Rankings:

• Litigation: Lawyers

JUVE Comment

This small IP boutique is well positioned in the Paris market and is best known in patent litigation for its notable clients from the telecoms sector. It also boasts a solid client base of French midsized companies. Since splitting from Lavoix three years ago, the team has gained visibility in patent litigation. The work of name partner Cyrille Amar in high-profile telecoms proceedings, e.g. on the side of ETSI in the pan-European dispute between TCL and Philips, drew the most attention in the market. He acted for LG in the dispute against Conversant Wireless and was to thank for the NPE’s controversial SEPs being declared non-essential. Another major mobile telecoms provider, Ericsson, banked on his know-how in high-profile proceedings. Besides these, French clients from a range of industrial sectors, e.g. heating technology or medical devices, frequently call on the team for patent disputes. The firm also advises on licensing and FTO, as well as covering the IP side of deals. Although AGS cannot compete with the headcounts of the established French boutiques and large teams of major international firms, it is seen as being on equal footing as regards the quality of its client base. Amar’s many years of experience as General Counsel for Philips Consumer Communications are also proving an asset. Despite its experience in pharma litigation, however, the team does not appear in the current high-profile pharma cases.

Strengths

Litigation regarding mobile communication patents

European strategy

The IP boutique does not have any close connections to firms in other countries. Especially in view of pan-European mobile phone proceedings, establishing a network of cooperation firms could further advance the IP boutique.

Recommended individuals

Cyrille Amar (“I’d like to hire him some time”, client; “becoming more and more visible for litigation”, “good team”, competitors)

Team

3 partners, 2 associates

Specialties

Patent litigation and advice, transactions, historically with a strong focus on mobile communication. Also arbitration concerning patents.

Clients

Litigation: LG (defendant) against Conversant Wireless over mobile communication; Ericsson (defendant) against Intellectual Ventures over mobile telecommunication; ETSI (defendant) against TCL over questions of jurisdiction and responsibility towards members; Muller/Carrera (claimant) against Texas de France over heating and incineration technology; C2F (claimant) against United Orthopedic over prosthetic knees; Mathias Moronvale (claimant) against Devialet over inventors’ rights to audio technology.