JUVE Comment

This well-positioned and highly traditional IP boutique is a pioneer when it comes to patent attorneys and litigators working together in the French patent scene. The team around the two name partners, lawyer Arnaud Casalonga and patent attorney Axel Casalonga, was one of the first in France to strategically follow a mixed approach. Even before the legislator permitted mixed firms, the two professional groups worked together in separate units. Accordingly, close cooperation is deeply rooted in the firm’s DNA today. Even independently of each other, both parts of the firm enjoy an excellent reputation, especially for the all-round litigation for pharma companies before French courts and the EPO. The team often operates on the side of generics manufacturers. Casalonga was also active for a client from the communications sector in FRAND proceedings, but does not yet enjoy the visibility of other teams like August Debouzy in this sector. The Casalonga patent attorneys are also active in other sectors, including automobiles, cosmetics and chemicals. But the litigation practice only benefits to a limited extent from this, as these clients tend to rarely be involved in the major patent disputes. The past year saw the firm increase its associate headcount both of lawyers and patent attorneys. This means it is still one of the largest patents practices in the market and is thus able to deploy large teams in the major proceedings.

Strengths

Litigation for generics manufacturers.

European strategy

Casalonga is present on the EPO’s home turf with its office in Munich. The traditional French boutique has also nurtured a network of patent law firms in Europe for years. Although the traditional firm has a good standing in this regard thanks to long-established relationships, it increasingly competes with smaller outfits for cooperation partners in other countries.

Recommended individuals

Arnaud Casalonga, Marianne Gabriel, (“my best competitor, very professional, competent and good with clients”, competitor); patent attorneys: Francis Zapalowicz (“very good patent attorney with excellent strategic skills”, competitor; digital communication and computer technology, electronics).

Team

5 partners, 3 associates, 13 patent attorneys

Specialties

Full-service patent prosecution practice with a strong focus on life sciences, medical devices, automotive, electronics and the energy sector, including revocation cases and EPO proceedings. Litigation mostly for pharma companies, as well as some cases in electronics and mechanics.

Clients

Litigation: a leading European provider of telecommunication solutions against a non-practising entity concerning SEPs; a leading French pharmaceutical firm against several patents owners over SPCs and various drugs; German automotive supplier against provider of solutions for industrial drying materials over glass recycling system.