JUVE Comment

With its mixed setup, this French firm’s patent litigation team is a first port of call, particularly for French companies and international clients whose patent infringement cases first arise in France. While the team ranks among the market leaders in French national litigation and regularly handles economically significant EPO oppositions for numerous long-standing clients, it has thus far often found itself overshadowed by German firms in UPC litigation. This is partly because many international companies prefer to file their cases before German divisions, typically choosing lawyers familiar with German judges. Nevertheless, dual-qualified partners Grégoire Desrousseaux and François Pochart enjoy an outstanding reputation, making the team one of Paris’ most sought-after practices. The firm does not suffer the internal conflicts over case allocation often seen in international firms. Though the team has grown only moderately recently, it remains sufficiently sized to handle numerous complex cases, having developed both an additional partner internally and a cadre of experienced junior lawyers.

The practice recently attracted several new cases from French clients such as Michelin. In other matters, such as Ona Patents’ action against Apple and Google, the firm was brought in alongside Kather Augenstein to provide the French perspective. Its advanced proceedings for regular client HP demonstrate that international companies seeking to file UPC cases in Paris trust August Debouzy.

Strengths

In-depth litigation expertise in medtech and electronics. Close combination of technical and legal expertise.

Recommended individuals

Grégoire Desrousseaux (“circumspect and tenacious”, competitor)

Team

7 patent attorneys, 9 lawyers, 3 dual qualified

Clients

Abbott Diabetes Care against Sinocare and Menarini over glucose-monitoring devices; Ona Patents against Apple and Google over mobile communications; Michelin against Goodyear France over tyres; Smart Strike against Brandline over tricycles; Maytronics against Xingmai over pool cleaning robot; Raccords et Plastiques Nicoll against First Plast France over gutters; HP against Lama France over printing technology; FDE against Canè over filling technology for syringes; ICPillar against Arm over remote control technology; Unilever against IGB over child-proof packaging.