Reed Smith kickstarts Paris IP practice with former Howrey hires

Reed Smith has become the latest firm to pounce upon the remnants of failed firm Howrey, taking two partners to launch a Paris IP practice.

Marina Cousté and François Jonquères join Reed Smith along with three other lawyers.

The duo joined Howrey from boutique firm Cousté & Cousté in May 2005, launching the US firm’s Paris office.

Their clients include GlaxoSmithKline, Mitsubishi, Essilor, Nokia, Procter & Gamble, the Pasteur Institute and AstraZeneca.

Most of Howrey’s former partners in Paris have now found new homes, following the firm’s collapse in March this year.

IP partner Denis Monégier du Sorbier joined a number of other Howrey partners at niche firm Hoyng Monegier in the New Year. Competition partner Claude Lazarus joined Bird & Bird in March, while arbitrators Philippe-Edouard Lamy and Jean de Hautecloque have both established their own firms.

Cousté said the team was attracted by the opportunities presented by Reed Smith’s international platform.