Taylor Wessing > Paris, France > Firm Profile

Taylor Wessing > The Legal 500 Rankings

France > Dispute resolution: White-collar crime Tier 1

Taylor Wessing handles a busy caseload and manages high-profile cases, including several landmark matters linked to the political sphere and concerning various offences including fraud, harassment and breach of secrecy. The team is also managing a very sensitive case linked to the political management of the Covid-19 crisis. The team has recently been retained to handle a new type of matter concerning the seizure of bitcoins, and the practice also handles a considerable amount of corporate law abuses as well as headline cases in the sport and media fields. Paul-Albert Iweins and Benoît Goulesque-Monaux are key figures.

France > Intellectual property: Copyright Tier 1

The Taylor Wessing copyright team is frequently instructed on both national and cross-border matters. The department has a dedicated media and entertainment group focused on supporting traditional and digital media clients, which it advises on licensing, distribution, IP protection and regulation issues. Beyond the media, the practice is also active in assisting the advertising and marketing, gaming and apps, and music sectors, working alongside the firm’s tax, corporate and distribution practice groups to provide full-service advice on corporate transactions, including the transfer of intangible assets. The firm offers its clients management tools to help manage and protect their copyrights, while also representing them before French and EU courts in infringement claims, IP ownership disputes and licensing issues. The group is led by Christian Valsamidis, Claire Saint-Laurent Mantoux, Benoît Goulesque-Monaux and Marc Schuler.

France > Media and entertainment: Cinema Tier 1

Taylor Wessing’s multidisciplinary cinema offering is led by Christian Valsamidis, who is a specialist in IP and banking; copyright law expert Claire Saint-Laurent Mantoux; and experienced litigant Benoît Goulesque-Monaux. It is well-versed in advising key national and international clients on the full range of development and production matters, regularly advising end-to-end on projects, drafting and negotiating relevant agreements throughout. Additionally, the team advises on intellectual property matters wherein rights have been exploited, in relation to SVOD, cinema, TV and internet.

France > Data privacy and data protection Tier 2

The team at the Paris office of global law firm Taylor Wessing utilises the combined bench strength of its data privacy, IT and IP practices, to advise a broad client base, ranging from major insurers (Zurich, Hiscox) and crypto platforms (Messari) to corporates in e-commerce (Amazon), tech (IBM), telecoms (Comcast), media, pharmaceuticals and fashion. Led by Marc Schuler, who brings over 20 years of experience in the IT and digital industries space, the team assists with data protection governance schemes, GDPR compliance data protection audits and impact assessments. New associates Alix Capely and Hugo Khalfallaoui arrived in September 2022.

France > Insurance Tier 2

Backed by a global network spanning the Americas, Africa, Europe and the Middle East, the insurance group at the Paris office of Taylor Wessing employs its experience and expertise to assist major insurers and reinsurers (including Chubb, Zurich, Swiss Re, Generali and AIG) and household-name corporates with high-stakes claims across such industries as IT, aerospace, food, retail, chemicals and entertainment. The group also assists with product liability and business interruption claims, D&O liability, insurance matters in the marine sector and credit risks. The team is headed by Pierre-Olivier Leblanc, a specialist in professional indemnity claims, industrial risks and subrogation claims, and supported by cyber claim expert Marc Schuler.

France > Intellectual property: Trade marks and designs Tier 2

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.

France > Media and entertainment: Television/radio Tier 2

At Taylor Wessing, Christian Valsamidis has a specialism in IP and banking law in relation to media in particular, and co-leads the team with copyright expert Claire Saint-Laurent Mantoux, and experienced litigators Benoît Goulesque-Monaux and Marc Schuler. The group advises on the legal aspects of the production of series for streaming platforms and also has notable experience handling the distribution of international series.

France > Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences Tier 3

Taylor Wessing‘s life science practice is noted for its strength in complex regulatory matters. The team is led by Evelyne Friedel, who has developed a specialism in pharmaceutical law with a focus on clinical research agreements. Marc Schuler handles contentious and non-contentious intellectual property matters, and private equity expert Anne-Juliette de Zaluski advises large national companies and start-ups on M&A transactions.

France > Industry focus: IT and internet  Tier 3

Philippe Glaser and Marc Schuler co-head the practice at Taylor Wessing, which ably advises clients on contractual matters, being formulations and negotiations; it notably represents such key clients as Hiscox in high-value TMT and cyber policies, and disputes which often involve the failure to implement IT projects successfully. There is a significant data law and IP specialism across the team. The group has grown at the junior end, with the arrival of multiple associates in 2022.

France > Private equity: venture/growth capital Tier 3

France > Administrative and public law Tier 4

Taylor Wessing has strong expertise in the infrastructure field. The team regularly advises on internet broadband and telecoms sector projects; recently it has been advising on a major satellite project in French Guyana. It also involved in several port infrastructure projects concerning various French cities and also in Africa. In other work, the group is advising on several urban heating and waste management concessions, and increasingly advising on projects in the energy sector (renewables and biomass). Practice head Sophie Pignon is the name to note.

France > Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation Tier 4

France > Employment Tier 4

Taylor Wessing

France > Insolvency Tier 4

Taylor Wessing's Kristell Cattani has extensive experience in the field. She frequently acts for debtors facing debt restructuring and insolvency proceedings. Recently, she has been involved in handling significant matters concerning the retail and hospitality sectors.

France > EU, competition and distribution Tier 5

Taylor Wessing’s competition practice has a core focus on distribution work, with the team negotiating contracts and providing day-to-day advice on distribution and franchise networks. Grégoire Toulouse handles franchising issues for a hotel chain and food and beverage clients. Evelyne Friedel negotiates commercial, licensing and supplier agreements, but also handles merger control and litigation relating to anticompetitive practices. Working with the corporate team and aided by Axel Ferly, who was promoted to counsel in May 2022, Friedel recently advised on the merger control aspects of acquisitions.

France > Real estate Tier 5

Taylor Wessing

France > Mergers and acquisitions Tier 6