In a context where intellectual property forms one of the primary areas for economic development with regard to both technology and communication, companies need to develop, preserve and defend their intellectual property. All market players are facing four major challenges:

• Securing ownership over artistic and technological creations developed by their contractors and employees
• Guaranteeing the protection of these creations
• Developing contractual plans relating to the use of intellectual property rights which are secure from a legal and tax perspective 
• Dealing with infringement, unfair and copycat competition

Our Practice Areas

We advise our clients regarding the following key areas:

• Copyright and neighbouring rights 
• Database law 
• Advertising law
• Law relating to trademarks, drawings and designs, domain names, patents
• Unfair and copycat competition law

We propose a complete service with regard to:

• Filing and monitoring trademarks, drawings and designs: earlier rights searches and analysis, national, Community and international filings, opposition procedures
• Analysing legal situations, providing advice and legal opinions relating to all intellectual property-related issues
• Drafting and negotiating licence, assignment, co-existence agreements
• Audits of corporate intellectual property 
• Providing assistance and representation in intellectual property-related disputes before the civil, commercial and criminal courts (seizure for infringement, action for infringement, temporary prohibitive measures, etc.)
• Providing assistance and representation in disputes regarding unfair and copycat competition, advertising and generally criminal or contractual liability in these areas

Our Approach

• The complementary nature of our team and the Firm's other legal and tax expertise: the dimension of matters is often not taken into account and the scope thereof can exceed intellectual property law. In this respect, lawyers specializing in other areas are often called upon (tax, customs, competition, etc.). 
• Comprehensive management of matters by specialized lawyers working together with other lawyers in the CMS Alliance. 
• Rigorous methodology: we assist our clients at every stage ranging from auditing intellectual property, litigation, developing forward-looking strategies for problems, including during contract negotiations.

Our Clients

All French and foreign companies whose operations are dependent on preserving and developing intellectual property in diverse sectors, including in particular the audiovisual, agribusiness, textile and cosmetics sectors.

Our Team

It is comprised of five lawyers, who specialize and predominantly practice each of the areas of intellectual property expertise. The team becomes involved in many matters with other teams in the CMS alliance specializing in intellectual property law.

Senior Associates
Alexis Vichnievsky
Anne-Laure Villedieu