JUVE Comment

The mixed team of this international full-service firm frequently represents US companies in the French component of their patent disputes. Practice head Marianne Schaffner litigated, for example, for Assia in a battle with Nokia and Orange over DSL technology.

The firm is banking on a mixed set-up of lawyers and patent attorneys. Clients, chiefly US companies, benefit from Reed Smith’s broad service portfolio covering patent litigation, advice, transaction-based IP, registration and prosecution. Good connections to prosecution clients from the medical devices and life sciences sectors harbour potential for expanding the litigation practice in these hard-fought sectors. The team’s strength is on a par with competitors like Linklaters.

Practice development did suffer a setback, however, with the move of young, dual-qualified partner Thierry Lautier to Bird & Bird. Being very active in litigation, his growing visibility helped boost the visibility of the French Reed Smith patent practice of late. To build on this, bringing in a lawyer experienced in litigation would be a good option, also for UPC litigation.

Strengths

Patent litigation in mixed teams with lawyers and patent attorneys. Also filing and prosecution.

European set-up

With its mixed approach and some experience in cross-border litigation, mainly with the US offices of Reed Smith, the French patent practice of the firm is well positioned for litigation before the UPC. The solid base of US clients could play a part in this going forward, as the interest of US companies in the new court is palpable. That said, the patent practice is not as strongly positioned for the court in Europe as some competitors are. While the small team in London is hardly on the market’s radar, the German office lost its patent expertise with the departure of a Frankfurt-based partner in 2022. Therefore, Reed Smith cannot rely on a well-oiled network of various national offices like competitors can.

Team

3 lawyers, 2 patent attorneys

Partner moves

Thierry Lautier (to Bird & Bird)

Specialties

All-round advice and litigation in all IP matters.

Clients

Litigation: Assia (claimant) against Orange and Nokia over DSL technology. Advice to Bushnell, Brain Corporation, Geomagical Labs, Vista Outdoor (all public knowledge).