Barbara Levy advises a number of French and international clients in a wide range of sectors, with a particular focus on automotive, telecommunications, internet, luxury goods, retail and energy, and has a recognized expertise in business and industrial litigation.

Barbara regularly represents clients before civil, commercial and criminal courts. She has an in-depth experience in complex international, multi-jurisdictional and multi-party litigation and in the enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards.

Barbara Levy is also a very dedicated practitioner in advisory and litigation matters with a particular emphasis on intellectual property, personal data, distribution law and restrictive practices (pricing practices, general terms and conditions of sale, products and trade practices regulation, consumer law, distribution networks, etc.).

Member of the International Bar Association, the International Trademark Association (INTA) and the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society and Paris Place de Droit, Barbara is also a certified mediator with the Centre de Médiation et d’Arbitrage de Paris (CMAP) and she practices alternative dispute resolution as mediator and lawyer. She is the author of several articles and publications in her practice areas.

She joined De Pardieu as a partner in 2009 and works in the Business Litigation and Intellectual Property & Personal Data teams.

Education
  • Partner in several French and international law firms, 1990 – 2009
  • DEA in international private law (international commercial arbitration specialization) – University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas
  • Lawyer since: 1990
  • Bar admissions: Paris
Projects
  • Advisors to a foreign industrial group manufacturing car equipment in connection with the Dieselgate
  • Advisors to foreign truck manufacturers on a compensation litigation linked to the Truck Cartel
  • Advisors to a foreign online tourism services group on a litigation against an airline company
  • Advisors to a Spanish raw materials manufacturer on the breach of an international distribution contract
  • Advisors to a banking institution on a dispute relating to a strategic service contract
  • Advisors to various operators on issues arising from the application of the French “Blocking Statute” (relating to the disclosure to foreign authorities or jurisdictions of sensitive information linked to France)
  • Advisors to various operators on exequatur and enforcement procedures of ICC arbitral awards
  • Advisors to various operators on litigation concerning unfair competition, protection of know-how and infringement of intellectual property rights
  • Advisors to various operators on access to evidence-related disputes (article 145 of the French Code of Civil Procedure)
  • Advisors to a French group on an insurance dispute relating to an exclusion of warranty clause
  • Advisors to the heirs of an Italian fashion designer on an insurance dispute concerning compensation for the financial loss suffered by the heirs
  • Advisors to a French industrial group with an international dimension, on its industrial and commercial disputes (sudden termination of established commercial relationships, breach of supply, subcontracting, defective products, insurance, technology transfer, protection of know-how and IP, ….)
  • Advisors to a Dutch manufacturer on a dispute with a French car manufacturer concerning the supply of defective products
  • Advisors to a French engineering and defense company on a software, know-how and trademark licensing dispute
  • Advisors to an American group on an international dispute relating to a satellite coexistence agreement
  • Advisors to a French group on an international litigation concerning the termination of joint venture and technology transfer agreements
  • Advisors to a Kuwaiti group against an American group on the termination of a partnership agreement for the distribution of products in the Middle East.
  • Advisors to an American high-tech manufacturer on a know-how protection and unfair competition dispute against a Chinese competitor and its French subsidiary.
  • Advisors to an Italian healthcare group on a software infringement dispute
  • Advisors to various major market players in the luxury goods industry on their commercial and industrial property disputes
  • Advisors to a French industrial group on a litigation relating to a heat cogeneration unit
  • Advisors to a French telecommunications group on a litigation concerning unfair and deceptive practices and defamation.
  • Advisors to a French energy group on a litigation relating to the construction of a power plant

Contact

Languages: French, English

Awards

CHAMBERS AND PARTNERS GLOBAL GUIDE 2024

Litigation : Elite – France (Band 5)

Barbara Levy joins this table thanks to her experience handling a range of litigation matters, including damages claims and post M&A disputes. She is also equipped to handle litigation with cross-border elements.

Barbara Levy is a highly sophisticated lawyer with a pragmatic approach.”

“She soundly analyses the various risks of particular situations and is able to explain those in simple terms to clients.”

LEGAL 500 EMEA 2024

Eu, competition and distribution (Tier 1) – Other key lawyers

LEGAL 500 EMEA 2024

Dispute Resolution: Commercial Litigation (Tier 3) – Practice head

“Barbara Levy, the lawyer you want on your side to benefit from her invaluable analyzes and recommendations.” (2024)

“Extremely experienced partner in Barbara Levy; she is perfect for complex litigation; she brings real added value. I have used her services on very complex cases which she has won.” (2023)

“Barbara Levy shows high-level thinking, is creative and demonstrates total involvement in cases.” (2023)

LEGAL 500 EMEA 2023

Intellectual Property (Tier 3)

“Under the leadership of Barbara Levy, the team advises French and foreign companies, in addition to government bodies, on trade mark disputes, applications and portfolio management issues.”

BEST LAWYERS

Recognized since 2014 in:

  • Arbitration and Mediation
  • Intellectual Property Law
  • Litigation

OPTION FINANCE

  • Acquisition litigation **** (2024)
  • International arbitration * (2024)

LEADERS LEAGUE

Leading​

  • Litigation & Arbitration – AMF, ACPR and listed transactions litigation (2024)
  • Dispute resolution – Commercial litigation (2024)
  • Competition & Antitrust – Antitrust (2024) 

LEADERS LEAGUE

Excellent ​

  • Competition & Distribution – Distribution law (2024)
  • Litigation & Arbitration – Financial & Equity Litigation (2024)
  • Industrial Property – Trademarks: litigation (2024)

LEADERS LEAGUE

Highly recommended​

  • Dispute resolution – International arbitration (2024)
  • Africa Desk – Natural ressources and renewable energies (2024) 

LEADER LEAGUE

Recommended

  • Industrial risks & liability litigation – Claims and insurance litigation (2023)

  • Innovation, technology & telecoms – Data Protection Law and Cybersecurity (2024)

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