JUVE Comment

The well-positioned IP team of this full-service firm follows a project-based advisory approach on the interface with commercial, IT and corporate. Notable national and international corporates bank on DGF, for instance for advice on licenses during deals. The firm has its core clients among French SMEs from the life sciences, automotive and energy sectors, as well as packaging and consumer goods. Francine Le Péchon-Joubert’s team is now seen alongside renowned competitors like August Debouzy or Duclos Thorne Molle-Vieville in patent disputes, e.g. for a supplier of electricity and telecommunications solutions (co-defendant) against a US submetering system company over smart energy technology.

European strategy

DGF does not have its own international network, but cultivates informal cooperations with various firms in Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, the US, South Korea and Italy, including some who are market leaders in their own countries. The small Brussels office is positioned more for corporate and unfair competition/antitrust than for IP. The firm therefore also works with cooperation partners in Belgium for patent issues.

Recommended individuals

Francine Le Péchon-Joubert (“very hands-on, works directly with various stakeholders in our company to enable an efficient communication and exchange of information”, client)

Team

6 partners, 9 associates

Specialties

IP practice within a full-service firm with a broad setup. Patent litigation, employee invention rights, FTO and trade secrets as well as IP advice on transactions.

Clients

Litigation: Tyron Runflat (defendant) against Hutchinson over automotive wheel; Japanese manufacturer of special glass (defendant) against pharmaceutical company and contact lense manufacturer over medical device for eye surgery; supplier of electricity and telecommunications solutions (co-defendant) against US submetering system company over smart energy technology; producer of non-invasive diagnostics solutions (claimant) against Chinese competitor over device for liver diagnostics.