Bessis Avocats — France

Alexis Bessis

Partner (individual practice) Alexis Bessis specializes in commercial and financial litigation, as well as commercial arbitration in connection with post-acquisition and shareholder disputes, and contractual and unfair competition litigation. He has significant experience in resolving complex commercial disputes and M&A-related litigation with a strong focus on post-acquisition litigation, shareholder disputes and, more generally, corporate governance matters. Alexis Bessis assists his clients on a day-to-day basis in preventing the legal risks associated with their activities and frequently appears before French civil and commercial courts as well as arbitration tribunals (ICC, LCIA or ad hoc). He is also involved in the preventive management of disputes, in pre-litigation negotiations or in mediation and conciliation. · Litigation

Bernard Bessis

Partner Bernard Bessis assists his clients, both French and foreign companies, in developing their business and resolving their commercial disputes. He is an expert in real estate law, with a particular focus on commercial leases (offices, shopping centers and shopping malls): negotiation and drafting of leases, advice and litigation. He assists real estate operators, companies and individuals in the acquisition and sale of real estate and business assets, and advises companies on real estate development projects. Bernard has also developed expertise in aviation and transportation law. He assists airlines, operators and carriers in negotiating contracts, resolving insurance and liability issues, and handling passenger and cargo litigation. · Real Estate

Philippe Bessis

Partner (individual practice) For almost 50 years, our IP team, led by Philippe Bessis, has offered a comprehensive range of services covering both transactional and contentious IP matters. Intellectual property occupies a central place in our practice, particularly in relation to contentious IP matters: infringement matters, IP ownership disputes, issues relating to the enforcement of license agreements and unfair competition cases. We handle all types of issues relating to industrial property (trademarks, designs and models, patents), literary and artistic property (copyrights and related rights), as well as the protection of innovations on the Internet and new forms of exploitation (such as NFTs). Our IP practice is supported by our leading expertise in distribution and franchising. We assist clients in negotiating and drafting all types of distribution agreements, including franchise, concession and partnership agreements, and in designing and protecting selective distribution networks. We advise a wide range of clients, including major French and international groups, in various sectors, but with a particular focus on fashion and luxury goods, food and beverages (in particular wines and spirits) and consumer goods. Our intimate knowledge of our clients' businesses, particularly in the luxury and fashion sectors, enables us to provide them with tailor-made advice and to assist them effectively in the development of their intellectual property strategy. Transactional activity: Analysis of IP portfolios: prior rights searches, infringement risk analysis, validity of IP rights, studies of use, usage or reputation of trademarks... Advice on IP protection strategies. Negotiation and drafting of complex IP agreements: assignment agreements, licenses, co-existence, R&D agreements, know-how agreements, co-ownership arrangements. Negotiating and drafting complex literary and artistic property agreements: publishing agreements, sponsorship agreements, licenses, collective management of copyright and related rights. Drafting and negotiation of distribution and marketing agreements: franchising, distribution, partnership, co-branding. IP due diligence. IP litigation practice: Representing clients before the French courts (both civil and criminal) in a wide range of IP-related litigation matters: infringement actions, validity and cancellation proceedings, summary injunctions, counterfeiting seizure proceedings, breach of license agreements and unfair competition. Assisting, together with specialized trademark attorneys, in administrative proceedings before the EUIPO and the French National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI): opposition, cancellation and invalidity proceedings. · Intellectual Property