JUVE Comment

This IP boutique is especially well established for patent litigation in the field of telecoms and electronics. Such high-profile clients as LG, Ericsson and Sonos trust in the small team. Name partner Cyrille Amar’s experience is in the field of SEPs; he has now represented the standardisation body ETSI for the third time in a dispute between its members. Following last year’s much-observed lawsuit between Philips and TCL, ETSI is now involved in the patent disputes between Philips and Xiaomi, as well as Philips and Thales, centring on the ETSI rules of procedure. The team also brought Amar’s vast experience in SEP disputes into play when developing a research tool that clients can use to search for specific SEPs. The target group also includes smaller companies away from the telecoms sector who research Internet of Things applications. The tool aims to minimise the risk of future litigation. Alongside the established focus on digital technology, the small team is active for clients from a variety of sectors such as medical devices and construction.

Strengths

Litigation regarding mobile communication patents, including FRAND.

European set-up

The IP boutique does not have any close connections to firms in other countries but does already litigate for clients such as Sonos and Ericsson in the French parts of pan-European proceedings. In view of the UPC, and to continue leveraging the firm’s FRAND expertise, building up a network of IP boutiques in other European countries might be a good idea.

Recommended individuals

Cyrille Amar (“very competent in questions of FRAND and has a great technical understanding”, client)

Team

5 lawyers

Specialties

Patent litigation and advice, incl. on licensing and FTO as well as the IP side of transactions, historically with a strong focus on mobile communications. Also arbitration concerning patents.

Clients

Litigation: ETSI (co-defendant) in litigation of Philips against Xiaomi and Thales over questions of responsibility towards ETSI members; Ericsson (claimant) against Samsung over mobile communications (settled in 2021); Sonos (defendant) against Google and Nest over patents for the control of sound systems via mobile phone; LG Electronics (claimant) against Arçelik over washing machines (settled in 2021); Fabrice Visocekas (claimant) against Vicat over method of producing low-carbon concrete; C2F (claimant) against United Orthopedic over prosthetic knees; Muller/Carrera (claimant) against Texas de France over heating and incineration technology.