Our Story

"In Lex" — Latin for "Inside the Law"

What does INLEX mean?

The name INLEX embodies our philosophy: “In Lex”, which in Latin means “within the law.” It reflects both our legal expertise and our conviction that understanding and mastering the law from the inside is essential to protect, enhance, and develop Intellectual Property assets beyond borders with pragmatism and precision.

From a local vision to a global expertise in Intellectual Property

INLEX was founded in 1995 in Paris by Franck Soutoul, an experienced Intellectual Property counsel, practicing since 1987. His vision was clear: to create a firm that goes beyond traditional legal advice to become a true strategic partner for companies seeking to protect and optimise the value of their intangible assets.
Thanks to an international vision and deep regional expertise in trademark law, designs and models, copyright, as well as patents and domain names, INLEX is a firm grounded in legal expertise, an understanding of business challenges, and strategic foresight.
Franck Soutoul — Founder of INLEX IP Expertise, Paris

"I wanted to create an IP consultancy that would operate without borders, with technical expertise and deep knowledge of Europe and of Africa."

— Franck Soutoul, Founder

Our values: the foundation of our commitment

At the heart of INLEX, a series of values guide our day-to-day actions:

Expertise

Over 30 years of international experience dedicated to Intellectual and Industrial Property

Reliability

A constant commitment to act by combining legal rigor with marketing objectives

Bespoke Strategy

Personalised solutions adapted to each situation through mastery of the question raised and understanding of objectives

Flexible Pricing

Clear, flexible proposals adapted to your capacities and objectives

Pragmatism

Concrete, measurable, business-driven outcomes, achieved by balancing applicable Law with operational realities.

Technology

Innovative internal tools, such as our own WedooIP® platform, which allows you to freely access all your matters and interact with your dedicated team

Proactivity

Personalised, responsive support depending on the context of the request and the feasibility of the project

Creativity

Bold, innovative legal approaches to meet the most complex challenges

The Golden Rule

"These shared values are not just internal commitments. They are lived by our team in every interaction, every matter, every piece of advice, making Law a means to prosper and not an end in itself."

A progressive expansion, driven by a global vision

From a single office in Paris to a strategic presence in Europe and Africa, INLEX has grown to meet the evolving needs of its clients worldwide:

1995

INLEX is founded in Paris, France

1999–2004

Expansion across France with multiple satellite offices

2013

Opening of the Monaco office, reinforcing our European presence

2014

First step into Africa with the opening of an office in Yaoundé, Cameroon, close to OAPI headquarters

2016

Opening of new office in Mauritius, becoming INLEX's African HQ

2017

Launch of two liaison offices in Geneva, Switzerland and Casablanca, Morocco

2018

Launch of new liaison office in the United Kingdom

2019

Launch of new liaison office in Hong Kong to support Asian clients

2023

Full autonomy of its co-founder Franck Soutoul, enabling greater internationalisation of INLEX, clearly evidenced by the geostrategic challenges and following growing demand, notably from economic operators in the Middle East and South-East Asia.

Today

Today, INLEX connects Europe and Africa, drawing on regional knowledge, international expertise, and a multicultural team ready to support businesses in a constantly evolving legal landscape.