Reed Smith patent team joins Gowling WLG

Marianne Schaffner, a well-known patent litigator in France, rose from associate to partner at Linklaters in 2006. After spells at Dentons, Dechert and most recently Reed Smith, she has now returned to a UK law firm, Gowling WLG.

Marianne Schaffner

She joins Gowling’s Paris-based patent team along with associates Mathilde Grammont and Charlotte Chambon.

In joining the existing four-strong patent team, headed by Céline Bey, the new team now comprises two partners and five associates. Schaffner and Bey are both admitted as representatives at the UPC.

Gowling WLG looks to the continent

Schaffner will also be part of the Paris business leadership team, responsible for implementing the firm’s development strategy in the French market in line with its international and global growth strategy.

David Fennell, Chief Executive of Gowling WLG LLP and co-chair of the international board, says, “Marianne’s arrival is part of our drive to significantly expand our European offices. We initiated this dynamic in the Frankfurt office with over 40 arrivals over the last 12 months, and our ambitions in Paris where we plan to strengthen the team with further strategic recruitments.”

In patent law, this strategy is likely to be driven primarily by the launch of the Unified Patent Court. Gowling WLG has a strongly positioned patent team in London, which is particularly visible in advising patent holders such as InterDigital in mobile communications cases. The UK team also has a respectable pharmaceuticals practice. Both areas are also focal points of Schaffner’s work.

However, Gowling currently lacks a high-profile patent team in continental European countries such as Germany and the Netherlands, which are important for the UPC. In this respect, the strengthening of the Paris team is an important step towards more UPC business.

Focus on pharma and tech clients

Schaffner looks back on almost 25 years’ experience in the field of intellectual property, working not only on patent issues but also in know-how and trademark litigation.

Previously, Schaffner has not had a high profile in pharma disputes. Traditionally Schaffner has a strong client base in life sciences and telecommunications. She recently represented Assia in a dispute against Orange, and its supplier Nokia, over internet service technology. The dispute has now come to an end.

Conflicts with Reed Smith’s US liability practice were considerable, Marianne Schaffner explains to JUVE Patent, and this was one reason for her move to Gowling WLG. It was also important to her to join a firm where IP is one of the major pillars of the business, Schaffner adds.

Furthermore, Schaffner says her Reed Smith clients from these industries have followed her to Gowling WLG. Her wider client base ranges from chemistry through media mechanics and electronics to telecommunications. She also advises on trademarks.

Return to UK outfit

Schaffner began her career in the small IP boutique Nataf & Fajgenbaum. In 1998 she moved to Cléry de La Myre Mory & Monégier du Sorbier, then to UK firm Linklaters in 2000. At the time, she moved as part of a team headed by Denis Monégier du Sorbier, who then became name partner at IP boutique Hoyng Rokh Monégier in 2007.

Linklaters appointed Schaffner as partner in 2006. She then joined the Paris office of global firm Dechert along with a group of associates. A move to Dentons followed in 2018, where she spent a short time as partner. Then, in summer 2019 Schaffner moved to Reed Smith where she worked for more than five years before her latest move to UK outfit Gowling WLG.