The intellectual property litigation department at A&O Shearman is rightfully trusted by clients to handle complex cross-border disputes, both in and out of court. The team also assists with licensing agreement drafting and negotiation, IP enforcement, and strategic copyright management. The team is led by Alexandre Rudoni, a seasoned litigator who also heads the firm’s global video games group and is supported by Andrea Dufaure who leverages her status as dual US-France qualified lawyer to assist clients in the entertainment sector and in particular photography and imaging companies. Recent work of note includes advising a leading global distributor of PC games on key copyright litigation before the Supreme Court.

The IP team at Baker McKenzie leverages its status as an international law firm to handle both contentious and non-contentious matters for domestic and multi-jurisdictional clients. The firm’s clientele extends to a variety of industries, including hospitality, consumer and retail, software and technology, luxury goods, streaming media, and entertainment, as well as high-profile individuals. In addition to regularly handling litigation before French civil and criminal courts, as well as European IP offices, the firm handles contentious issues before US IP offices, a testament to the firm’s broad international capabilities. Leading the team is Nathalie Marchand, who, as a noted litigator, has handled IP litigation in first instance as well as in appeal. Noted by one client for her ‘mastery of subjects’ is Pauline Celeyron, who leverages her prior expertise as an in-house lawyer and is an expert in digital copyright matters. Former team head Virginie Ulmann  left the firm in July of 2024 for retirement.

Servicing a broad range of clients whose industries extend to luxury goods, media, food and retail, telecoms, sports, publishing, and journalism, the team at Bird & Bird is one of the most respected IP teams in France. Noted by clients for having ‘deep and unrivalled’ knowledge, the firm handles the full gamut of issues extending from litigation, including liability claims, to copyright registration, protection, and exploitation. Known for masterfully crafting copyright licenses and agreements, the team is led by the erudite Géraldine Arbant who also handles brand management, transactional, and soft IP litigation. Supporting the team is Edouard Treppoz and Frédérique Bocqueraz, who handles the firm’s retail and consumer clients. Nathan Soulié makes a significant contribution to the practice, leveraging his experience in technical contract negotiations.

With a strong soft IP team at the helm, De Gaulle Fleurance & Associés regularly represents clients in both civil and criminal IP litigation before French and European courts. The firm is noted for having a pan-European roster of clients and regularly handles copyright issues for clients based in other European states, a testament to the firm’s global reach. Leveraging their advanced technology tools to aid clients, the firm seamlessly interweaves its tax, competition, and employment expertise into its advisory work. The team is led by a pentad of pragmatic partners: Louis de Gaulle and Georgie Courtois, who also advices on agreement and licence negotiations, Julien Horn, a software and IT specialist, and Francine Le Péchon-Joubert and Serge Lederman, who remain stanchions for the firm.

The team at Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. regularly advises clients across the art and architecture, fashion, and media and culture sector, and also leverages its presence in Brussels to offer a strong pan-European copyright offering. Under the firm’s regular undertakings includes both contentious and transactional work, with copyright validity and infringement issues, as well as contractual disputes concerning copyright licenses and assignments being key areas of work for the group. The management of the firm’s copyright team comes as a collective and collaborative effort between the firm’s IP, technology, media, and telecoms departments. The team is co-headed by Paris-trio Raphaëlle Dequiré-Portier, who is a life-sciences specialist, Jean-Hyacinthe de Mitry, and Julien Guinot-Deléry, who specialises in the audio-visual, press, online media, and advertising industries. Emmanuel Larere remains a stanchion of the firm.

Havard Duclos & Associés handles much complex copyright infringement litigation before Parisian, French, and European courts for a host of exclusive and high-profile clients which include the world’s leading sportswear manufacturers, luxury fashion houses, and retailers, as well as high-end watch makers. In addition to handling cross-border litigation, the firm also handles criminal copyright matters, pre-litigation, and auditing mandates. The firm’s practice is led by Sophie Havard Duclos, who leverages her previous experience at prestigious international law firms. Pauline Casanova and Constance Percevaux are also key names in the team who handle unfair competition and parasitism issues.

The team at Racine has outstanding full-service capabilities that includes handling complex litigation and licensing agreement negotiation and drafting, as well as infringement proceedings and responses to regulatory inquiries for some of the world’s largest streaming services, car manufacturers, luxury fashion conglomerates, and industry leaders in audio-visual production. The team is led by the erudite duo Charles Bouffier and Eric Barbry, and the latter is noted by clients for his consistent responsiveness. Bouffier is an expert at the intersection of internet, data, and IP law and frequently advises software publishing, sport, cinema and audio-visual, and luxury goods companies. Barbry, who is often a drafter of regulatory texts, advises on protecting intangible assets and safeguarding the use of IP rights. Recent work of note includes representing a market-leading global streaming-media company in several high-profile litigations.

Leveraging a close-knit relationship with some of the worlds most prominent law firms, the IP team at Taliens remains a strong market-leader with regards to copyright. The firm’s clients regularly include those in the luxury fashion, fast-food, retail, e-commerce, and financial service sectors whom the team advises on the full gamut of litigious and advisory issues. With a particular specialty concerning copyright infringement litigation, the team is led by co-head Jean-Frédéric Gaultier, a regular counsel to clients in telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and mechanics industries. Praised by one client for being a ‘Goliath of the courtroom’, co-head Clara Steinitz advises a diverse array of clients and is a respected litigator, and co-head Grégoire Triet also adds his expertise concerning agreement negotiations. The firm is also supported by Emilie Gras and Sophia Gintersos.

The team at UGGC Avocats remains a stanchion of the industry, advising some of the most prestigious global clients spanning across Europe, Asia, and America, which is a testament to the high-level work the firm undertakes. As a frequent counsel to the nation’s most valued museums, fashion designers, and banking societies, the firm undertakes complex litigation, as well as copyright registration, protection, and management. The team is headed by doyenne Anne-Marie Pecoraro, who is noted by clients for her ‘excellent strategic mind’, and is a specialist within digital, blockchain, metaverse and AI-related copyright issues. Corinne Khayat is also a co-head of the team and handles complex cross-border litigation and is supported by Elisabeth Logeais, who handles licensing for foreign clients. Rodolphe Boissau remains a key name at the firm handling litigation as well as infringement proceedings, particularly for clients in the TV and film industries.

The team at Vercken & Gaullier caters to a roster of the world’s most prestigious software and technology conglomerates, technology companies, social media platforms, and internationally renowned museums. The firm regularly handles complex and high-profile litigation alongside contract negotiation, pre-litigation, and other non-contentious matters, including advisory work and lobbying. The team is led by a Parisian trifecta of erudite lawyers comprised of Florence Gaullier, Edouard Mille, and Gilles Vercken. Gaullier is a specialist in the collective management of rights in the media monitoring sector and has specific expertise in EU copyright, neighbouring rights, and data protection. Mille is a seasoned litigator, while Vercken leverages his experience as an in-house lawyer with a capacity to advise clients on the video-games, music, and publishing sectors.

The 'medium-sized team' at ADVANT Altana handles the full range of issues for its clients, including pre-litigation, mediation, and courtroom litigation, as well as licensing agreements and negotiations, and it is noted for its ‘very experienced and high-quality’ advice and capabilities with regards to advising on international matters. The firm also has a strength in handling clients within the video gaming industry. The team is led by a Paris-based trifecta of partners, namely, Pierre Lubet, Laura Morelli, and Jean-Guy de Ruffray. Lubet is a manufacturing and luxury-sector specialist who handles complex litigation, while Morelli has strengths in mediation. Ruffray seamlessly interweaves his IT, data, and data protection matters into his IP advice. Camille Raclet provides significant support to the team and advises on cybersecurity and data protection-related IP issues.

The copyright team at August Debouzy has a fully comprehensive offering for its clients that is seamlessly integrated within the rest of the firm’s core practice areas, including antitrust, technology, and media. The team sedulously handles both contentious and non-contentious work, and is a frequent player before civil and criminal French courts, as well as the competition commission acting for clients on complex matters. Mahasti Razavi and Basile Ader lead the team, and their capacities extend across licence agreement negotiation, pre-litigation mediation, infringement seizures, and compliance audits. Supporting the team is also Pierre Pérot, a seasoned pan-European litigator, as well as Amélie Tripet, who has a flair for the copyright issues concerning the press, libel issues, and publishing.

With a roster of high-profile individuals, conglomerates, fashion houses, authors, and celebrities as clients, the team at Cabinet Bouchara Avocats earns a strong reputation for themselves in the market. Handling a wide range of copyright issues which interweaves data protection and free-riding aspects, as well as pre-litigation, the team handles litigation, IP-related contract negotiation and drafting, copyright infringement, and unfair and parasitic competition. The firm is led by doyenne and expert Vanessa Bouchara, who has previous experience working at the heart of IP-focused law firms. She is supported by Adèle Maier, who is lauded by clients for her technical skills. Also key to the team is Louise Lacroix, who is praised for her partner-level delivery of advice despite being an associate at the firm.

As a truly global law firm with a network of over 600 lawyers, the firm’s international nature is reflected in its work, as Dentons handles litigation for multi-jurisdictional companies that also incorporates unfair competition, parasitism, and free-riding issues. Additionally, the firm has significant expertise handling pre-litigation, agreement negotiations, arbitration and licensing disputes, injunctions, and infringement seizure matters. The Paris team is led by Loïc Lemercier, who is a litigation expert advising clients in the pharmaceutical, telecommunications, luxury, food and beverage, Internet, and technology sectors. The team is supported by Isabelle Leroux, who advises on industrial property and literary and artistic property.

Deprez Guignot Associés handles a wide range of IP matters for clients, including copyright infringement litigation, anti-counterfeiting proceedings, and parasitism, as well as licensing matters. The firm has a particular penchant for handling matters in the US, India, and China, as well as Europe. The team is led by Vincent Fauchoux, who in addition to being a luxury good specialist is a complex litigation expert. Alongside Fauchoux is co-head Frédéric Dumont, who advises clients in the media, advertising, new technologies, entertainment, distribution, wine, and pharmaceutical sectors. Annabelle Dalex is also a key name in the team.

Balancing its role as an advisory and contentious counsel for clients, the team at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP is known for advising some of the world’s most prestigious multinational companies. The team is led by the erudite Alexandra Neri, who is a doyenne of litigation and has appeared frequently before European and French courts, as well as the National Commission on Informatics and Liberty. She is supported by the lauded Sébastien Proust, who has expertise in both internet and IP law and integrates advertising referencing, the digitalisation of books, the "right to be forgotten”, and the legal status of video platforms into his copyright practice.

As part of the firm’s intellectual property, media, and technology team, Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP advises a roster of impressively large multi-national corporations that operate in a variety of sectors, including luxury fashion, entertainment, leisure, and food and beverages, as well as retail. The firm frequently handles the full gamut of contentious and non-contentious work and often appears before French and European courts to defend and prosecute on behalf of clients regarding copyright infringement. Marie-Aimée de Dampierre, who is a mediation specialist, co-heads the team alongside David Taylor and Jane Seager. Together, the trifecta also handles contract and agreement negotiation, pre-contentious matters, and regulatory advice.

The team at Momentum Avocats has an outstanding capability when it comes to handling the full cycle of copyright issues, including pre-litigation, mediation, contract negotiation and termination, counselling and regulatory affairs, and copyright infringement proceedings, as well as more complex litigation before European and French courts. The firm is led by a trifecta of Paris-based lawyers, namely Julie Carel, Julien Canlorbe, and Jean-Sébastien Mariez. Carel is an IP rights structuring specialist, whilst Canlorbe is a media specialist and litigation strategist. Mariez is a digital economy specialist who focusses on ICT service activities and clients in the media, gaming, luxury and consumer goods industries. Laura Godfrin is a key name at the firm and is lauded by clients for her software copyright litigation specialism.

Osborne Clarke advises clients on a wide range of advisory matters concerning infringements, validity, unfair competition claims, and contractual matters. The team is led by co-heads Claire Bouchenard, who handles audits and contracts, as well as litigation for clients in the field of communication and the digital economy, and  Xavier Pican, who leverages his experience as an in-house lawyer. Together, they advise a robust set of clients on advertising, Internet IP content licensing, and enforcement, as well as software contracts. The team is ably supported by Julia Darcel, who advises clients in the broadcasting, digital content, and interactive entertainment sectors, and Christophe Arfan. Laurène Zaggia is also a key name in the team.

Frequently used as counsel for large multinational corporations, the team at Pinsent Masons LLP excels in soft IP work for clients in the pharmaceuticals, media, technology, retail, and automotive industries. The firm is led by Jules Fabre, who has strong expertise with regards to life sciences and pharmaceuticals, and handles complex cross-border litigation. He is supported by Virginia De Freitas, who is also an unfair competition expert and excels at advising clients in the telecoms, technology, automotive, and aerospace sectors. Emmanuel Gougé departed from the firm in September 2024 to be a judge for the Court of Appeal of the Unitary Patent Court.

The team at Simmons & Simmons offers a fully comprehensive service to its clients and regularly handles a wide variety of matters in an array of sectors, including IT, software, fashion, design, telecommunications, chemistry, optics, publishing, and retail. Part of the firm’s remit includes both contentious and non-contentious work with significant strengths including copyright protection and enforcement and licensing agreement drafting and negotiation, as well as mediation and litigation. The firm is spearheaded by Sarah Bailey, a dual-qualified English and French lawyer who also heads the firms international cross-border brands team and is a specialist in unfair competition, advertising, and data protection. She is supported by Frédérique Potin, who advises on the IP aspects of acquisitions and corporate restructuring operations. Hélène Choquet is also a key name in the team, which was bolstered by the addition of Abdelaziz Khatab, an IT and IP litigation specialist who leverages his previous experience as an engineer.

The IP team at Taylor Wessing retains its strong footing within the industry, which is exemplified in its having handled much of the IP work surrounding the 2024 Paris Olympics. Concerning copyright more broadly, the firm handles both litigation and transactional work with a particular flair for the drafting and negotiation of IP-related agreements. The team is led by a quartet of Paris-based partners: Christian Valsamidis, a specialist within the entertainment industry; Claire Saint-Laurent, who has a flair for dealing with clients involved in cinema, audiovisual works, advertising, music, publishing, design, and the arts; seasoned litigator Benoît Goulesque-Monaux, who handles press and liability work; and Marc Schuler, who provides transactional support and expertise on data-related matters.

As a boutique firm, Valther advises a variety of international companies, museums, regulatory organisations, publishing houses, and art centres, with a strong focus on the sectors of media, art, information technology, and sports. The firm has a particular strength when it comes to interweaving their digital law practice with their IP advice. The firm is led by founding-partner duo Xavier Près, who is an art market and museum specialist, and Vincent Varet, who is an IP and information technology law specialist.

The team at Armengaud Guerlain has a strong IP offering and frequently acts for clients on matters concerning copyright infringement proceedings and cease and desist matters, as well as IP matters that contain unfair competition aspects. The firm’s clients frequently include multinational European players in car manufacturing, retail, pharmaceuticals, and upholstery and furnishings. Founding partner Stéphane Guerlain heads up the team alongside Catherine Mateu; as a pair, they have extensive expertise in IP disputes and advise inventors, designers, non-profit groups, and local start-ups, as well as multinational corporations.

BCTG Avocats handles a breadth of copyright matters for clients across various industries including luxury goods, sports, retail, and music, and also caters to internationally renowned manufacturers. Team-head Gaëlle Bloret-Pucci is noted by clients for her responsiveness and efficiency and handles the full range of contentious and non-contentious issues surrounding copyright. Copyright infringement disputes, agreement negotiations, and image rights issues all fall within the strong capabilities of the team. Pauline De Drée is another name to note with experience regarding unfair competition, parasitism, and infringement cases.

The team at CMS Francis Lefebvre offers its clients a wide-reaching comprehensive service advising on the full gamut of IP issues, including copyright infringement pre-litigation, contract drafting and negotiation, and litigation before French courts. Servicing some of the world’s biggest conglomerates, the team has a specialty within the entertainment, IT, internet, and real estate sectors. The team is led by Anne-Laure Villedieu, and she is supported by Florentin Sanson, who has strength in advising platforms in the digital media sector, as well as drafting and negotiating production and exploitation agreements regarding podcasts and musical, audiovisual, cinematographic, and advertising works.

Bolstered by the arrival of IP-heavyweight Jeremy Cardenas and his team in 2024, Derriennic Associés has the capacity to handle a wide variety of copyright issues for its clients, which includes handling complex litigation, enforcement, and brand protection strategy, as well as contract agreement and negotiation. The firm is also bolstered by Clara Payan and Eugénie Lebelle, who frequently act in litigious cases.

Spearheaded by copyright expert Richard Willemant, who is qualified to practice in both France and Canada, Féral acts for a host of multination companies, and is particularly noted for advising film and television production companies. Frequently used as co-counsel for large international law firms, the firm undertakes copyright infringement proceedings, as well as contract negotiation and agreements for clients across multiple sectors, including entertainment, media, fashion, and retail.

Specialising in the protection, enhancement, exploitation, and defense of intangible assets, the team at Joffe & Associés has a balanced ability to tackle litigation, transactional, and advisory matters for clients who hail from a variety of sectors, including luxury, video games, fintech, and food and beverages, as well as car manufacturing. With a strength in interim measures and infringement procedures, the team is led by Véronique Dahan and Emilie De Vaucresson; Dahan is an expert in drafting and negotiating all contracts relating to IP and digital marketing, while De Vaucresson is an experienced litigator and leverages her previous experience at major international law firms.

Offering a comprehensive service in assisting clients with protecting, exploiting, and managing IP portfolios, the team at NEXT AVOCATS works for a variety of multinational businesses, individuals, employee associations, and brands across sectors including media, fashion design, music production, live entertainment, and event communication consulting. Noted by clients for their ‘expert advice and responsiveness’, the team is led by Paris-based Stéphanie Foulgoc and Étienne Papin. Foulgoc specialises in digital, IT, and creative law, and handles the acquisition of rights for original music and the negotiation of broadcasting rights, as well as negotiating image usage authorisations. Papin specialises in IT projects related to entertainment law and personal data.

Under the helm of Delphine Brunet-Stoclet, who is lauded by clients for her clear communication and sharp negotiation skills, the team at Schmidt Brunet Litzler is noted for handling the full variety of copyright-related actions, including pre-litigation strategy, copyright infringement litigation, registration, and negotiation of IP-related contracts, as well as negotiation and mediation. Servicing an impressive roster of clients that includes some of the country’s most iconic jewellery brands, she is also assisted by Marie André-Nivet, who leverages her corporate experience to deliver practical legal advice to the firm’s clients and manages the firm’s Marseille office.

The team at Squair specialises in advising its clients on complex cross-border IP-related agreements, as well as the protection and exploitation of IP rights in the fashion and luxury industries. The firm has a strong presence in film and tv production industries, the performing arts, and events sectors, as well as literary publishing law. The firm’s leadership is split between Bérénice Ferrand, who leverages her experience as a professional both in Paris and Washington DC, Véronique Piguet, Quentin Renaud, and Chloé Laboudie, who joined from Taliens. Chloé Brotons supports the team as co-head from Nantes.