JUVE Comment

This well-positioned IP boutique frequently conducts patent litigation for international companies from various sectors. With such notable regular clients as telecoms provider Wiko and pharma companies Merck Millipore and Estar Medical, the firm is active in two of the most important sectors for patent litigation, which frequently draws the attention of new clients. One example is a telecommunications company, which trusted the small team’s comprehensive IP expertise in a dispute over smart-home technology. A steady stream of litigation work is also ensured by numerous French midsized companies, especially from the packaging sector and mechanical and plant engineering, such as TTK and Perrein. The close contacts of Catherine Mateu are another source of regular work, for example for Spanish packaging company Novapet. In addition to a strong focus on litigation work, the team advises on employee invention rights, as well as on licensing and R&D agreements.

Strengths

Patent litigation in a variety of sectors, close contacts to Spanish clients.

European set-up

Despite frequently advising international clients, Armengaud & Guerlain is rarely active in pan-European litigation. Nevertheless, the firm nurtures long-standing, informal contacts among IP firms in key European patent jurisdictions. To be of interest to clients for UPC proceedings, closer partnerships could be advantageous. However, the national boutique will have to compete with other traditional French outfits for the small pool of potential cooperation partners in other countries, especially in the Netherlands and UK.

Recommended individuals

Catherine Mateu

Team

2 partners, 3 associates

Specialties

Exclusively litigation and advice in IP with a strong focus on patents.

Clients

Litigation: Estar Medical against Regenlab over platelet-rich plasma; Merck Millipore and Merck Biodevelopment (defendants) against Sartorius over bioreactors; Novapet (claimant) against PDG Plastiques over packaging; Telecom Design against former employee over employee invention rights after transfer of company assets to another company; TTK (claimant) against Balatchev over breach of contract involving trade secrets; telecommunications company (defendant) against producer of electric appliances over smart-home technology. Frequent advice and litigation for Wiko.