International law firm Reed Smith has announced the appointment of partners Marina Cousté and François Jonquères to launch the firm's intellectual property practice in Paris. Marina and François, who were previously at Howrey, bring with them a team of five including two associates (Charlotte Portmann and Charles-Henry Frouart).
The team specialise in contentious and non-contentious intellectual property including specific expertise in: high technology patents and trademarks, designs and models, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, technology (including work linked to electronics, mobile phones and new technologies), trademark prosecution and litigation as well as contractual matters (licensing and transfer agreements) and customs interventions.
Marina and François have represented clients including GlaxoSmithKline, Mitsubishi, Essilor, Nokia, Procter & Gamble, the Pasteur Institute and AstraZeneca.
Benoit Charot, Managing Partner of Reed Smith's Paris office, commented:
"Launching our intellectual property practice in Paris, with such a highly regarded team, will enhance our European offering (forging close connections particularly with our Munich and UK practices) and strengthen our global life science and health care capabilities in France."
Marina Cousté added:
"We were attracted by Reed Smith's entrepreneurial approach and the opportunities that its international platform presents our practice. We're very excited to create a new intellectual property practice in the Paris office, it's a wonderful challenge for me and for my team."
ENDS
Note to Editors:
Marina Cousté began her career with the firm Jean-Robert Bouyeure before starting her own practice Cousté & Cousté in 1985. She joined Howrey LLP in 2005 when the American firm was setting up its French office. Marina specialises in intellectual property rights litigation and has a reputation for practical experience in the field of high technology patents and trademarks, designs and models.
François Jonquères joined Cousté and Cousté as an associate in 2000 and became a partner in 2003 before moving to Howrey in 2005. He specialises in patent law, particularly in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, and also in other areas relating to electronics, mobile telephone communications and emerging technologies.
Charlotte Portmann covers all aspects of intellectual property law, including trademarks, designs and models, and copyright and unfair competition practices. She is also experienced in IT law and data protection legislation.
Charles-Henry Frouart became a member of the Paris bar in early 2011. As a graduate of the Paris Institute of Political Studies [Sciences Po], he has a DESS degree in intellectual property and began his career with Howrey LPP in September 2010.
Viviane Roland-Macé, is the team's paralegal and has a DESS degree in intellectual property (University of Paris XII - 2000), a masters degree in International Relations (ILERI, 1996) and a bachelor's degree in Public Law (University of Paris I, 1993). She joined Howrey LLP in March 2007.
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is a global law firm, with 22 offices and nearly 1,600 lawyers in offices across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the United States.
For further information please visit www.reedsmith.com or contact Jeyda Star (PR Manager EME) on +44 (0)20 3116 2571.