Biography
Paul-Marie Toutain holds an engineering degree in biotechnology from Polytech Marseille (formerly ESIL). Interested in the legal aspects of innovation, he studied intellectual property law at the Faculty of Law of Aix-en-Provence alongside his engineering curriculum. Before joining Santarelli, he worked both in private practice and in the pharmaceutical industry, where he managed the full scope of IP matters relating to several drug candidates (monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates).
At Santarelli, Paul-Marie handles the full life cycle of intellectual property rights across a variety of technical fields, including biotechnology and pharmaceutical chemistry, petrochemistry, and agronomy. He represents a wide range of clients before IP offices in securing patents and supplementary protection certificates, with a focus on building portfolios aligned with business objectives.
He also represents clients in opposition and appeal proceedings before the EPO, both in defense and in attack. In addition, Paul-Marie has developed expertise in litigation relating to infringement and employee inventions, working closely with teams of lawyers. Beyond his activities at Santarelli, he is actively involved in several professional intellectual property associations (CNCPI, AFPPI).
Education
- Engineering Degree (MSc) in Biotechnology – Polytech Marseille (ex-ESIL)
- DESU Innovation, Research and Patents – Faculty of Law, Aix-en-Provence (Aix-Marseille University)
- University Diploma in International Studies of Intellectual Property – Patents, Trademarks & Designs (CEIPI)
Professional IP Associations
- CNCPI : Compagnie Nationale des Conseils en Propriété Industrielle (French Patent & Trademark Attorneys Institute)
- AFPPI: French Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property
- EPI: Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office
Professional Ethics
Our IP attorneys and lawyers are bound by a strict code of professional conduct, ensuring the highest ethical standards in their relations with both clients and peers. They are committed to safeguarding the client’s economic interests, carrying out their mission through to completion, and working with full transparency (quotes, billing, general terms and conditions, ancillary costs).
Conflicts of Interest
Our IP attorneys and lawyers comply with the ethical rules of their profession regarding conflicts of interest. They ensure that no conflict exists before starting a new assignment and promptly inform the client of any situation that could interfere with the proper conduct of the assignment and/or risk compromising its objective execution.
