The Legal 500

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. stands out for its broad range of expertise and large resources, including 20 lawyers. It has ‘one of the most efficient teams for sponsor advice’, particularly thanks to Bénédicte Mazel and ‘dealmaker’ Thomas Courtel. The practice is involved in large transport, defence and sports infrastructure projects such as acting for Vinci on the A355 highway project. Michel Guénaire is involved in landmark disputes in the energy sector. Laurent Deruy is another key figure in the practice and acts for major clients including public sector companies, such as SNCF, on public law and litigation matters. Emmanuel Vital-Durand assists leading developers with urban planning law.

Baker & McKenzie SCP is highly recommended for regulatory and public procurement advice, and high-stakes litigation, and sets ‘high-quality standards of service’. The 13-lawyer team is led by the ‘remarkable’ Emmanuel Guillaume and Arnaud Cabanes, who is ‘available night and day’ and ‘always provides excellent and original advice’. The practice advises companies, public sector entities and several major state-owned companies, such as SNCF. It is defending EDF against numerous claims from solar energy producers. Alexia Robbes is the practice’s key expert in urban planning law and public real estate.

Clifford Chance is a prime choice for conducting large public projects, and this practice is underpinned by the firm’s strong project finance expertise. It recently completed high-profile work in the transport and construction areas, notably advising the Ministry of Justice on the construction of Paris’ future Courthouse. Other clients include a range of lenders and sponsors. ‘Public law guru’ David Préat heads the practice, and counsel Olivier Bélondrade is recommended.

Jones Day has ‘in-depth knowledge of the functioning of public sector bodies’. The five-lawyer team, which is a great choice for large and innovative public projects, recently advised on the construction of Paris-Saclay’s new university project. The firm also advises on regulatory matters and handles high-stake litigation for major companies and state-owned entities. It recently advised on the implementation of the new European regulation on public transportation in France. The team is headed by Nicolas Brice and Philippe Delelis, who stands out for his ‘fine negotiation skills’.

Linklaters LLP’s six-lawyer team is excellent for large public projects and is also in high demand for regulatory advice and litigation, including state aid cases. Highlights included assisting Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC) with the dismantling of Dexia Bank. The team is headed by the ‘solution-driven and client-oriented’ Paul Lignières, who shows ‘an impressive in-depth knowledge of public law’.

Orrick Rambaud Martel is recommended for conducting large projects and is assisting sponsors and the French government with several transport PPPs. The practice is notably advising the Grand Paris on the realisation of new metro lines. Noël Chahid-Nouraï is one of France’s most experienced public law experts. Of counsels Philippe Zeller and Jean-Luc Champy are also recommended.

UGGC Avocats’ highly regarded practice acts for the French state, major publicly owned companies, cultural institutions and private operators. The well-staffed practice includes Jehan Béjot and market-leading figure Thierry Dal Farra.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP’s practice head Thierry Laloum and Vincent Brenot are leading experts for large public sector projects. The practice advises project sponsors, and is acting for the sponsors on the Nîmes-Montpellier railway project. It also advises lenders on innovative financings and acts for the City of Paris on all of its complex contracts.

Counsel Romaric Lazerges now heads Allen & Overy LLP’s six-lawyer practice after Jean-Yves Ollier joined the Energy Regulation Commission (CRE). The team, which ‘offers a very good level of services’, is adept at advising sponsors and lenders on major projects and also has expertise in the issuance of bonds for local public entities. The firm is advising CDC on the future Grand Paris train network.

DS Avocats has a broad range of expertise and acts for public entities and property development companies. The team notably represented the Palais de Justice de Paris on the award of the public project to build Paris’ new Courthouse. Daniel Chausse heads the practice, which also includes Frédéric Lévy Monique Ambal, Frédérique Olivier and Laurent Séry.

Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier’s Henri Savoie has strong experience in representing leading corporations in litigation. François Sureau left the firm.

Dentons’ ‘extremely professional’ practice has ‘in-depth knowledge of the infrastructure market’. Marc Fornacciari heads the team, which advises lenders and sponsors on large construction and transport projects such as acting for the lenders on the development of the new Paris Courthouse.

The well-regarded Olivier Schmitt heads De Pardieu Brocas Maffei A.A.R.P.I’s seven-lawyer practice, which advises sponsors on major public projects. It is particularly experienced in the defence sector, and assisted the Ministry of Defence on a PPP for Ro-Ro vessels. The recruitment of Christine Le Bihan-Graf, who was the former deputy director to the director-general of the CRE, is a great addition for complex regulatory work.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s five-lawyer practice has ‘good strength in depth’. It acts for sponsors on large PPP instructions, and notably acted for Vinci as bidder with the North Seine Canal project. Practice head Pascal Cuche and counsel Marc Lordonnois are the key figures in the team, which is also experienced at advising on project bonds and other innovative financing schemes.

Gibson Dunn’s four-lawyer practice is headed by the very influential Nicolas Baverez, whose broad general experience makes him one of the favourite advisers to the French government, public sector companies including SNCF and La Poste, and corporations such as Total. The team is recommended for high-end public, economic, restructuring and crisis management issues, including litigation, and assisted Dexia with its restructuring. Of counsel Nicolas Autet is also recommended.

Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP advises sponsors on large infrastructure projects, and is also ‘top quality for public sector loans’. Ludovic Babin and practice head Bruno Cantier are the key contacts.

Frédéric Salat-Baroux heads Weil, Gotshal & Manges’ practice, which is increasingly popular with clients in highly regulated sectors. The team advises on regulatory, competition and public procurement matters, including high-stakes litigation. Clients include GDF Suez, France Télécom and CDC. Senior associate Laurent Ayache is also recommended. Sabine Naugès joined McDermott Will & Emery.

White & Case LLP’s Jacques Bouillon and Paule Biensan have extensive experience advising lenders on transport projects such as the Sud Europe-Atlantique high-speed railway project.

Adamas advises public entities and sponsors on a broad array of matters including public services, transport and urban law issues. It is advising on various ambitious projects in Lyon and is well versed in advising on procurement contracts of ski resort equipment. The practice has large resources across the Paris and Lyon offices. Key figures in the team include Romain Granjon, Jean-Marc Petit and Claude Ferradou. Alain-Serge Mescheriakoff left the firm.

AdDen avocats’ team shows ‘high technical skills, a pragmatic approach’ and ‘exemplary reactivity’, and has ‘excellent knowledge of the retail and property development sector’ where key clients include Unibail-Rodamco. Highlight includes representing Paris metro operator RATP in proceedings launched by the City of Paris. The team heads are Nicolas Nahmias, Laurent Férignac, Julie Sarassat and Elsa Sacksick, who is ‘a rising star for urban planning law issues’.

Altana’s six-lawyer team provides ‘a high level of services’, and has remarkable expertise. It also advises on major public construction and transport projects. The experienced Louis des Cars, Christophe Lapp and François Muller are supported by finance expert Jean L’Homme.

Bird & Bird is advising on a high number of property and transport projects for a mix of sponsors, lenders and public entities. Sophie Pignon-Xardel heads the practice.

Boivin & Associés advises public entities and major industrial groups. Jean-Pierre Boivin, Frédéric Defradas and Malik Memlouk are recommended.

CMS’ regulatory expert Christophe Barthélemy handles highly strategic matters such as assisting GDF Suez with challenging gas tariffs. The practice is also very active in PPPs, an area in which François Tenailleau is a key figure. Jean-Luc Tixier is recommended for public real estate projects.

Jean-Philippe Sorba heads DLA Piper’s seven-lawyer practice, which advises retailers, construction and telecoms companies on urban law and infrastructure projects. The experienced Pascal Martin is also recommended.

Founded by Yves-René Guillou, Earth Avocats advises public sector entities and private operators, including universities, hospitals and regional airports.

Franklin’s ‘business acumen is excellent’, ‘advice is spot on’ and the team’s ‘response time is as expected of a world-class law firm’. Jérôme Michel heads the three-lawyer team, which advises on public procurement contracts, regulatory issues and litigation. It is representing Numericable in litigation against France Télécom.

Frêche & Associés’ expertise spans public contract, urban planning law and public criminal law. The team includes Alain Frêche and Patrick Durand.

Genesis Avocats’ Marie-Yvonne Benjamin and Isabelle Cassin assist public sector clients and private operators with public contracts, urban planning law and litigation.

Goutal Alibert & Associés’ lawyers show ‘a great sense of ethics’ and produce ‘remarkable work quality’. The eight-partner practice advises prominent public sector clients including local and national governmental bodies, as well as cultural institutions such as Centre Pompidou or public sector companies including Radio France. Yvon Goutal and Florence Alibert are the key contacts.

Huglo Lepage & Associés Conseil has longstanding expertise in public and environment law and is strongly involved with local authorities. Corinne Lepage and Christian Huglo are the key figures.

Latournerie Wolfrom & Associés handles public contracts, urban planning law and telecoms matters, and has recently advised on university and transport projects. The team also represents local entities, governmental bodies and private sponsors. Jean Latournerie, Laurent de la Brosse and Térence Cabot are the practice co-heads.

Olivier Ortega heads Lefèvre Pelletier & associés’ nine-lawyer practice, which is recommended for public property matters and urban planning law litigation. The practice also excels at energy performance contracts and handles PPP instructions.

Molas et Associés is excellent in public contract litigation. Julien Molas is highly recommended.

Catherine Barraquand and Sophie Lapisardi jointly head SCP Barraquand Lapisardi’s six-lawyer practice, which has strong public contract expertise. Clients include engineering groups, casino operators and public sector entities.

Seban & Associés focuses on advising public sector clients and also defends public servants facing criminal proceedings. Didier Seban and Marie-Hélène Pachen-Lefèvre head the public law team.

Veil Jourde advises operators, public entities, regulators and state-owned companies. Clients include RFF, Bolloré and SFR. Regulatory expert Emmanuel Glaser is a former member of France’s Supreme Administrative Court.