The Legal 500

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.’s ‘magnificent practice’ is recommended for its ‘efficiency and ability to provide a wide range of services’. The 18-lawyer team is led by the well-regarded Laurent Deruy, Michel Guénaire, Emmanuel Vital-Durand and Thomas Courtel, who is among ‘the best choices for concession projects’. The firm handles public procurement contracts and litigation for key players from the public and private sectors, and also represents clients in financial loan disputes and in strategic sectors such as defence. Highlights included assisting Voies Navigables de France with structuring the future port hubs of the Canal Seine Nord Europe project and SNCF in various proceedings regarding the award of public procurement contracts.

Jean-Yves Ollier now heads Allen & Overy LLP’s six-lawyer practice after Noël Chahid-Nouraï joined Orrick Rambaud Martel. Counsel Romaric Lazerges also plays a key role in the team, which manages large transport infrastructure and renewable energy projects, mainly representing sponsors and lenders. Highlights included advising the winning consortium on the new South-Europe-Atlantic train line. Recent litigation matters include acting for longstanding client TV channel M6.

Clifford Chance produces a ‘very high level of services’, and is well regarded for its public contract expertise, including contentious matters. The practice regularly assists the Ministry of Transport including recently on the high-profile eco-tax toll collection scheme. David Préat leads the practice, which also includes counsel Olivier Bélondrade, who is ‘particularly good’ and able to ‘find new solutions when things seem completely blocked’.

Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier has ‘a high level of expertise’ through a duo of partners who are both former members of France’s administrative Supreme Court: François Sureau, an expert in public sector company issues, and strong litigator Henri Savoie. The practice is particularly recommended for sophisticated matters, notably in the context of corporate transactions involving state-ownership interests. It recently represented Bouygues Telecoms on the granting of 3G and 4G licences and advised RFF on the South-Europe-Atlantic rail procurement contract.

Linklaters LLP’s six-lawyer team frequently advises lenders on large projects, and is particularly recommended for complex matters such as privatisation issues. The group advised Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC) on the merger of Transdev and Veolia Transport. Practice head Paul Lignières is ‘one of the market’s leading experts’, and shows ‘great understanding of political and commercial issues at stake’.

Orrick Rambaud Martel’s existing practice was elevated another level after Noël Chahid-Nouraï joined from Allen & Overy LLP. Jérôme Pentecoste is the other key element in a ‘very efficient team that always tries to provide workable solutions’. The practice is a major player in PPP, where it mainly advises sponsors and public entities, and its expertise also spans regulatory advice, public finance and litigation. Among a number of large infrastructure and development projects, it assisted Bouygues with the French Pentagon project. Other key clients include RATP and the Ministry of Culture.

UGGC & Associés’ nine-lawyer practice is co-led by Jehan Béjot and Thierry Dal Farra, who is regarded as one of the market’s finest advisers. The firm is regularly instructed by publicly owned companies and the French state, but also advises private sector operators.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP’s Thierry Laloum and Vincent Brenot are leading advisers for major public projects. The seven-lawyer practice also has strong expertise in public finance law and litigation. Highlight included assisting Autostrade per l’Italia on the innovative eco-tax project. Other clients include public entities (Mairie de Paris), sponsors (Vinci), and various lenders.

Baker & McKenzie SCP’s Emmanuel Guillaume and Arnaud Cabanes are experienced advisers in regulated industries, notably energy, telecoms, and audiovisual – fields in which the practice has numerous high-profile clients. The 11-lawyer team has a strong litigation practice and is increasingly attracting instructions on non-contentious aspects of public infrastructure projects. It successfully represented Autostrade on the highly publicised eco-tax project.

Boivin & Associés has ‘a high-level practice’ advising public entities and industrial groups on public contracts, urban planning and litigation. Jean-Pierre Boivin, Frédéric Defradas and Malik Memlouk are recommended.

De Pardieu Brocas Maffei A.A.R.P.I’s ‘great team’ advises sponsors and lenders on public procurement contracts, and recently represented the European Investment Bank (EIB) on financing of the A63 motorway project. Olivier Schmitt heads the team.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP rebuilt its public law capabilities in 2011 after hiring a strong team from Paul Hastings LLP, led by Pascal Cuche and counsel Marc Lordonnois, who are favoured counsel on PPP projects for major sponsors. Its current high-profile instructions include advising Vinci on the huge North Seine Canal project.

Gibson Dunn’s Nicolas Baverez is an ‘emblematic’ figure who manages ‘a unique and sophisticated caseload’, handling a mix of privatisation, complex litigation, crisis management and large restructuring. Of counsel Nicolas Autet is also a key element in the three-lawyer practice, which is also recognised for public economic law. The team is particularly involved in the banking, insurance, utilities, transport and energy sectors, and represents various CAC 40 and state-owned companies. It also a regular adviser to the French state.

Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP advises on public transport and other infrastructure projects, often assisting public entities but also representing key sponsors. It recently assisted the Ministry of Defence on the French Pentagon project. Bruno Cantier heads the practice, in which Ludovic Babin is the other key figure.

Jones Day ‘really listens to its clients and is able to adapt to their needs’. The six-lawyer practice is led by one of the market’s top advisers in Philippe Delelis, with Nicolas Brice also recommended. The practice is a great choice for high-end public contracts and also has strong regulatory and litigation expertise. It assists public and private sector companies, and represented EDF before the French courts regarding procurement contract renewals for hydropower plants.

Salans represented the contractors on the Tours-Bordeaux railway project, and also has notable expertise in the university and stadium sectors. Practice head Marc Fornacciari is also recommended for regulatory and litigation matters, notably in the energy and mining fields with strong expertise in energy performance agreements. Vinci Concessions, Eiffage and SNCF are all clients.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges’ ‘highly involved, rigorous and efficient’ practice has expertise in public, constitutional and competition law, and a strong understanding of regulated sectors. It advises key clients such as France Télécom and GDF Suez on major projects and also represents telecoms and energy clients in disputes. Eiffage, Suez Environnement and Corsica Ferries are also clients. Frédéric Salat-Baroux heads the team, in which senior associates Sabine Naugès and Laurent Ayache also play a key role.

White & Case LLP’s Jacques Bouillon and Paule Biensan are renowned for advising lenders on PPP projects, most notably in the transport and other infrastructure sectors. It advised the lenders, including EIB and CDC, on financing of the Tours-Bordeaux railway project.

Adamas staffs a ten-partner practice across its Lyon and Paris offices, including leading figures Alain-Serge Mescheriakoff, Romain Granjon, Jean-Marc Petit and Claude Ferradou. The firm assists public entities and companies on a wide range of matters. It is a regular adviser to various mountain resorts and represented Greater Lyon regarding construction of the Lumières stadium.

Altana’s six-lawyer practice is well regarded for contentious and non-contentious matters in public procurement, construction and urban planning. The team’s regular client base includes many leading construction groups. Practice head Louis des Cars, Christophe Lapp and François Muller are the key figures.

Bird & Bird is strongly focused on public contracts, and manages a high number of instructions regarding schools, stadiums, roads and telecoms. It represents municipalities and other public entities, as well as sponsors, and acted for Steria as a minority shareholder of Ecomouv in the eco-tax project. Sophie Pignon-Xardel heads the practice.

CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre’s Jean-Luc Tixier advises on major real estate and development projects; Christophe Barthélemy is a strong name for energy regulatory matters; and François Tenailleau handles PPP and public procurement matters including litigation. The team assisted Bouygues on a PPP project with the Paris Hospital Authority.

DLA Piper covers a wide range of matters and has ‘strong expertise in urban-planning law’ and litigation. The firm’s construction sector expertise generates a constant flow of public law work for leading engineering companies. The team, led by Jean-Philippe Sorba, recruited experienced energy, environment and telecoms lawyer Pascal Martin from JeantetAssociés AARPI.

DS Avocats’ 20-lawyer team has strong expertise in advising public entities and private operators on urban planning and public contracts. Daniel Chausse heads the practice.

Yves-René Guillou Avocats was renamed Earth Avocats in 2011 after founding member Yves-René Guillou opened the firm’s partnership to three former associates: Thomas Laffargue, Florence David and Clémence Cordier. This 15-lawyer public law boutique represents public entities and private sector clients – including several universities, hospitals and regional airports – in public contract procurements and litigation.

Frêche & Associés is well regarded for public and local law, urban planning and PPP expertise. Alain Frêche, François-Charles Bernard and Patrick Durand are the key figures.

Genesis Avocats’ nine-lawyer practice has great expertise in contentious and non-contentious matters concerning urban planning and public contracts. The team represents a mix of public and private sector companies. Marie-Yvonne Benjamin and Isabelle Cassin are the key figures.

Led by Yvon Goutal and Florence Alibert, Goutal Alibert & Associés’ practice is mainly dedicated to assisting government ministries and other public entities at local and national level. The team has a strong understanding of the public cultural sector and advises many prestigious institutions.

Huglo Lepage & Associés Conseil’s broad public law expertise includes urban planning and public economic law, and is also well recognised for its public environmental law expertise. Corinne Lepage and Christian Huglo represent many local entities.

Latournerie Wolfrom & Associés has great expertise advising on public projects in the telecoms, transport and energy fields through Jean Latournerie, Laurent de la Brosse and Térence Cabot. The team recently advised RATP on the realisation of a new Paris metro exit.

Molas et Associés’ expertise spans public law, property and construction, and clients include local and national entities, hospitals, and companies. Julien Molas is ‘very good’ for public contract matters.

Headed by Philippe Malléa, Norton Rose LLP’s team focuses on PPP and public contracts, and mainly advises sponsors and public entities. The practice is handling major matters in the prison and university sectors, including assisting a consortium on the Toulouse II University PPP.

SCP Barraquand Lapisardi’s five-lawyer practice has ‘high expertise in administrative law and public contracts’. Catherine Barraquand (‘very spot-on’) and Sophie Lapisardi (‘rigorous’) jointly lead the team, which represents private operators, engineering groups and public entities.

Seban & Associés focuses on delivering all-round service to public sector clients through a group of some 30 lawyers. The public law practice is supervised by Didier Seban and Marie-Hélène Pachen-Lefèvre, while My-Kim Yang-Paya heads the private law department. The firm also has strong criminal law expertise and experience defending public servants facing criminal charges.