JUVE Comment

For its small size, this well-positioned team is active in an impressive amount of patent litigation for international clients in the French part of pan-European or even global proceedings. Litigation for Fresenius Medical Care and Zentiva has helped to raise the visibility of the team, led by Benjamin May. This experience also earned the practice a spot on the panel of an international generics manufacturer. Alongside a solid base of clients in pharma, medical device manufacturers also bank on Aramis. The practice added clients from digital technologies and electronics to its portfolio, as demonstrated by litigation for Enyx in a complex suit involving software patents.

Looking to build on this area further, the team brought in a young lawyer accomplished in SEP litigation. The departure of counsel Louis Jestaz, however, was a setback. He was experienced in patent litigation and had already carved out a profile in the market.

Strengths

Litigation for life sciences clients.

European set-up

The French litigation team of this national full-service firm does not nurture any formal partnerships or fixed ties to firms in other countries. Nevertheless, its patent litigation experience is almost exclusively based on the French part of international cases, especially for pharma clients like Zentiva versus Eli Lilly, but also for clients in other industries like Belmoca against Douwe Egberts in consumer goods.

Like many traditional French law firms and IP boutiques, Aramis has so far relied on close though non-exclusive contacts with international partners. For the UPC, however, the team will have to decide whether its independent national set-up is the best option for its clients in the long term. Thanks to its experience, Aramis makes a good sparring partner for German, Dutch or British firms and is currently working on strengthening its ties with various outfits in these countries on a preferred partner basis.

Recommended individuals

Benjamin May (“thinks outside the box”, competitor)

Team

5 lawyers

Specialties

Strong focus on litigation in patents. Some transactions and cross-border licensing agreements.

Clients

Litigation: Allergan (defendant) against Laboratoires Vivacy in anti-suit injunction over injectable aesthetic gels; Arcadophta & BVI France (claimant) against Alchimia and Ophta France over ophthalmic surgery; Fresenius Medical Care (claimant) against Nipro Medical over dialysers; Zentiva (defendant) against Eli Lilly over cancer drug pemetrexed; Angus International (claimant) against Bio Ex over fire-retardant foam for aeroplanes; Belmoca (defendant) against Jacobs Douwe Egberts over coffee capsules, including seizure; Enyx (defendant) against Novasparks over software; INRIA in inventor’s rights case.