Bird & Bird strengthens Paris patent litigation practice

Over the past three years, Thierry Lautier (41) has built up Reed Smith’s patent litigation practice in Paris. With his legal and engineering background in optics and electronics, he works for companies in the digital communication and automotive industries, among others.

Thierry Lautier

Lautier began his career as a patent engineer at French IP firm Novagraaf. In 2010, Lautier joined the Paris office of Belgian patent attorney firm Gevers. Here, in 2011, he obtained both French (CPI) and European patent attorney qualifications.

Another string to the bow

In the meantime, Lautier studied law and in 2012 began working in the Paris IP practice of Allen & Overy

After completing his studies and being admitted to the bar, Lautier joined August Debouzy in 2016. The firm is a market leader in France and known for its large number of dual-qualified fee earners. Lautier was a part of the team around renowned patent litigators Grégoire Desrousseaux and François Pochart.

Three years ago, he moved to the Paris office of the US law firm Reed Smith. There, he rebuilt the firm’s IP practice alongside Marianne Schaffner following the departure of Marina Cousté.

Bulking up for the UPC

Lautier joins Bird & Bird’s large, European patent litigation practice as partner. The international firm’s French team around partner Anne-Charlotte Le Bihan is hot on the heels of the market leaders in France. Bird & Bird is already a major player in Paris with 9 lawyers and 1 patent attorney. Now, the addition of the up-and-coming Thierry Lautier as a second partner could bring further momentum. Since Yves Bizollon moved from a partner to an of counsel role, the firm has not produced a partner from its own ranks in Paris. Lautier closes this gap.

Bird & Bird anticipates a rise in litigation work following the launch of the Unified Patent Court. Anne-Charlotte Le Bihan, co-head of Bird & Bird’s French intellectual property team, says, “His extensive patent litigation experience will strengthen our capacity to represent our clients before (…the UPC) as well as before French national courts.”

The strengthening of the Paris team is the latest in a series of moves by Bird & Bird to expand its patent presence in Europe. On the eve of the UPC launch, the firm re-organised its Dutch IP team following the departure of long-time partner Armand Killan. Then in July, the firm bolstered its Irish patent practice by hiring Ann Henry as a partner to the team in Dublin.

Remaining team

Reed Smith is one of several US firms set on building a European IP practice.

Following Lautier’s departure, the patent team around partner Marianne Schaffner comprises one partner and four associates. This includes two attorneys as well as two patent attorneys qualified in both Europe and the US.