The Legal 500

Bouckaert Ormen Passemard Sportes is the ‘best available on the market for litigation work’, according to clients. Christian Bouckaert, Pascal Ormen, Rémi Passemard, Carole Sportes and Valérie Ravit are recommended lawyers for companies and insurers, handling liability cases in the pharmaceutical, construction and banking sectors in addition to dealing with large cases in the aviation field.

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.’s 16-lawyer team, led by Philippe Rames and Richard Ghueldre, offers the market’s largest breadth of expertise acting for large insurers (Axa, Allianz, Groupama). The practice assisted AIG on the restructuring of its life insurance business, and Natixis Assurances on the setting up of a distribution scheme for life insurance products.

HMN & Partners has a leading litigation practice with Bernard Mettetal, Gérard Honig and Simon Ndiaye handling insurance and reinsurance cases. It is the go-to firm for industrial risk matters occurring in the aviation, pharmacy and automobile sectors. The practice was involved in the AZF case.

Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP has superb litigation expertise in Thomas Rouhette, who handles landmark cases in the aviation sector, combined with corporate and regulatory capabilities through Bénédicte Denis. The firm is an advisor to leading insurers and reinsurers (Axa, Scor, Swiss Re).

DLA Piper leads a busy litigation practice in the construction sector through practice head Emmanuelle Payrau-Sorba, who represents large developers. Bruce Mee is also involved in the practice on the litigation side, while Anne Maréchal has strong financial capabilities advising insurers.

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s Jean Alisse is a leading expert acting for high-profile clients (Allianz IARD, Paris Re, SCOR, Swiss Re). The practice takes on corporate, regulatory and litigation work, and is consulted on EU regulation and reinsurance issues.

Holman Fenwick Willan LLP is made up of ‘reactive, efficient and competent’ lawyers who combine expertise in French and Anglo-Saxon law. The practice handles insurance and reinsurance work representing insurers and is particularly strong in the maritime field. Guillaume Brajeux and Oliver Purcell are recommended.

Karila’s Jean-Pierre Karila and Laurent Karila are strong individuals in the construction sector. The practice acts for leading insurers, handling insurance law and civil liability work.

At Lefèvre Pelletier & associés, Marie-Christine Peyroux’s team has wide expertise in insurance law, handling matters for leading insurers including Lloyds’ members. Martine Blanck-Dap and Philippe Lefèvre are also key elements in the practice, which strengthened in 2010 via the hiring of Séverine Hotellier Delage, who joined from insurance specialist firm Hascoët – Thierry Bernard left the firm to join Quadrige.

Reed Smith is adept at handling large industrial accident cases, acting on the insured companies’ side through Benoît Charot and Marie Albertini, who are regularly involved in product liability matters. The team advised Total on the setting up of its global insurance scheme, and in the context of a fire which occurred in warehouse near London. It also represents major industrial companies and manufacturers (Saint Gobain, Saint Louis Sucre) on asbestos-related proceedings.

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP has the ‘best M&A insurance practice’. William Torchiana ranks among the market’s leading experts for strategic securities offerings and corporate and restructuring matters, attracting work from all the largest insurance companies. The firm advised Paris Re on its combination with Partner Re.