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Laëtitia Bénard

Partner

Email

laetitia.benard@aoshearman.com

Phone

+33 (0)1 40 06 50 33

Offices

Paris

V-CARD
Laëtitia is Global Co-Head of IP Litigation.

Laëtitia is a litigator specializing in domestic and cross-border patent litigation. 

She has a wealth of expertise in all intellectual property areas, more particularly having acted in numerous complex patent disputes involving pharmaceutical and high tech companies. She also advises on patent portfolios, patent validity, and freedom to operate issues. She has specific knowledge of the life sciences field, in which she also advises on various regulatory and contractual matters such as price regulation, advertisement for medicines, transfers of technology and anti-bribery rules.

Laëtitia frequently publishes on life sciences regulatory topics and has written a number of clients alerts on issues such as biosimilars, the-EFPIA-Transparency-Initiative, and the online sale of medicines. Her publications include "Interim injunctions over patents – The French practice" in Managing Intellectual Property (February 2013); "Overview of Life Sciences law in France" in Chambers Life Sciences Guide 2013; "Why France is a good forum for preliminary injunctions in patent matters" in Global Business Magazine, 2012; "Supplementary Protection Certificates – CJEU provides welcome clarifications" International Who's Who Legal - Life Sciences, 2012; "Preliminary injunctions in Europe: an overview in the field of patents", The Handbook of European IP Management, 2012.

Laëtitia is a recognised practitioner by « Best Lawyers » since 2013 in Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice, Intellectual Property Law, Litigation and Regulatory Practice".

 

Experience

Pro bono

Advising French non-profit organisation "Autistes Sans Frontières" ("Autistics Without Borders")

Published Work

  • ‘Brexit’: time is of the essence for life sciences innovators – LSIPR (Life Sciences Intellectual Property Review) – June 2016
  • La juridiction unifiée du brevet (JUB) : un atout indéniable pour l'Europe, La Lettre des juristes d'affaires, July 2014
  • La juridiction unifiée du brevet (JUB) reçoit un soutien croissant des entreprises, Option Droit et Finance, July 2014 co-authored with David Por
  • France’s Biosimilar law may set trend inside the EU, Law 360, February 2014, co-authored with Eveline Van Keymeulen

Speaking Engagements

  • Speaker, The Health and Medicines Law Days seminar (11èmes Journées droit de la santé et du médicament), Competition law and regulation: evaluation of conduct in relation to health regulators and health care professionals, Paris, January 2014
  • Chairperson, 6th Pharma and Biotech Patent Litigation Forum, C5 Global Communications, Amsterdam, January 2014
  • Guest speaker in a roundtable on “Intellectual property and the new face of pharmaceutical innovation” organised by Pharmaceutiques magazine, November 2013
  • Speaker, Cross-border Injunctions for Registered IP Rights in Europe : An Overview of Recent Developments, Fordham IP Conference, April 2013

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • Member of the European Patent Lawyer Association (EPLAW)
  • Member of the Association des Avocats en Propriété Industrielle (AAPI)
  • Member of International Association of Entertainment Lawyers (IAEL)
  • Member of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI) – French group
Recognition
“Easy to work with to make the litigation more efficient”
Juve Patent, France, 2024
“Laëtitia is a powerhouse. She comes up with novel ideas”
Chambers Global, Intellectual Property: Patents, 2024

Awards

  • Band 1, Intellectual Property: Patents, Chambers Global, 2024
  • Patent Litigator of the Year: Pharmaceuticals, LMG Life Sciences, EMEA Awards, 2023
  • Gold, IAM Patent 1000, France, 2023
  • Patent Litigator of the Year: Pharmaceuticals, LMG Life Sciences, EMEA Awards, 2023
  • Thought Leader - Global Leader – National Leader, in Patents and Life Sciences, Who's Who Legal, France, 2023
  • Band 1, Intellectual Property: Patents, Chambers Global/Europe, France, 2023 

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted to the Bar, Paris, 2000

Academic

Post Graduate Degree, Industrial Property, University of Paris II Panthéon Assas, 1999

Post Graduate Degree, French Civil Law, University of Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne, 1998

Languages

English, French
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.