In Interflora, the ECJ confirmed its strict interpretation of article 5 (2) of the EU Trademark Directive, according to which the sole use of trademark in keyword advertising does not per se constitute an infringement of trademark with a reputation but rather required the trademark owner to show that the purpose of this use by the competitor is likely to be considered as free riding, dilution or tarnishement.

Various amendments to the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) laws in France were adopted by the French Assemblée Nationale on September 7, 2011 and October 12, 2011.

A group of attorneys practicing in France and specialized in securities law, have created the “Securities Lawyers Association / Avocats en Droit Boursier (ADB)”. Fabrice Demarigny and Christophe Clerc, lawyers at Marccus Partners, are among the member participants.

On November 11, 2010 the European Parliament voted the Directive on Alternative Investment Fund Managers (AIFM) which is to be enacted within two years by the Member States.

In the aftermath of the recent disarray of the real estate markets and notably some resounding fund closures, Germany passed, on February 11^th, 2011 the Act on Strengthening Investor Protection and Improving the Functionality of the Capital Market.

Marccus Partners advised Nordmilch AG (Bremen) on its merger with Humana Milchindustrie GmbH (Everswinkel). The two firms were the major dairy products groups in Germany and, as a result of transaction, now constitute the largest German dairy company, trading under the name of DMK Deutsches Milchkontor GmbH.

Emmanuel Gougé (42), partner and head of the IP/IT department of the international business law firm Marccus Partners has been appointed as President of the French group of the Licensing Executive Society (L.E.S. France).

Marccus Partners expertise has been recognized and compensated during the 11^th award ceremony of the “Trophées du Droit et de la Finance”, which took place November 29^th, 2011 at a gala awards dinner in Paris with the presence of more than 750 legal professionals.

The business law firm Marccus Partners is pleased to announce the arrival of Anne-Laure Fonade who joined the Paris office on 14^th November 2011 as a partner, heading its Real Estate Department.