Bird & Bird: new hire ‘instrumental’ to UPC patent offering
Thierry Lautier brings “unique” experience to the firm’s Paris branch, as it expands its European patent litigation practice in preparation for an influx of Unified Patent Court cases.
International law firm Bird & Bird has appointed IP specialist Thierry Lautier as a partner in Paris.
Lautier, who joined on July 31, is one of the very few patent litigators in France who is qualified as both an attorney-at-law and a European patent attorney, according to the firm.
His appointment is part of Bird & Bird’s strategy to support and further develop the firm’s patent litigation practice in France.
With the introduction of the Unified Patent Court (UPC), Bird & Bird said it anticipates an influx of patent litigation work in Europe, and that Lautier will be “instrumental in being able to support clients and meet the increased demand”.
Lautier has a legal and engineering background in optics and electronics and is experienced in all aspects of IP law, including litigation, as well as prosecution and transactions.
He also brings experience working in unfair competition, parasitism and trade secrets.
Previously, Lautier was at Reed Smith in Paris where he was a partner since June 2020.
He is a well-known patent litigator, said the firm, with “excellent” client references and rankings in legal directories.
Peter Brownlow, Boris Kreye and Massimiliano Mostardini, co-heads of Bird & Bird’s international intellectual property practice, said of the appointment: “We are thrilled to have Thierry join the IP team at Bird & Bird. He’ll be the perfect addition to our team of patent litigators across all our offices, which offers a single seamless cross-border team tailored to each client.
“Thierry’s engineering background will provide a unique dimension to our offering and further strengthen the firm’s expertise advising clients on SEP [standard-essential patent] matters.”
Anne-Charlotte Le Bihan and Géraldine Arbant, co-heads of Bird & Bird’s French intellectual property team, said: “France is one of the key jurisdictions for the UPC so Thierry’s arrival will be instrumental in maintaining our position as a leading French patent team.
“His extensive patent litigation experience will strengthen our capacity to represent our clients before this new court as well as before French national courts.”
Lautier said he is “very excited” to join the company. “The firm’s reputation in patent litigation is unmatched both in France and internationally, and I am looking forward to working alongside the firm’s talented IP practitioners.”
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