Intellectual Property
Europe Guide 2024 : France
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+33 1 4561 5180About
Provided by August Debouzy
Headed by 2 well-recognized IP specialists, Grégoire Desrousseaux and François Pochart, August Debouzy’s IP team provides a complete range of legal services, including litigation, both at the national and European levels, and strategic advice aimed at valuing, protecting and transferring IP rights (licensing and freedom-to-operate opinions, patent prosecution before the EPO, IT contracts, transfers of know-how and technology and optimizing trademark portfolios). The IP team frequently leads the way to shaping first-of-a-kind solutions to complex intellectual property issues and disputes, and help their clients in finding creative solutions to reach out of court settlements that often allow them to avoid lengthy and costly litigation proceedings.
August Debouzy is one of the only firms in the French market that can provide in one and only team, such a high level of technical understanding and the capabilities to act in litigation. Over 50% of the IP team’s work includes patent litigation before courts in France (infringement, nullity actions, compensation for employees’ invention and appeals against the decisions of the French Patent Office) or before the EPO (opposition).
The IP lawyers regularly team up with the firm’s tax, corporate, employment and competition law teams (the latter notably on FRAND issues in the telecom area). For example, the firm’s copyright expertise is strengthened by a solid knowledge of taxation schemes, and of employees’ creations and inventions.
Chambers Review
August Debouzy's exceptional team advises on all aspects of IP cases. The department has notable expertise in patent issues before the French courts and the European Patent Office, in addition to experience in assisting with trade secret cases. The law firm acts on infringement and nullity proceedings as well as patent prosecution and FRAND disputes. The team is instructed by an array of international names from the pharmaceutical, telecommunications, automotive and technology industries. The firm is also equipped to handle trade mark and copyright matters, such as parasitism, unfair competition and registrations.
Work Highlights
- August Debouzy advised Nipro on an infringement action launched by Fresenius regarding a dialyser patent.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"August Debouzy is the best in this area. We do a lot of global patent litigation and it fits into our European team seamlessly. We work very closely together and it has a good team. Its global perspective is the reason why we have stuck with it."
"The firm has a good combination of technical and legal understanding."
"August Debouzy is strong on relevant issues, and has a lot of experience in court and in doing good work with other lawyers, firms and judges."
"It cannot be questioned that August Debouzy has a remarkable team. It is on top of the market."
"The firm is very strong in patent litigation in France."
"August Debouzy is the best in this area. We do a lot of global patent litigation and it fits into our European team seamlessly. We work very closely together and it has a good team. Its global perspective is the reason why we have stuck with it."
"The firm has a good combination of technical and legal understanding."
"August Debouzy is strong on relevant issues, and has a lot of experience in court and in doing good work with other lawyers, firms and judges."
"It cannot be questioned that August Debouzy has a remarkable team. It is on top of the market."
"The firm is very strong in patent litigation in France."
Notable Practitioners
François Pochart accesses the top band this year and is highly active in a range of patent-related matters, including nullity proceedings, trade secrets and opposition and infringement disputes. He is also well placed to handle international cases and has experience in representing clients before the European Patent Office.
"François Pochart is easy to work with. He is very approachable and knowledgeable at the same time."
"He fully masters his specialty and knows how to adapt to his customers. He is a pleasure to work with."
"François Pochart is a fierce litigator."
Grégoire Desrousseaux draws from a wealth of experience and represents clients in complex patent infringements, nullity actions and opposition proceedings. He routinely handles cross-border and domestic mandates for clients in the telecommunications, medtech and automotive sectors.
"Grégoire is very experienced and strong in this field."
"He is the master of patents at August Debouzy."
"I am very impressed by Grégoire Desrousseaux. He is very clear and gets on top of the technology and detail very well."
Ranked Lawyers at
August Debouzy
France
Industries
Provided by August Debouzy
Aerospace & Defense
Automobile
Chemicals
Construction & materials
Energy
Food & Drink producers
Health care
Industrial engineering
Media
Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences
Retail
Software
Sports
Technology, Hardware & Electronics
Telecommunications
Transportation
Travel & Leisure