1. Our approach to artificial intelligence
Dreyfus & associés assists its clients in protecting, managing and enforcing their intellectual property rights. In a constantly changing legal and technological environment, the firm may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist its professionals in some of their work.
These technologies are tools that support the firm’s expertise. They are used with a commitment to quality, vigilance and responsibility, and never replace professional judgement or the relationship of trust we have built with our clients.
2. Targeted and controlled uses
Depending on the needs and characteristics of each engagement, AI may in particular assist with legal research and monitoring, document analysis, summarising information, translation and proofreading, and the preparation of draft documents. It may also be used for certain administrative or communication tasks of the firm.
In trade mark, domain name and IP enforcement matters, these tools can help organise and carry out a preliminary review of information. Whether AI is used depends on the nature of the task, the sensitivity of the information concerned and the safeguards offered by the tool in question.
3. Human expertise and oversight come first
Artificial intelligence does not determine the legal strategy of a matter and does not replace the analysis or recommendations of our professionals. The output of these tools may contain omissions, approximations or incorrect references. It may also tend to confirm the user’s assumptions rather than challenge them.
Any output used in the course of our services is therefore critically reviewed and checked against the sources, to the same standard as any other work of the firm, in particular where it contains legal, factual or documentary elements. The firm’s counsel retain control over the work and bear sole professional responsibility for the services they provide.
4. Professional secrecy and protection of information
Professional secrecy and the protection of the information our clients entrust to us remain our priority. The firm ensures that its use of AI is compatible with the obligations of Conseils en propriété industrielle (French IP attorneys), in particular those arising under Article L. 422-11 of the French Intellectual Property Code and Article 226-13 of the French Criminal Code.
Where a task involves information relating to a client or its matter, the use of an AI tool is subject to a prior assessment of the risks and of the available safeguards. The firm limits the data transmitted to what is necessary and, where appropriate, anonymises or pseudonymises it. No confidential information is processed using tools that have not been approved by the firm, in particular consumer tools or personal accounts. Information relating to each matter is also kept segregated, so that it is never mixed with that of other clients.
Any processing of personal data complies with the applicable regulations, in particular the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and with the firm’s privacy policy.
5. Choice of tools and vigilance in their use
The firm pays particular attention to the terms of use of AI tools, notably as regards security, confidentiality, data retention, any reuse of data to train models, access by providers and international data transfers.
Where a tool is intended to process client information, the firm favours solutions whose contractual terms exclude the reuse of data to train models, limit its retention, restrict access by the provider and its subcontractors to what is strictly necessary, include confidentiality undertakings and guarantee an appropriate level of security, in particular through data encryption. Particular attention is also paid to where the data are hosted and processed, and to foreign laws that may allow authorities to access them.
The choice of tools and the way they are used are based on an assessment suited to the intended uses and to the firm’s professional obligations. Dreyfus & associés keeps abreast of developments in technology, professional guidance and the applicable regulatory framework, particularly at European level.
6. Transparency and dialogue with our clients
Through this policy, the firm clearly informs its clients that it uses AI tools and of the purposes for which they may be used in providing its services. The general terms of such use may also be set out in the engagement letter or in the firm’s general terms and conditions.
Our clients may ask us about any use of AI that may concern their matters and let us know of any specific requests, for example excluding certain uses. Such requests are considered in light of the engagement, the firm’s professional obligations and the terms agreed with the client.
This policy will evolve with the firm’s practices, available technologies and legal and ethical requirements. In the event of any significant change in these uses, it will be updated and our clients will be informed. For any question about the use of AI, please contact us at contact@dreyfus.fr.
Last updated: 29 October 2026