Bird & Bird > Lyon, France > Firm Profile
Bird & Bird Offices
LE BONNEL
20 RUE DE LA VILLETTE
CEDEX 03, 69328 LYON
France
Profiles
Bird & Bird > The Legal 500 Rankings
France > Data privacy and data protection Tier 1
Bird & Bird works extensively on global compliance actions and on international data transfers. As competent litigators, the team represented Doctolib before the Conseil d’Etat in a successful dispute which brought important developments to the ongoing Schrems II debate. Handling sensitive and challenging data matters for the banking sector, the firm counts Orange Bank, a bank launched by French telecom company Orange, to its client list. Ariane Mole‘s previous in-house experience at the French Data Protection Authority gives her valuable insight into regulatory matters. Mole co-leads the department with the well-respected Merav Griguer.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Providing practical advice, remaining aware of the business needs. Responsive and efficient.’
‘Very experienced and knowledgeable, keeping track of legislative developments.’
Key clients
Orange SA
Fnac Darty
Doctolib
NextMind
MACSF
IQVIA
Huawei
Biosency
Novocure
LVMH
Webedia
Bacardi
Work highlights
- Represented Doctolib, the country’s main Covid-19 vaccination scheduling platform, in a dispute before the Conseil d’Etat, regarding compliance requirements for personal data transfers to the US, securing a judgment that brought new developments to the ‘Schrems II’ debate.
- Assisted NextMind, a winner of ‘Best of Innovation’ award at CES 2020 in Las Vegas, with assessing its data protection obligations under data protection law for its cutting edge technology.
- Acting as strategic adviser of Orange SA, including Orange Bank, for sensitive matters relating to data, privacy and cybersecurity issues.
France > Industry focus: IT and internet Tier 1
One of the most renowned international IT firms on the French market, Bird & Bird draws on its strong intersectorial abilities to handle complex IT matters from clients in diverse industries. The firm has particular expertise handling hosting liability issues deriving from UGC content, with the team having recently published an EU geo-blocking regulation guide. Co-head of the practice alongside Merav Griguer, Stéphane Leriche is increasingly involved in market-leading matters with clients such as NextMind, an innovative brain-sensing wearable device that allows hands-free control of technology with direct brain commands.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Credit Mutual Arkéa
Nissan Motor Co
Oney Banque
Mastercard
Orange SA
NGO EU Desinfolab
Doctolib
Nextmind
IQVIA
Biosency
Novocure
Huawei
Workday
Blue Yonder
Mphasis Wyde
Sentinel One
Work highlights
- Successfully defended Doctolib, France’s main Covid-19 vaccination scheduling platform, in litigation before the Conseil d’Etat brought by several professional associations to suspend the contract between the French Health Department and Doctolib because of Doctolib’s use of Amazon cloud services for hosting its platform.
- Assisting Credit Mutuel Arkea and its subsidiary Arkea Banking Services with the structuring and negotiation of a major IT and business process outsourcing with AXA Banque.
- Acting as counsel for Orange SA including Orange Bank, for sensitive matters relating to data, privacy and cybersecurity issues.
France > Intellectual property: Copyright Tier 1
Under the leadership of Yves Bizollon
, Bird & Bird‘s Paris copyright team takes advantage of the firm’s wider international network, which places the group in good stead when acting on complex cross-border mandates. With a sector-focus approach, the practice is particularly active in innovative industries such as life sciences, healthcare, media as well as fashion and tech. Senior counsel Frédérique Bocqueraz is highly regarded for her track record handling questions of international copyright law and damages assessments in the context of infringement proceedings as well as managing employees’ claims related to IP rights.Practice head(s):
Yves Bizollon
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Expertise and availability.’
‘Yves Bizollon is an expert in the field.’
Key clients
Vitra
Take Two interactive software
Claire’s
Uniqlo Europe Ltd
Work highlights
- Represented VITRA in copyright infringement claims in France against different infringers.
- Acted for Take-Two Interactive Software in a video game copyright infringement litigation against mod menu developers.
- Advised Uniqlo Europe on a copyright infringement, unfair competition and free-riding action brought by Agnes Trouble known as Agnès b and her company CMC in France.
France > Intellectual property: Patents Tier 1
Bird & Bird handles patent litigation and has strong expertise in contentious and non-contentious matters. The team provides advice on domestic and multinational patent litigation and strategic IP matters and focuses on innovative industries such as life sciences and healthcare, tech and comms, media, but also entertainment and sports. Yves Bizollon heads the team and handles IP disputes from a wide range of sectors, including the food, energy, defence and automotive sectors. Anne-Charlotte Le-Bihan is especially well versed in disputes involving pharmaceutical, electronics and telecoms companies.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Anne-Charlotte Le Bihan: effective value for generic pharma.’
Key clients
Microsoft
Broadcom
Edwards Lifesciences
Minakem
Honeywell
Amgen
Nespresso
Alstom Transport
Life Scientific
Allergan, Inc
ABB Power Grids
PETZL
Novares
Lesaffre
SERF
SATT AST, Inserm, Université de Bordeaux, CHU de Bordeaux
Work highlights
- Represented Nespresso in a worldwide patent attack in relation to its new coffee machine system Vertuo®, launched by the German company K-Fee.
- Represented Broadcom in a patent litigation involving allegedly essential patents owned by a well-known non-practising entity.
- Represented Edwards Lifesciences in a major patent infringement case implying the infringement of five European patents covering a transcatheter heart valve, part of a wider dispute involving litigation pending in multiple jurisdictions.
France > Intellectual property: Trade marks and designs Tier 1
Bird & Bird‘s client roster includes French and multinational companies in the life sciences and healthcare, manufacturing, technology, media, entertainment and sports industries. Its team excels in advising on trade mark protection and enforcement matters. Patent litigator Yves Bizollon leads the practice, which includes Anne-Charlotte Le-Bihan, who has experience of sensitive trade mark and design mandates. Géraldine Arbant focuses on brand management and litigation, as well as transactional IP matters. Key clients include Piasten & Lutti, CrossFit and Groupe Candy Hoover.Practice head(s):
Yves Bizollon
Other key lawyers:
Anne-Charlotte Le Bihan; Géraldine Arbant; Floriane Chartier
Key clients
Piasten & Lutti
CrossFit, Inc
Palladium
Kidiliz Group
SKF
River Island
Candy Hoover
Work highlights
- Represented Piasten & Lutti’s distributor in a preliminary injunction procedure, initiated by MARS, on the ground of unfair competition and parasitism to obtain the withdrawal of their new “TREETS THE PEANUT COMPANY” candy.
- Defended Groupe Candy Hoover in a registration of designs case against Dyson.
- Acting for CrossFit in matters relating to enforcement of trademarks, including infringement applications.
France > The regions Tier 1
Unusual for an international law firm, Bird & Bird‘s reach goes beyond Paris to Lyon where it has a well-established office which serves as a hub for the firm’s French and multinational corporations operating in the greater Rhone-Alps region. The Lyon office provides a full range of business law services drawing on cross-sector and multi-disciplinary teams, leveraging the firm’s sector expertise, for example in the consumer goods and retail, financial institutions, healthcare and life sciences, leisure, manufacturing and transportation, and technology, media and telecommunications sectors. David Malcoiffe manages the Lyon office. Nathalie Devernay and Caroline Mouriquand are recognised as ‘excellent professionals’.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Bird & Bird’s employment law team is very professional and very dedicated to the client. They provide good advice, are responsive and charge a price with one of the best quality-price ratios on the market. A lot of transparency on fees.’
‘The employment law team of the Lyon office (Nathalie Devernay) regularly coordinates projects with a multi-jurisdictional scope throughout Europe for us thanks to the other Bird & Bird offices and to partner firms which up to now all turned out to be of great quality.’
‘Nathalie Devernay and Caroline Mouriquand are both excellent professionals. They do not provide long theoretical analyses, but targeted and pragmatic answers.’
Key clients
Groupe Limagrain
Archimed
Salesforce
Claire’s Accessories
ABB Power Grids
Aeroport de Lyon
Plastipak
Vitra
ByMyCar
Solaris CNB
Mastergrid
France > Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences Tier 2
Bird & Bird‘s full-service life sciences practice regularly acts for pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Emmanuelle Porte is a key individual at the firm for corporate matters and regularly assists biotech and ehealth clients with respect to venture capitals and IPOs. Alexandre Vuchot and Ariane Mole have developed a strong offering of commercial, regulatory, and data protection expertise in relation to digital health and medical device companies. Highly respected patent litigator Yves Bizollonleads the IP team.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘This practice is unique because of the people, dedication, and attention to detail to ensure regulatory compliance. The team is amazing, always available and answers questions in a professional manner.’
‘Pleasant, accessible, and of a high level of professionalism.’
‘A team capable of anticipating the problems of its client due to its vast experience. Able to find solutions for complex problems. Great availability and an equally great capacity to listen and respond appropriately.’
‘It is the closeness to the client that seems to me the essential quality of the people on this team.’
‘Multidisciplinary practice aware of the specificities of the health sector.’
‘Practical advice, very responsive.’
‘Providing practical advice, remaining aware of the business needs. Responsive and efficient.’
Key clients
Edwards Life sciences
BPI (Fonds Patient Autonome)
BPI (Fonds SPI)
ArchiMed
CorWave
Doctolib
GrAI Matter Labs
Minakem
MACSF
Pixium Vision
Sparing Vision
Actavis Group PTC EHF
Amgen SAS
Life Scientific
Edwards Lifesciences
Norgine Venture
Baxter
Virbac
NovAlix
Enterome
Biosency
Novocure
IQVIA
Implanet
Asklepios Pharmaceuticals Inc
Vidal
NextMind
Atricure
Work highlights
- Assisted Doctolib in proceedings before the Conseil d’Etat, securing a succesful judgment that brought important developments to the ‘Schrems II’ debate following the CJEU’s decision on compliance requirements for transfers of personal data to the US.
- Advising Fonds SPI on the sale of its stake in Yposkesi, France’s first producer of gene and cellular therapies, to SK Pharmteco.
- Acting as counsel for SparingVision, a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of innovative therapies for the treatment of inherited retinal diseases that cause blindness and in particular for Retinitis Pigmentosa, on its €44.5m Series A2 fundraising subscribed by its historic investors (BPI, Foundation Fighting Blindness) and new investors (Jeito, Ysios, 4BIO and UPMC Enterprise).
France > Industry focus: Telecoms Tier 2
The tech and comms team at the Paris office of Bird & Bird offers the strength of its global network and experience in advising operators, public entities, governments and international institutions across the telecoms area. Headed by information technology expert Stéphane Leriche and network rollout specialist Frédérique Dupuis-Toubol, the group’s full service covers regulatory compliance, commercial agreements, infrastructure deployment and public law issues, competition regulation, emerging markets and contentious litigation in the sector. Counsel Willy Mikalef advises on ePrivacy regulation. Senior associate Mélanie Bercot represents telecom operators in disputes before administrative authorities.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Bird & Bird has an in-depth knowledge of French actors and ecosystems in and around the telecoms sector.’
‘Excellent expertise for cross-border transactions with many complex issues associated.’
Key clients
Aircall
Celeste
Selafa Mja (on behalf of KOSC and KOSC Infrastructures)
Dauphin Telecom
Société du Grand Paris
Saga Africa Holdind Limited (Free Senegal)
Telma
Onoff Telecom
Work highlights
- Advised French telecom Aircall on regulatory issues in France and in 26 countries in their successful deal with Goldman Sachs to raise $120m.
- Advising Celeste, a French optical fiber operator, on a regular basis on its acquisition and refinancing operations and on drafting its standard contractual policy.
- Advised Société du Grand Paris on the exact scope of its telecom specific competence and the conditions under which it may deploy and operate a telecom network and provide services.
France > Insolvency Tier 2
Bird & Bird has noticeably gained in market shares in France, having received a high volume of new matters from banks and banking pools to act in many of the market’s largest restructuring and insolvency cases. The team is notably involved in matters from the naval construction, hospitality, tourism, retail and manufacturing sectors. It regularly acts in sensitive matters in which the French state also intervenes and advised the French state on a high-profile industrial case. Related litigation is also handled.vRomain de Ménonville and Nicolas Morelli co-head the practice, which also includes counsel Céline Nézet.Practice head(s):
Romain de Ménonville; Nicolas Morelli
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team of partners shows great availability, intellectual agility, great pedagogy and great courtesy. Nicolas Morelli is a very great lawyer, who demonstrates accuracy and finesse in his legal analysis as well as good balance in negotiations.’
‘Great ability to listen and to make accessible and intelligible elements that are not accessible to business leaders. Great ability to understand the context and the challenges for the company; excellent ability to take the bird’s eye view and to step aside always at the right time. Provider of solutions and different scenarios. Professional and experienced team.’
‘Ability to mobilise quickly to bid on a file. Romain de Ménonville’s team is used to working with banks and is now well known and recognised even at local bank level (which makes it easier to choose a consultant when there are multiple banks). A well-established and attentive team.’
‘Excellent team. Very constructive, transaction-oriented and good pedagogy to assist clients with decision making’
Key clients
Bred Banque Populaire
BNP Paribas
Natixis and the BPCE group
Société Générale
Group Crédit Agricole
SCI Les Salins
UPS France
HSBC
Barclays PLC
Arkéa Entreprises et Institutionnels
Caisse d’Epargne
CIC
Phildar
French State
Work highlights
- Advising Bred Banque Populaire on challenging claims filed during the safeguard proceedings of Rallye.
- Advising the French State in relation to a strategic debt restructuring of an industrial engineering contractor and equipment manufacturer.
- Advising a pool of banks on the comprehensive financial restructuring of the Buffalo Grill group.
France > Private equity: venture/growth capital Tier 2
Bird & Bird assists clients with every stage of the business cycle, including early-stage financing, fundraising, licensing, commercial transactions, and exits through M&A or IPOs. The firm has continued to strengthen its position in the venture capital space by handling several fundraisings with international venture capital funds. Gildas Louvel is active in private equity transactions for both public and private companies and co-heads the team with Emmanuelle Porte, who is an expert in the life sciences and healthcare sector. David Malcoiffe has extensive experience in advising investment funds and start-up companies in private equity and venture capital transactions, while Bertrand Levy focuses on transactions in the technology sector.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Archimed
Eight Roads Ventures
CorWave
Sparing Vision
DSMC
GrAI Matter Labs
Pixium Vision
Isatis Capital
Prophesee
Motion Equity Partners
PP Yarns & Co (Phildar)
BPI – Fonds Patient Autonome
SCALINX
CLIMB UP
Demeter
ByMyCar
Work highlights
- Advised ByMyCar on one of the largest management buy-ins in the French market.
- Advised ArchiMed on three simultaneous acquisitions: Imabiotech in France, Pyxant Labs Inc. and additional assets in the US.
- Advised SparingVision, a biotechnology company on its €44.5m Series A2 fund raising subscribed by its historic investors (BPI, Foundation Fighting Blindness) and new investors (Jeito, Ysios, 4BIO and UPMC Enterprise).
France > Industry focus: Energy Tier 3
Bird & BirdPractice head(s):
Sibylle Weiler; Boris Martor
Testimonials
‘The firm is able to mobilise various skills to provide a global response to the clients’ needs.’
‘Boris Martor has strong knowledge of construction, energy and Africa projects and supports his clients with pragmatism and an operational vision.’
Key clients
Volkswind GmbH
Envitec AG
RTE Eirgrid CELTIC interconnector
Eiffage Energy system
State of Guinée
Canadian Solar
West Africa Power Pool
ENGIE
WKN France SAS PNE AG
JDR Cable Systems Ltd
Electricité du Mali
Enagas
Terna
Boreas SARL
Acciona
Alight
Ferme Eolienne de la Belle Etoile
Poste de la Couture
Baywa r.e. France
Ferme Eolienne d’Haucourt
Volkswind GmbH
Envitec AG
RTE Eirgrid CELTIC interconnector
Eiffage Energy system
State of Guinée
Canadian Solar
West Africa Power Pool
ENGIE
WKN France SAS PNE AG
JDR Cable Systems Ltd
Electricité du Mali
Enagas
Terna
Boreas SARL
Acciona
Alight
Ferme Eolienne de la Belle Etoile
Poste de la Couture
Baywa r.e. France
Ferme Eolienne d’Haucourt
Work highlights
- Advising French and Irish TSOs (RTE and Eir Grid) on the procurement and construction aspects related to the Celtic Interconnector construction project.
- Negotiating multi-party tender contracts with respect to offshore cabling and offshore construction contracts (EPC Contracts), as well as consortium contracts and collaterals.
- Advising Envitec AG on EPC financing as well as on corporate and restructuring matters.
France > Banking and finance: transactional work Tier 4
Bird & BirdPractice head(s):
Boris Martor
Testimonials
‘Accessible partners.’
‘Particularly effective collaboration between the restructuring and banking and finance teams. Very good knowledge of the public sector, which is an asset in certain cases.’
‘Sharp expertise, reachability and proactiveness.’
Key clients
Banque Palatine
BNP Paribas
Enterome
Norddeutsche Landesbank
Barclays
SVM Group
Gunvor
Airbus
Société Générale
Work highlights
- Advised Banque Palatine, Caisse d’Epargne Ile de France and Banque Neuflize OBC as senior lenders on the financing of the acquisition of Pure Trade Worldwide by Sparring Capital.
- Assisted Barclays, Société Générale and Arkéa Banques & Entreprises with the €65m French state guarantee loan aimed at financing the general corporate needs of the Buffalo Grill Group.
- Advised Société Générale, Arkéa Banque Enterprises et Institutionnels, Crédit Lyonnais, CIC Sud-Quest and Goldman Sachs on the restructuring of the financial indebtedness of Latécoére.
France > Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation Tier 4
Bird & BirdPractice head(s):
Nicolas Morelli
Other key lawyers:
Anne-Florence Raducault; Djazia Tiourtite
Testimonials
‘Perfect follow-up.’
‘Good listening skills.’
Key clients
Renault
Aéroport de Lyon
SunPower Energy Solutions France SAS
Dayco Europe
Photosol
Airbus
Plastipak
Bjorg Bonneterre et Cie (Ecotone)
Materne
Work highlights
- Advising Renault in relation to pre-litigation and litigation with strategic distressed suppliers, such as MBF Aluminium and Sintertech.
- Representing SunPower Energy Solutions France SAS in several disputes with former subsidiaries of a carved-out overseas division in relation to alleged safety defects of tens of thousands of solar panels.
- Assisting PHOTOSOL in a dispute with 3SUN, 3. ENEL GREEN POWER S.P.A and SHARP (EUROP) ELECTRONICS LIMITED concerning the supply of defective solar panels to PHOTOSOL.
France > Administrative and public law Tier 5
Bird & BirdPractice head(s):
Boris Martor
Other key lawyers:
Jean-Claude Vecchiatto
Key clients
RTE Network No
LADOM No
BayWa r.e. France No
Société du Grand Paris No
Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group
Ministry of Post and Digital Economy from Togo
An US Defence company
Electricité du Mali
Expertise France
Work highlights
- Advising Société du Grand Paris on the implementation of an innovative transport and communication system for the Paris area.
- Advising Expertise France and the Federal Housing corporation of Ethiopia on a large PPP accommodation project.
France > Mergers and acquisitions Tier 5
Bird & BirdPractice head(s):
Emmanuelle Porte; Gildas Louvel
Other key lawyers:
David Malcoiffe; Anne-Cécile Hansson; Bertrand Lévy; Carole Bodin
Testimonials
‘Very good mastery of files and autonomy in monitoring. Good contact and responsiveness.’
‘Carole Bodin – deal maker; good technique and very good contact; careful follow-up of the file; reasoned and efficient delegation.’
Key clients
BPI (Fonds SPI)
Groupe PSA (now Stellantis following merger with FCA)
PIXIUM VISION
Sparing Vision
IMPLANET
Ahlstrom-Munksjö
Celeste
Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations
SUEZ
SVP Group
Covetrus
NovAlix
Work highlights
- Assisted Groupe PSA (PSA Automobiles SA and Opel Gmbh) with setting up a joint venture, Automotive Cells Company (ACC), with Total/Saft, dedicated to the production of batteries for electric vehicles.
- Advising Fonds SPI on the sale of its stake in Yposkesi (together with H-MRB, from the AFM-Téléthon group, seller as well) to SK Pharmteco (South-Korean industrial).
- Advising Celeste, a French optical fiber operator, on two acquisitions: Groupe Stella, a regional optical fiber operator and Oceanet Technology, a regional optical fiber and data center operator.
Bird & Bird > Firm Profile
The firm: Bird & Bird is an international law firm, with a long-established reputation for having a rare and invaluable grasp of strategic commercial issues. The firm combines exceptional legal expertise with deep industry knowledge and refreshingly creative thinking, to help clients operating at the forefront of their industries to achieve their commercial goals.
Bird & Bird has over 1,400 lawyers and legal practitioners with broad advisory transactional and contentious capability, with a particular focus on key industry sectors. The firm has an extensive international reach with 31 offices across Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, United States and Africa, offering a seamless, cross-border service between locations and sector and practice groups.
Bird & Bird France has offices in Paris and Lyon. It has a leading position in: communications, information technology, digital transformation, privacy and data protection, media, aviation, intellectual property (trade marks, domain names, copyrights and patents) and life sciences.
Along with its sector-based approach, the firm provides a full range of legal services including: Banking & Finance, Corporate, Tax, Commercial law, Dispute Resolution, Restructuring and Insolvency, Employment, Competition and EU, Public Procurement, Real estate and Regulatory.
The French offices, headed by Emmanuelle Porte and Alexandre Vuchot, comprise over 135 lawyers, including 28 partners.
Areas of practice: Underpinned by deep client and industry knowledge, the firm’s key sectors include:
Automotive: advising on all stages of a life cycle of a motor vehicle, from initial design, to sales and distribution, through to disposals.
Aviation, aerospace, defence and security: advising on asset management and financing, civil aviation matters, including airlines, regulatory and competition issues, and aerospace and defence, including PPP/PFI and product liability.
Electronics: advising clients operating in or serving the electronics industry, from R&D and component manufacturing, to technology licensing agreements.
Energy and utilities: advising large multinationals, investors, project companies and large energy consumers on electricity generation, energy trading, renewable energy, cleantech and climate change, and upstream oil and gas.
Financial services: advising global clients in the financial services sector, such as global retail and investment banks, investors and hedge funds, on transactions, regulatory issues, commercial contracts and dispute resolution.
Food and beverage: advising on a full range of areas, including branding, labelling, health claims, fair trade and patents on novel foods.
Life sciences and healthcare: advising clients in biotechnology, bioinformatics and pharmaceutical companies on licensing and drug development agreements, R&D collaboration, IP acquisitions and joint ventures.
Media and entertainment: advising clients from across the media spectrum on a wide range of issues, including exploitation across all forms of digital media and emerging areas, such as user-generated content exploitation.
Sports: advising clients such as national and international sports governing bodies, event organisers and sponsors on issues including exploitation of commercial rights, brand management, regulatory and disciplinary issues.
Technology and communications: advising on matters ranging from smaller innovative projects to some of the largest, most complex and ground-breaking transactions and disputes of recent years. Its team includes lawyers with a particular focus on communications, devices and components, digital tech and eCommerce, and software and services as well as a number of more specialist industries including data centres, postal and satellites.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banking & Finance | Jean-Claude Vecchiatto | ||
| Commercial | Alexandre Vuchot | ||
| Competition | Thomas Oster | ||
| Corporate | Gildas Louvel | ||
| Corporate | David Malcoiffe | ||
| Corporate | Emmanuelle Porte | ||
| Corporate | Anne-Cécile Hansson | ||
| Corporate | Bertrand Lévy | ||
| Data protection | Ariane Mole | ||
| Data protection | Merav Griguer | ||
| Dispute resolution | Anne-Florence Raducault | ||
| Employment | Benjamine Fiedler | ||
| Employment | Nathalie Devernay | ||
| Intellectual property | Yves Bizollon | ||
| Intellectual property | Géraldine Arbant | ||
| Intellectual property | Anne-Charlotte Le Bihan | ||
| Restructuring | Nicolas Morelli | ||
| Information technology | Stéphane Leriche | ||
| Tax | Laurence Clot | ||
| Telecommunications | Frédérique Dupuis-Toubol | ||
| Fintech | Cathie-Rosalie Joly | ||
| Banking & Finance | Boris Martor | ||
| International Arbitration | Jalal El Ahdab | ||
| Dispute Resolution | Djazia Tiourtite | ||
| Energy | Sibylle Weiler | ||
| Tax | Benjamin Lichtlé | ||
| Corporate | Xavier Leroux | ||
| Corporate | Carole Bodin |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Ms Geraldine Arbant | Geraldine’s practice encompasses the full spectrum of transactional and advisory IP work,… | View Profile |
 | Mr Yves Bizollon | Yves is renowned for his extensive experience in patent litigation. Yves is… | View Profile |
 | Ms Nathalie Devernay | Nathalie is an experienced employment lawyer with a clear international and client… | View Profile |
 | Mr Benjamin Lichtlé | Benjamin is a partner in charge of the French tax practice, advising… | View Profile |
 | Mr David Malcoiffe | David is a leading corporate lawyer advising on mergers & acquisitions, joint… | View Profile |
 | Ms Anne-Florence Raducault | Anne-Florence has a particular interest in the civil and criminal risks in… | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 1,400 in this country : 135Languages
English FrenchOther
Other offices : Abu Dhabi Other offices : Amsterdam Other offices : Beijing Other offices : Bratislava Other offices : Brussels Other offices : Budapest Other offices : Copenhagen Other offices : Dubai Other offices : Dusseldorf Other offices : Frankfurt Other offices : Hamburg Other offices : Helsinki Other offices : Hong Kong Other offices : London Other offices : Luxembourg Other offices : Madrid Other offices : Milan Other offices : Munich Other offices : Paris Other offices : Prague Other offices : Rome Other offices : Shanghai Other offices : Singapore Other offices : Stockholm Other offices : Sydney Other offices : The Hague Other offices : WarsawBird & Bird > Firm Profile
The firm: Bird & Bird is an international law firm, with a long-established reputation for having a rare and invaluable grasp of strategic commercial issues. The firm combines exceptional legal expertise with deep industry knowledge and refreshingly creative thinking, to help clients operating at the forefront of their industries to achieve their commercial goals.
Bird & Bird has over 1,400 lawyers and legal practitioners with broad advisory transactional and contentious capability, with a particular focus on key industry sectors. The firm has an extensive international reach with 31 offices in 21 countries across Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, offering a seamless, cross-border service between locations and sector and practice groups
Bird & Bird France has offices in Paris and Lyon. It has a leading position in: communications, information technology, digital transformation, privacy and data protection, media, aviation, intellectual property (trade marks, domain names, copyrights and patents) and life sciences.
Along with its sector-based approach, the firm provides a full range of legal services including: corporate, tax, commercial, dispute resolution, restructuring and insolvency, employment, competition and EU, public procurement, real estate and regulatory.
The French offices, headed by Emmanuelle Porte and Alexandre Vuchot, comprise over 135 lawyers, including 28 partners.
Areas of practice: Underpinned by deep client and industry knowledge, the firm’s key sectors include:
Automotive: advising on all stages of a life cycle of a motor vehicle, from initial design, to sales and distribution, through to disposals.
Aviation, aerospace, defence and security: advising on asset management and financing, civil aviation matters, including airlines, regulatory and competition issues, and aerospace and defence, including PPP/PFI and product liability.
Electronics: advising clients operating in or serving the electronics industry, from R&D and component manufacturing, to technology licensing agreements.
Energy and utilities: advising large multinationals, investors, project companies and large energy consumers on electricity generation, energy trading, renewable energy, cleantech and climate change, and upstream oil and gas.
Financial services: advising global clients in the financial services sector, such as global retail and investment banks, investors and hedge funds, on transactions, regulatory issues, commercial contracts and dispute resolution.
Food and beverage: advising on a full range of areas, including branding, labelling, health claims, fair trade and patents on novel foods.
Life sciences and healthcare: advising clients in biotechnology, bioinformatics and pharmaceutical companies on licensing and drug development agreements, R&D collaboration, IP acquisitions and joint ventures.
Media and entertainment: advising clients from across the media spectrum on a wide range of issues, including exploitation across all forms of digital media and emerging areas, such as user-generated content exploitation.
Sports: advising clients such as national and international sports governing bodies, event organisers and sponsors on issues including exploitation of commercial rights, brand management, regulatory and disciplinary issues.
Technology and communications: advising on matters ranging from smaller innovative projects to some of the largest, most complex and ground-breaking transactions and disputes of recent years. Its team includes lawyers with a particular focus on communications, devices and components, digital tech and eCommerce, and software and services as well as a number of more specialist industries including data centres, postal and satellites.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial | Alexandre Vuchot | alexandre.vuchot@twobirds.com | 01 42 68 60 00 |
| Corporate | Emmanuelle Porte | emmanuelle.porte@twobirds.com | 01 42 68 60 00 |
| Marketing | Juliette Arnaud | juliette.arnaud@twobirds.com | 01 42 68 63 29 |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 1,400 in this country : 135Languages
English FrenchOther
Other offices : Abu Dhabi Other offices : Amsterdam Other offices : Beijing Other offices : Bratislava Other offices : Brussels Other offices : Budapest Other offices : Copenhagen Other offices : Dubai Other offices : Dusseldorf Other offices : Frankfurt Other offices : Hamburg Other offices : Helsinki Other offices : Hong Kong Other offices : London Other offices : Luxembourg Other offices : Lyon Other offices : Madrid Other offices : Milan Other offices : Munich Other offices : Prague Other offices : Rome Other offices : Shanghai Other offices : Singapore Other offices : Stockholm Other offices : Sydney Other offices : The Hague Other offices : Warsaw Other offices : Casablanca Other offices : Dublin Other offices : Paris Other offices : San FranciscoDiversity
Bird & Bird: Our commitment
At Bird & Bird, we know that employing a diverse group of people from different backgrounds is the key to our future development and continued success. The firm has a strong commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. Numerous actions are carried out at Bird & Bird
Bird & Bird & Commitment to gender equality
For the past 20 years, the gender balance among partners has never ceased to be equal (56.5% of women partners in France) and this parity is also reflected in the firm’s management, since the Executive Committee of Bird & Bird France is composed of three women and three men.
Equal pay is ensured by the establishment of a pay scale based on objective criteria.
The reconciliation of personal and professional life and equality in career development are key values. The “Women’s Development Program” brings together high-potential female employees for a three-day seminar in London each year. Under the guidance of a coach, they identify the obstacles to women’s careers, meet inspiring and caring women who are role models and create a network within the firm.
Many other initiatives are carried out by the firm, such as Lady@bird or Together® and in partnership with associations such as PWN (Professional Women Network), or the Club XXIe siècle (Revel@Her mentoring programme).
The firm received the Simone Veil “Coup de Coeur du Jury” award from the Paris Bar Association on 11 March 2019, at the end of the First Conference on Equality. This prize rewards and values the positive actions implemented by Bird & Bird on daily basis to promote gender equality, diversity, and Equality “by design”.
Bird & Bird was also awarded the Ethics and Diversity Law Trophy at the 20th edition of the Law Trophies organised by the magazine Décideurs Leaders League. This trophy rewards all the measures put in place to promote equality and social diversity.
Bird & Bird & equal opportunities & the fight against prejudice
The firm also carries out several actions in favour of equal opportunities and the fight against discrimination.
Four of our partners are active members of Club XXIe siècle, including one member of the Board of Directors.
In addition to promoting the Viens Voir Mon Taf, action and welcoming students from secondary located in REP (French Republic) using the ViensVoirMonTaf platform, Bird & Bird provides legal assistance to this young association whose mission is to help 3rd grade students “without a network” to access professional places that are usually inaccessible to them.
Bird & Bird is a signatory to the Diversity Charter, which guides organisations to implement concrete actions and innovative practices, as well as to l’Autre Cercle’s LGBT Commitment Charter, which commits the firm to ensuring that its practices do not discriminate against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender people. These commitments complement the actions of Bird & Bird’s international networks STANDOUT Standout and Embrace.
Bird & Bird & digital social responsibility
Our sectoral expertise is used to support the Urgence Identité Afrique Fund which aims to remedy the lack of civil identity on the African continent, where 95 million children under the age of 5 have not been registered at birth. We also assist the Marseille Association for the prevention of cyber-bullying in schools.
Comparative Guides
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Germany: Pharmaceutical Advertising
Published: December 2022
Authors: Christian Lindenthal
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview to Pharmaceutical Advertising laws and regulations that may occur in Germany.
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France: Pharmaceutical Advertising
Published: November 2022
Authors: Alexandre Vuchot Johanna Harelimana
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview to Pharmaceutical Advertising laws and regulations that may occur in France.
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United Kingdom: Pharmaceutical Advertising
Published: November 2022
Authors: Sally Shorthose Pieter Erasmus Hadrien Espiard
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview to Pharmaceutical Advertising laws and regulations that may occur in United Kingdom.
- Data privacy and data protection
- Industry focus: IT and internet
- Intellectual property: Copyright
- Intellectual property: Patents
- Intellectual property: Trade marks and designs
- The regions