JUVE Comment

This IP-focused international law firm is a market leader in Europe and one of the most dynamic challengers to the top dogs in French national patent infringement cases. Its success rests on a substantial roster of international and domestic clients who regard Bird & Bird as their first choice. The French team is one of few in Paris that not only handles numerous long-running infringement cases in high-volume, high-stakes disputes, but also initiates new infringement actions. For instance, it has acted for long-standing client Edwards Lifesciences against Meril, where one dispute has settled but a new extensive case has been launched.

To sustain the practice’s success under the leadership of renowned partner Anne-Charlotte Le Bihan the French team has recruited additional patent attorneys. Partner Thierry Lautier is also becoming increasingly prominent, both in pan-European litigation and in work for the firm’s regular clients such as Valeo, whilst developing his own client base.

With two experienced patent litigation partners in Paris and a substantial team overall, the practice is well positioned to continue attracting important cases in the declining national litigation market and, crucially, to play a central role in the growing UPC market. Although the firm’s large German team is perceived externally as leading, the French team is also actively engaged in proceedings for clients including Valeo and Michelin.

Strengths

Well-oiled pan-European patent litigation across all technical fields.

Recommended individuals

Anne-Charlotte Le Bihan (“highly professional”, competitor)

Team

8 lawyers, 2 patent attorneys, 2 dual qualified

Clients

Litigation: Honeywell Safety Products against Manulatex over personal protective equipment; Edwards Lifesciences against Meril over transcatheter heart valves; Iconeus against Resolve Stroke over system for imaging the cerebral blood flow; Nespresso against K-Fee over coffee capsules; Microsoft against Ferid Allani over icon displays; Akwel against U-Shin over flush handles in automotive vehicles; Akwel against Amosan Distribution, Amosan Petrochemicals and Green Source Engineering over diesel particle filters; Valeo against Magna rotary electric machine (settled 2024); Zodiac against Wybotics on pool robots; Baxter against Mr. Melin over healthcare products (settled 2025); SATT AST (Inserm, University of Bordeaux, CHU de Bordeaux) against ProGeLife over licence agreement on patented invention related to skin cancer; Gerflor against Forbo over floor tiles; Drawn against Blachère Illumination for misappropriation of nine patents; Broadcom against Intellectual Ventures over SEPs for DSL; Minakem against Melchior over method for producing cyclopropane (public knowledge).