JUVE Comment

This small IP boutique is well positioned in the French patent litigation market and primarily advises and litigates for clients from the pharma, mechanics and electronics sectors in patent disputes. The team is praised by clients and competitors alike, especially for its “efficiency and high skill”. In addition to national work, activity focuses on advice to German clients in patent disputes in France. Like Cousin & Associés, Szleper Henry nurtures long-standing contacts in Germany, including some notable companies. For Herrenknecht, a German manufacturer of tunneling technology, it won a first-instance victory against French-Chinese competitor NFM/Creusot. With its broad setup the firm is well set for smaller proceedings. Although a client praised the firm for its work in a life sciences nullity suit, the small team lacks the size needed for large, complex pharma or mobile communications disputes. But non-litigation advice is accounting for more work: examples include contractual issues in technology transfers of public research institutes looking to partner with industry, or patents advice in M&A deals.

Strengths

Patent litigation focusing on pharma, mechanics and electronics.

European strategy

The nationally independent firm banks on good connections in Germany, but does not have a network in other European countries.

Team

2 partners, 1 associate

Specialties

Exclusive activity in IP with a strong focus on patent litigation and trademarks and unfair competition.

Clients

Litigation: Bayer IP (claimant) against Guebert about contrast agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Herrenknecht (claimant) against NFM/Creusot over technology for tunnel advancing; German cosmetics manufacturer (defendant) against French competitor over eyeliner; Kinderman (defendant) against Bar over wireless technology; Innovat (defendant) against Leclere over industrial tooling (revocation); Royal Distribution (defendant) against Kaloud over smoking apparatus; Atelier Robert (defendant) against Emily over agricultural machine; Hussor (claimant) against Outinord over construction technology.