JUVE Comment

Like few other firms, Pinsent Masons follows a pronounced sector focus across all advisory fields and international offices. The work of the well-positioned Paris IP team in patent litigation and licensing thus largely focuses on clients from pharma and life sciences as well as technology, especially in the automotive and aviation sectors. The firm relies heavily on its international network, especially the patents practices in the UK and Germany, with whom the team conducts pan-European proceedings like those for Accord and Teva. But the practice generates its own national work to an equal extent, for instance the advice to the research institute in a dispute involving employee invention rights. Besides litigation, Pinsent Masons specialises in advice on licensing agreements in innovative technologies, for which team leader Emmanuel Gougé brings experience and contacts from his previous role in the Licensing Executive Society L.E.S. But Pinsent Masons has yet to enjoy the good visibility of other international patents practices in the French market, such as Allen & Overy or Hogan Lovells, even though the practice recently grew by a counsel and an associate.

Strengths

Licence agreements, trade secrets, employee invention rights.

European strategy

The firm has a strong UK team and has focused on growth in other European jurisdictions in recent years. But while the young Munich team still has to establish itself, the Paris patent team of Pinsent Masons is already well known. Both teams work closely with the London team to support the cross-border litigation work, for example for Accord or Teva. An interesting option could also be opened up in Dublin, especially after the UK’s decision not to take part in the UPC. Here, further expansion makes it likely the Irish capital will become more central to the firm’s UK strategy. Pinsent Masons does not have its own office in the Netherlands, a further important patent litigation location.

Recommended individuals

Emmanuel Gougé

Team

1 partner, 2 counsel, 3 associates

Specialties

Focus on patent litigation concerning technology, especially in automotive and aerospace sector. Licensing projects, FTO analysis and transactions.

Clients

Litigation: Juul Labs (claimant) against competitor in infringement proceedings concerning e-cigarettes; truck and industrial motor manufacturer (defendant) against automotive company in infringement action including saisie-contrefaçon over software; leading tier 1 automotive supplier (claimant) against provider of automotive parts over catalytic depollution technologies; Teva and Accord on FTO analysis and market entry of generics.