In 2024 French courts recorded a decline in case numbers and recent research suggests that this downward trend has continued. Nevertheless, major cases, particularly from extensive pan-European pharmaceutical disputes, are still being heard at the Paris courts. The comparatively slow system with long proceedings continues to generate substantial work for the most important French patent litigation firms.

Although there have been some significant judgments recently, particularly from the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, new high-profile lawsuits are rare. Plaintiffs are migrating to the UPC, but often without their regular advisors from France. French litigation teams had a somewhat cautious start at the UPC.

This could be set to change, however, with French teams now appearing more frequently in UPC proceedings, filling many established patent lawyers with a renewed sense of optimism.

To find out which firms have successfully developed their business against the downward national trend, which firms are still handling many high-profile cases while filing few new ones, and which outfits have dropped a tier, read our brand new JUVE Patent France ranking 2026.

I wish you an illuminating read,