Our profession

The profession of Intellectual Property Attorney

Intellectual property Attorneys (Known in France as Conseil en Propriété Industrielle (CPI)) act to protect and enhance the value of their clients’ creations whether they are technical creations, aesthetic creations or denominations and logos.

To this end, a CPI advises, assists, and represents clients in obtaining, defending, and working their intellectual property rights (including patents, trademarks, copyright, registered designs, plant variety certificates, etc.).

In particular, a CPI can be called on to act directly in the context of legal proceedings (infringement raids).

In order to be able to handle the requirements of their task, patent CPIs need to have high levels of competence both legally and technically, confirmed by a scientific or technical second-cycle national degree, by a degree in law granted by the CEIPI (Centre d’Etudes Internationales de la Propriété Intellectuelle [Center for International Intellectual Property Studies]), by at least 3 years professional experience, and by passing a qualifying exam.

Intellectual property Attorneys constitute an independent and regulated profession (Law 90-1052 of November 26, 1990) that is subject to strict rules of professional conduct (lawyer-client privilege, prohibition of conflict of interest).

CPIs are members of a professional body: la Compagnie Nationale des Conseils en Propriété Industrielle (CNCPI) [The National Company of Intellectual property Attorneys] and one of its tasks is to ensure that its members are competent, ethical, and independent.

The profession of European Patent Attorney

Intellectual property Attorneys (CPIs) may also hold the regulated title of European Patent Attorney.

European Patent Attorneys are specialists in European patent law entitled to represent their clients before the European Patent Office (EPO) located in Munich, Germany.

European Patent Attorneys are competent both legally and technically, confirmed by a scientific or technical degree recognized by the EPO, by sufficient professional experience, and by successfully passing a European qualifying exam.

This dual competence enables them to defend the interests of their clients directly in proceedings of an administrative nature (examination, opposition) and of a legal nature (appeals).

European Patent Attorneys are members of a professional body, the Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office (EPI).