Richard Willemant

Managing partner, Richard has an extensive expertise in international and complex litigation. He practices in all areas of technology law, digital law, intellectual property law, media law and business law, both in civil and criminal matters. He is a trademark agent, mediator, data protection officer (DPO) and an agent for artists and authors.

Richard Willemant is a member of the Paris Bar and the Quebec Bar. He has a recognized cross-disciplinary expertise in civil and criminal matters, with more than 18 years of experience in transaction and litigation, in all of our firm's practice areas. He has particular expertise in contracts, intellectual property law, actions against counterfeiting and content piracy, as well as in business law litigation and international disputes, including cybercrime.

He advises large French and foreign groups, as well as small and medium-sized companies, including French Tech startups, on contractual matters and dispute resolution.

Richard has a strong international practice, particularly in North America and Japan.Thanks to his international reputation, Richard has developed a network of experts on all continents, enabling our firm to work with trusted lawyers and partners around the world, particularly in Europe, Asia and North America. Richard has forged the close alliance between FÉRAL and the Japanese law firm TORANOMON CHUO.

Richard leads FÉRAL's international task force, coordinating the best partners in each region and optimizing the efficiency of the legal services offered to our clients.Large foreign groups call on Richard's expertise to address their legal issues in France, just as Richard assists French groups in the deployment of their international activities.He is head of the Japan desk and the Israeli desk at FÉRAL and is a regular speaker at international conferences on digital, intellectual property and business law.He is a trademark agent in France, the European Union and Canada.

He is also an expert in IP at the French Intellectual Property Office (INPI). Richard is also a mediator accredited by the Quebec Bar in civil and commercial matters, a commissioner for oaths, an agent for artists and authors, a lobbyist and a real estate agent

Its expertise covers in particular:

- digital transformation, creations and innovations

- protection and defense of trademarks, domain names, designs, copyrights and trade secrets worldwide

- preservation of digital evidence and provisional and conservatory measures

- anti-counterfeiting actions and against content piracy, in court or through customs procedures

- judicial and extra-judicial disputes resolution in the fields of intellectual property, technology rights, e-commerce, media and communication, as well as commercial or business law disputes, unfair competition and criminal law

- Managing and conducting international or complex litigation before courts, intellectual property offices or other authorities,

- Criminal law in matters related to intellectual property and information technology, or in connection with the civil and criminal liability of company directors

- contractual and regulatory assistance, particularly in the areas of e-commerce, distribution and franchising, licensing agreements or contracts for technological or innovation projects

-protection of privacy, image rights and e-reputation

- GDPR Compliance and Compliance in digital law (e-commerce, e-evidence, e-health, e-tourism, etc.)

- enforcement of court or arbitration decisions, including in relation to sovereign debt

- mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution

Richard is the former head of the Paris-Quebec International Commission of the Paris Bar (2012-2015).

Richard was a lecturer in cybercrime (Master II, University of Paris) and in intellectual property law (Master II, University of Poitiers). He is an expert in the training sessions offered by FÉRAL.

Richard is also ranked 2e dan black belt in Aikido and is a great connoisseur of Japan and its culture.