The team at A&O Shearman maintains its reputation for acting in high-profile patent litigation before the French Supreme Court and the Paris First Instance Court involving questions relating to supplementary protection certificates (SPC), the obtaining of preliminary injunctions, and infringement actions against generic companies. On the non-contentious side of the practice, the group regularly advises on M&A and tax structuring mandates. Practice head Laëtitia Bénard is known for her vast expertise in IP, with her primary areas of focus being patent portfolios, patent disputes, and issues concerning price regulation. Promoted to partner in May 2023, Charles Tuffreau has expansive experience in acting for pharma companies in infringement seizures and the securing of monopolies.

Dechert LLP houses a ‘dynamic’ team which advises a number of notable clients, including Roche and Sofinnova. The group displays ‘great’ expertise when handling a broad range of issues, including financings, cases against the French Competition Authority, and the IP aspects of transactions. Alain Decombe and Mélanie Thill-Tayara jointly head the practice. Decombe is known for his deep corporate expertise which spans the negotiation and structuring of share deals, and corporate reorganisations. Thill-Tayara has ample knowledge of antitrust and competition issues, having acted in numerous abuse of dominance and cartel disputes before both EU and French courts. Regulatory specialist Sophie Pelé frequently assists clients with public law-related issues, including contentious market access matters before the administrative supreme court in France.

Jointly led by the ‘attentive, extremely professional’ Jean-Marc Grosperrin, Julien Le Guyader, and Anne-Laure Marcerou, the team at Dentons handles the full gamut of issues in life sciences for its diverse client list, including Panasonic, Pfizer, and Laboratoires Servier. Grosperrin is particularly adept at advising global pharma corporations on domestic and cross-border M&A and private equity transactions, while Marcerou is noted for her deep knowledge of the structuring and negotiation of transactions involving biotech and medtech companies. Le Guyader regularly handles market access mandates and issues concerning international tax law. Having joined the team in February 2023 from Dechert LLP, Jessica Garestier exhibits vast regulatory expertise, particularly in relation to market access, promotion, and health product compliance. Pascale Poupelin is a key name of note within the practice, particularly for market access matters.

Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP houses a team which is known for its ‘broad and deep’ experience in contentious life sciences mandates, and its ‘very strong’ expertise in market access issues, data management and protection matters relating to clinical trials, and product liability claims. Notable clients include Eli Lilly, Merck & Co., and GE Healthcare. Practice head Mikael Salmela is noted for his longstanding expertise in handling regulatory assessments and M&A, in addition to product launches and supply transactions. Charlotte Damiano frequently acts for large pharma companies in both contentious and non-contentious matters involving pricing and reimbursement, negotiations with the French health authorities, and the financial regulations governing pharma products.

IP boutique HOYNG ROKH MONÉGIER handles a broad range of regulatory issues and life cycle management matters, including orphan market exclusivity, pediatric obligations, and pharmacovigilance. Anne Servoir and Benoît Strowel co-lead the team. Servoir is known for her longstanding expertise in acting for pharma and biotech clients in regulatory and competition related matters, while Strowel is a skilled patent litigator who has deep knowledge of bio-pharmaceutical regulatory issues. Patent litigator Sabine Agé primarily focuses on multi-jurisdictional disputes. Agathe Caillé was promoted to counsel in January 2023, having broad experience in disputes concerning packaging and medical devices.

Simmons & Simmons continues to maintain its stellar reputation for pharma product liability disputes and arbitrations. The group handles a range of non-contentious mandates, including agreements between medical device manufacturers and healthcare institutions, and the registration of supplementary protection certificates (SPC). Alexandre Regniault leads the team alongside Jacques-Antoine Robert. Antoine-Robert is a specialist in biotech, and stands out due to his longstanding experience in handling large pharma product liability class actions. Regniault is noted for his deep regulatory knowledge, which he utilises to advise on the negotiation and drafting of clinical trial, licensing, and distribution agreements. Ombline Ancelin has a great deal of expertise in handling both contentious and non-contentious competition mandates within the life sciences space.

Baker McKenzie houses a ‘fast, reliable and professional’ practice, which is known for its ‘excellent’ expertise in advising global healthcare and biotech corporations on compliance programs, strategic partnerships, and product regulation. Additionally, the group exhibits broad corporate and IP expertise, handling product acquisition arrangements and technology transfer agreements for medtech clients. The ‘exceptional’ Julie Yeni leads the team, and frequently advises healthcare clients on both contentious and non-contentious matters, particularly in relation to market access, clinical trials, and commercialisation.

The ‘responsive and professional’ team at Clifford Chance exhibits skill across a broad range of areas, including M&A, allegations of abuse of dominance, and employment disputes concerning claims of employer negligence. The group advises a number of notable clients, including Cinven, Sofinnova Partners, and Teva Santé. All co-leading the team, Thomas Baudesson has longstanding expertise in product liability litigation; David Tayar regularly advises clients on merger control investigations, and restrictive arrangements; Dominique Laymand maintains a compliance and ethics focused practice; and Olivier Gaillard focuses on commercial contracts and consumer law issues.

DLA Piper leverages its international strength to represent its diverse client base, which notably includes Pierre Fabre and Pfizer. Practice head Sonia De Kondserovsky is known for her broad, longstanding expertise, advising on a range of mandates involving clinical trials and industrial agreements, and the transfer of marketing authorisations. Leading the firm’s IP practice, Frank Valentin acts in an array of drug and medical device-related patent disputes. Denise Lebeau-Marianna regularly assists international healthcare and biotech companies with data protection compliance in relation to clinical trials and telemedicine projects. Marion Abecassis acts for a number of key clients in the healthcare space, including contract research organisations and innovative medtech companies.

The team at Fieldfisher exhibits deep bench strength across a variety of areas, including the sanctions imposed by regulatory authorities, disputes involving foreign manufacturers, and health data hosting services. Olivier Lantrès leads the team with his longstanding regulatory experience in handling contentious matters concerning phytopharmaceutical products and biological laboratories. IP specialist Nathalie Hadjadj-Cazier has a great deal of expertise in handling urgent protective proceedings and copyright and design litigation before national courts. Marguerite Brac de la Perriere joined the team in August 2023 from LERINS, contributing her knowledge of regulation governing the processing of health data, AI, and the telemedicine.

Marta Giner-Asins leads the team at Norton Rose Fulbright, which advises a diverse client base of biological laboratories, healthcare providers, and international pharma companies. The group handles a number of mandates, including drug market access and pricing, and anti-gift-related matters relating to hospital partnerships. Giner-Asins is noted for her antitrust expertise, having represented numerous pharma companies before both French and European competition Authorities, and in dawn raids. Technology and IP specialist Nadège Martin is noted for her expertise in the creation of health data lakes, in addition to regulatory compliance with CNIL standards, while Christian Dargham handles product liability disputes and investigations. Marion Roquette-Pfister left the firm in early 2024.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP houses a broad practice which leverages its international network to advise high-profile pharma companies. The group handles numerous patent revocation and infringement actions, in addition to preliminary injunction proceedings. Frédéric Chevallier leads the team, and has vast experience in acting in multi-jurisdictional patent cases.

Leveraging their European network of offices, Jones Day acts for its lucrative client base on a broad range of IP disputes and transactions. The group regularly advises on IPOs, M&A, and disputes concerning patent infringements and license agreement breaches. Practice co-head and environmental law specialist Françoise Labrousse maintains a strong reputation for handling contentious matters. Co-head Renaud Bonnet is known for his deep knowledge of private equity related issues, and for advising a broad array of technology and life sciences clients, and investors.

The team at Latham & Watkins, praised for its ‘in-depth’ sector knowledge, particularly in relation to innovative technology in the medtech and biotech sectors. Praised by clients for her ‘mastery’ of EU regulation, Eveline Van Keymeulen heads the practice. Having deep knowledge spanning CBD regulatory issues, Van Keymeulen is well-placed to advise clients on cross-border regulatory matters. Jeanne Fabre advises numerous global biotech, medical device, and pharma companies on an array of regulatory issues, including market access, post-market obligations, and clinical trials.

With a strong reputation for its corporate expertise, Mercure Avocats regularly assists pharma companies with strategic contractual matters, including R&D and partnership agreements. Practice c0-head Agathe Simon maintains a corporate law and M&A focused practice, regularly advising on sellers’ warranties and the drafting of acquisition arrangements. François-Maxime Philizot is known for his regulatory expertise, particularly in relation to healthcare products and medical devices.

Jointly led by Emmanuel Gougé, Annabelle Richard, and Jules Fabre, who was promoted to partner in May 2023, the team Pinsent Masons LLP regularly assists clients with understanding UPC rules, whilst advising on medical device regulations and advertising rules. Gougé is known for his longstanding expertise in IP matters, primarily focusing on life sciences and medical device related matters, while Fabre, hailed by clients as a ‘safe pair of hands’, displays vast experience in SPC and patent disputes. Richard is noted for her broad knowledge of IT and GDPR related issues within the healthcare sector.

Reed Smith houses a broad practice which handles a myriad of issues concerning competition law, anti-corruption, and regulatory issues concerning the distribution of new drugs. The team is jointly led by Daniel Kadar, Marc Lévy, and Natasha Tardif. Kadar is a commercial litigation specialist who focuses on regulatory investigations with life sciences and medical device clients, while Lévy primarily acts in antitrust disputes concerning abuse of market power and licensing arrangements. Tardif is adept at advising on merger notifications.

Ginestié Magellan Paley-Vincent houses a broad practice which acts for a diverse range of clients, including pharma and medical laboratories, medical repatriation companies, and start-ups focused on innovation. Nathalie Boudet-Gizardin heads the practice; Boudet-Gizardin’s primary area of focus is assisting healthcare professionals with all aspects of their contracts with health organisations, in addition to representing them in disciplinary and criminal proceedings.

Healthcare and life sciences boutique Intuity handles the full gamut of regulatory matters, including market access and general compliance, whilst also advising on commercial contracts and tenders. The ‘remarkable’ Christophe Hénin leads the team, and has a great deal of experience in handling negotiations with the European Commission in relation to pharma association agreements. Alain Gorny is particularly adept at representing clients in disputes concerning the advertising of pharma products, in addition to serial litigation claims and recalls.

Praised for their ‘incredible’ commercial sense, Osborne Clarke’s team regularly assists clients with medical waste management regulations, and ethics related mandates. Practice head Thomas Devred handles a vast range of issues, including regulatory licenses, supply chain issues, and promotional matters. Justine Pellerin is known for her broad commercial expertise, particularly in relation to commercial relationships and internal investigations. Léa Masson-Boukobza joined the team in April 2023, contributing her experience in advising medical device and pharma companies on anti-gift rules and clinical trials.

Carole Sportes and Valérie Ravit jointly lead the team at Squire Patton Boggs, regularly handling a variety of product liability disputes, often acting for insurers and pharma companies. The team represents clients in criminal trials and investigations, whilst assisting with technical investigations.