Image of Charles Tuffreau

Charles Tuffreau

Partner

Email

charles.tuffreau@aoshearman.com

Phone

+33140065143

Offices

Paris

V-CARD
Charles’s unique dual qualification as a European Patent Attorney and as an Attorney at law makes him particularly fit for handling complex patent litigation before both French Courts and the Unified Patent Court.

He has developed a cutting-edge expertise in dealing with validity and infringement issues, and is mastering all strategic and procedural aspects of patent litigation (in particular cross-border litigations, preliminary injunction proceedings and infringement seizures).

His practice focuses on representing innovative pharmaceutical companies to secure monopolies for their blockbusters and prevent the launch at risk of generic products. More generally, his engineering background and prior experience as a patent attorney enable him to be particularly at ease with handling patent litigation in the Medtech and Tech fields.

Charles co-heads the UPC section of the French Bar association for IP lawyers (AAPI).

Experience

Representative matters

  • A global pharmaceutical and healthcare company to defend its combination SPC covering one of its major pharmaceutical products for the treatment of diabetes. He was successful in securing our client’s market by launching preliminary injunction proceedings against a generic company, despite the numerous and unexpected arguments raised shortly before trial against the validity of the SPC and its basic patent.
  • A global pharmaceutical and healthcare company in multiple infringement lawsuits brought against generic companies based on second medical use patents covering one of our client’s products for the treatment of cancer. In one of the rare cases brought against carved-out products since the issuance of the Lyrica decisions which paved the way to these types of action in France, he tailored a litigation strategy enabling to take into account the outcomes of these decisions while ensuring a proper defence of our client’s patent rights.
  • A global pharmaceutical and healthcare company to enforce its patent rights covering one of its blockbusters for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. He notably initiated preliminary infringement proceedings against several generic companies, and secured the admissibility of such proceedings based on a patent application in first instance, which was a first in France and generated a lot of press.

Pro bono

  • Member of the Support Committee of Planète, Enfants & Développement, a charity for the protection of children in France.
  • Member of Article 1, a charity promoting equal opportunities for students in France.

Published Work

  • Charles frequently publishes articles on A&O’s Life Sciences hub
  • Charles published an article about the rules of jurisdiction before the Unified Patent Court in the Paris Bar Bulletin (2022)

Speaking Engagements

  • Roundtable host: Antibody Case Law Update, Pharma & Biotech Patent Litigation Summit, October 2023
  • Organiser of the UPC Mock Trial held in the future UPC premises in Paris, in 2022

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • Member, Treasurer and Co-head of the UPC section of the French Bar Association for IP Lawyers (AAPI)
  • Member, Association of European patent practitioner (APEB)
  • Member, European Patent Institute (EPI)
  • Member, Patent Working Group, International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI)

Recognition

“Next generation Partner”
Legal500 EMEA France Healthcare & Life Sciences, 2024
“Next generation Partner”
Legal500 EMEA France Intellectual Property: Patents, 2024

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted to the Paris Bar, 2016

Qualified representative with the European Patent Office, 2010

Registered on the list of French qualified practitioners in IP - Patents, 2010

Academic

Paris Bar School, 2014-2015

Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne University, Master of Law, Paris, 2013

Intellectual Property International Study Centre (CEIPI), 2008

Institut Catholique d'Arts & Métiers (ICAM), Engineer’s degree, 2006

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.