JUVE Comment

The patent team of this national full-service firm is one of the challengers to the French market leaders in patent litigation. The large IP team is especially visible in life sciences litigation. With suits for Celltrion or Sanofi-Aventis, Gide plays a central role in pan-European patent cases – even without a formal international IP network. The team has much experience when it comes to SPC proceedings.

Alongside international pharma corporations, clients include numerous SMEs fighting mainly for mechanics patents. In telecommunications cases, the firm is less visible overall than market leaders August Debouzy and Hoyng ROKH Monegier Véron. But the Gide team gained ground with new suits for the NPE WSOU against Huawei and ZTE. Thus, it is making greater strides in this sector than, for example, the team from Allen & Overy.

Strengths

Representation of originator and generic drugs manufacturers in pharmaceutical cases.

European strategy

Although Gide has its own offices in London and Brussels, the firm does not advise on IP from these locations. Instead, it maintains close but non-exclusive contacts with various law firms, mainly in the UK, the Netherlands and Germany. In the latter, the firm works closely with German IP boutique Arnold Ruess, for example for Sanofi. In addition, there is a long-standing cooperation with similarly independent German firm Gleiss Lutz, through which Gide rarely advises clients on patent-related issues, but more often on soft IP.

Recommended individuals

Jean-Hyacinthe de Mitry, Raphaëlle Dequiré-Portier (“reliable litigator,” competitor), Grégoire Triet, Emmanuel Larere

Team

5 partners, 11 associates, 1 of counsel

Specialties

Strong focus on litigation in patents, especially pharma, biotech and life sciences. Strategic advice on trade secrets concerning seizure (saisie-contrefaçon).

Clients

Litigation: Beckman Coulter (defendant) against Brahms in infringement case with product seizures over blood testing for sepsis; Celltrion (claimant) against Biogen, Genentech and Hoffmann-La Roche over cancer drug; Curis (claimant) against INPI over SPC for cancer treatment (Court of Appeal); Guerbet (defendant) against Bayer over medical imaging (Court of Appeal); Maury Imprimeur (defendant) against France Routage over inserting machines; Meril (defendant) against Edwards Lifesciences over heart valves; Ono Pharmaceutical and Bristol-Myers Squibb (claimant) against INPI on SPCs on immunotherapies treatments; Sanofi-Aventis (claimant) against Mylan over pen syringe for the injection of a biosimilar of Lantus; Teoxane (defendant) against Vivacy over dermal fillers; WSOU (claimant) against Huawei over mobile communication; WSOU (claimant) against ZTE over mobile communication. Frequent advice for Johnson & Johnson.