JUVE Comment

This small Paris IP boutique is well positioned in patent litigation. Clients from a wide array of technical fields, especially the auto supply, aviation and life sciences industries, frequently call on the team. One highlight was litigation for Thales against Lufthansa (currently at the Court of Appeal) over aviation technology and the dispute over a rejected patent against the INPI. The team increasingly advises on trade secrets in connection with patent disputes. One of the partners specialises in plant-variety protection and Cousin & Associés recently ventured its first steps in the mediation of IP disputes.

Strengths

Patent litigation for a broad spectrum of industries.

European set-up

This national IP boutique traditionally nurtures close ties to firms in Germany. These are to the benefit of its French clients, such as a manufacturer of mobile homes and caravans, for whom the firm coordinates the parallel infringement suits pending before the German courts. Cousin & Associés also has informal relationships with some UK firms. Less frequently, the team is seen in the French proceedings of pan-European disputes, e.g. for Thales against Lufthansa. The team can capitalise on this experience at the UPC for clients, but will be competing with boutiques like Casalonga, who already conduct more pan-European proceedings or work within a well-oiled international network.

Recommended individuals

Sandrine Bouvier-Ravon (“very competent patent litigator”, competitor)

Team

5 lawyers

Specialties

Strong contacts among German clients. Advice on plant-variety protection and trade secrets.

Clients

Litigation: Thales Avionics (defendant) against Lufthansa over technology used for in-flight electronics plugs (Court of Appeal); Thales (claimant) against INPI over refusal to grant a patent; Kubota (claimant) against INPI over refusal of a divisional application; US pharma company (defendant) in nullity proceedings; HB Fuller (defendant) against Chimiquement Votre over starch glues; producer of paint, coating and adhesives (defendant) against competitor over coating and metallisation technology; manufacturer of mobile homes and caravans (defendant) against supplier of automotive parts over car seats.