Didier Patry is Director & Managing Counsel of HP’s WW IP Transaction Team supporting HP Software & Solutions and HP Services. In this role, he leads a team of specialized IP attorneys providing expert IP support to these two business units in all regions. Didier and his team are also in charge of HP’s Copyright and Open Source Competency Centers. Didier is an experienced patent prosecutor and IP litigator. He is also an expert in IP licensing, tech transfers, and acquisitions and divestitures of IP assets. Didier is regularly involved in complex and high value transactions including those with key customers, partners and targets of M&A operations. He has represented HP’s interest as a lead IP negotiator in large transactions including multi-billion engagements with corporate and G1K accounts such as British Telecom and Alcatel-Lucent.
Didier’s worldwide expertise is based on more than 20 years of practicing law in several countries including Switzerland, France, the UK, and the US. Prior to joining HP, Didier was a senior associate in the International Patent Prosecution and Litigation Practices of Baker Botts L.L.P., where his practice was concentrated in the representation of IT companies. Didier has also served as the Corporate Chief Patent Counsel for the Swatch Group in Switzerland. From 1993 to 2001 he lectured on issues of European patent law and management of IP, and also trained candidates for the Patent Attorney Qualification Exam in Europe. He is regularly asked to speak in conferences in Europe.
Didier is a qualified and registered European Patent Attorney and French Intellectual Property Counselor. He received his Law degree from the Center for International Studies at the Robert Schuman University in Strasbourg with concentration on IP and competition law and he studied English law and English contract law at the University College London. He also holds an M.S. in Material Science and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Didier trained as a patent attorney at the Weinstein Law Firm in Paris and he also served in a special bureau of the French Ministry of Defense in Paris where he was also trained as a paratrooper officer.
Didier currently lives with his family in Paris-Boulogne, France and he is based at HP’s Paris office in Issy les Moulineaux.