JUVE Comment

This European IP firm is one of France’s market leaders and boasts the largest number of partners renowned in patent litigation. Sabine Agé’s team stands out in the market with a sustainable blend of experienced and up-and-coming litigators, backed up by the technical expertise of two patent attorneys. The team’s integration strategy following the mergers of recent years has thus been a complete success in building up the team. Véron has only been part of the firm for just over two years. However, outsiders comment that the firm does not display any fault lines in the merger, not least thanks to a redistribution of litigation cases amongst partners in order to accelerate integration. This is both within France, as well as cross-border.

Clients entrust the firm with cases spanning a broad technical spectrum. What sets the team apart from its challengers, such as Allen & Overy, is its equally-strong position in mobile communications as in the pharma sector. In telecommunications, the team boasts an impressive list of clients, including Lenovo, Philips, Bouygues Telecom and Orange. The firm handled high-stakes life sciences cases for Gilead, AstraZeneca, Ceva Santé Animale and Sanofi. In international cases, the French partners work consistently with the equally well-positioned partners in Düsseldorf, Munich and Amsterdam.

The team has been growing at a dynamic pace for years and has now appointed a new partner. Even in previous years, it brought many talented young names up through the ranks, whose quality as litigators drew the attention of competitors. With a broad team of partners and a team seeing dynamic growth, the firm is excellently-positioned up against its main competitor in France, August Debouzy.

Strengths

Cross-border litigation over pharma, electronics and telecoms patents.

European strategy

Hoyng ROKH Monegier has established a broad geographical position in Europe through an intelligent merger strategy in 2018. It managed this earlier, and to a greater extent, than other patent litigation firms. The German team, which comprises just as many lawyers as the French team but no patent attorneys, has long been a mainstay at the top of the market. The same is true for the French and Dutch team. In Amsterdam, highly-regarded litigators are working together with patent attorneys. In addition, the firm has small offices in Brussels and Madrid.

Although the firm does not have a UK office, it does have good connections to several top boutiques and international firms. It therefore benefits hugely from cross-selling between its own offices, as well as being called in by well-positioned UK patent practices for pan-European cases.

Recommended individuals

Denis Monégier du Sorbier (“most experienced litigator,” competitor), Sabine Agé (“top, I would follow her wherever she goes,” client; “taking the lead at this law firm,” competitor), Amandine Métier (“excellent litigator,” competitor), Benoît Strowel

Team

7 partners, 1 counsel, 12 associates, of whom 2 are patent attorneys

Specialties

Pan-European IP boutique focusing on patent infringement, proceedings and nullity suits. Also licences, R&D cooperations and transactions. Trademarks and unfair competition.

Clients

Litigation: Lenovo (defendant) against IPCom over SEPs; Philips (claimant) against TCL over SEPs; Bouygues Telecom and Orange (both defendants) against Intellectual Ventures over SEPs; Gilead (defendant) against Teva over SPC for Truvada; AstraZeneca (claimant) against Ratiopharm over fulvestrant; Ceva Santé Animale (defendant) against Bayer over an animal health drug; Sanofi (defendant) against Amgen over Praluent; INPI in an action brought by Daiichi Sankyo against various generic manufacturers over an SPC which lapsed before being reinstated; Umicore (claimant) against Nanomakers over lithium batteries; Volvo Trucks (claimant) against Scania over fuel-saving technologies; Vorwerk (claimant) against Lidl over several patents for Thermomix; Zimmer Biomet (defendant) against Heraeus over bone cement.