Association of European Practitioners Patents) ; APRAM (Association of Law Practitioners of Trademarks and Models) ; LES (Licensing Executive Society) and EPLAW (European Patent Lawyers association)
Education
2003 : Admitted to the Paris Bar
2002 : CAPA, Paris Bar School
2001-2022: Université Panthéon Assas (Paris II) – DEA in Communication Law
2000-2001: Université Panthéon Assas (Paris II) – DESS in IP Law
Lawyer Rankings
France > Intellectual property: Patents
(Leading partners)Leveraging its status as an international law firm, Linklaters services some of the world’s leading companies in technology, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals. The firm regularly handles litigation, infringement proceedings, acquisitions, and IP-related agreements. Lauded by clients for being an expert litigator and outstanding team leader, practice head Pauline Debré is noted for handling complex patent litigation for clients in the healthcare, mobility, and telecommunications sectors. Under her helm is Gaëlle Bourout, who is noted for her in-depth expertise and outstanding drafting skills and is qualified for both the Paris bar and for the European Patent Office. Jean-François Merdignac and Laetitia Nicolazzi are stanchions of the firm’s practice with the ‘dynamic’ Nicolazzi leading on many litigation matters and Merdrignac handling the IP issues that come alongside M&A transactions.
France > Intellectual property: Trade marks and designs
Linklaters regularly advises international clients on their cross-border trademark proceedings. Led by Pauline Debré, the team also seamlessly integrates with the firm’s other departments and subsequently often advises on the IP aspects of financing and M&A deals. Clients include tech and software conglomerates, pharmaceutical companies and French automotive suppliers. Jean-François Merdrignac is adept at negotiating and drafting various agreements including those pertaining to joint ventures, R&D and collaboration agreements, and sponsorship agreements.
Lawyer Rankings
- Intellectual property: Patents France
- Leading partners France > Intellectual property: Patents
- Intellectual property: Trade marks and designs France
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Banking and finance: transactional work
- Capital markets: debt capital markets
- EU, competition and distribution
- Industry focus: Energy
- Intellectual property: Patents
- Project finance
Firm Rankings
- Administrative and public law
- Data privacy and data protection
- Derivatives and structured finance
- Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation
- Dispute resolution: Stock market litigation
- Employment
- Insolvency
- Intellectual property: Trade marks and designs
- Private equity: LBO
- Real estate
- Tax
- Banking and finance: Bank regulatory
- Dispute resolution: International arbitration
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Private equity: Fund formation