The Legal 500

Alain Bensoussan has the largest technology department in France. The IT practice handles matters such as large outsourcing and software integration projects and also undertakes litigation. Its key figures are Alain Bensoussan, Jean-François Forgeron, Benoît de Roquefeuil, Pascal Arrigo and Philippe Ballet. Additionally, Eric Barbry and Mathieu Prud’homme lead the internet and security team, Frédéric Forster heads the telecoms practice, Cécile Avignon has expertise in advertising and electronic marketing, and Chloé Torres focuses on data privacy law.

Baker & McKenzie SCP recently negotiated large IT projects for major corporate users and also advised on internet matters. The ‘remarkably smart’ Laurent Szuskin has ‘strong knowledge of the IT sector’, and Rémy Bricard is also recommended. Emmanuel Guillaume has strong experience in the telecoms sector, notably for regulatory issues.

Bird & Bird’s Frédérique Dupuis-Toubol has extensive experience advising alternative telecoms and mobile communications operators on complex matters such as litigation between operators or disputes regarding telecoms relay antennas. Dupuis-Toubol is advising various African state entities on regulatory frameworks as well as Caribbean authorities on underwater cable networks for high-speed internet access. In the IT sector, the practice acts for high-profile corporate users and service providers in large projects and litigation. Stéphane Leriche is highly recommended, Marion Barbier is recommended for litigation, Ariane Mole is the main contact for data protection matters and Alexandre Vuchot focuses on internet and e-commerce issues.

French IT boutique Feral-Schuhl/Sainte-Marie provides an ‘excellent service’ through ‘highly specialised teams’. The 17-lawyer firm is led by leading figures Christiane Féral-Schuhl, who is the newly elected president of the Paris Bar, and Bruno Grégoire Sainte Marie. Etienne Papin and Olivier de Courcel are also recommended. The firm advises many major clients, notably from the financial services sector, on the integration, development and outsourcing of technology solutions and projects. It assisted Vinci Park with a design, integration and maintenance agreement.

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. has remarkable experience advising on telecoms regulatory matters in France and the emerging markets. The team advises operators, such as France Télécom, and certain state entities, including advising the government of Malawi on the implementation of a new framework on electronic transactions. It is also involved in a major satellites dispute. Olivier Cousi and Rémy Fekete, an ‘outstanding lawyer with substantial experience in the telecoms sector in Africa’, are recommended. Thierry Dor is the main contact for IT contracts and litigation, and primarily represents corporate users.

Allen & Overy LLP’s practice head Ahmed Baladi advises on strategic alliances and IT projects between financial institutions and technology suppliers. Major clients include Accenture and BNP Paribas, and French authorities such as the Data Protection Authority (CNIL). Olivier Fréget is a leading adviser on telecoms competition issues, and the practice recently won a major decision for SFR against France Télécom. The firm also handles telecoms corporate advice.

Mahasti Razavi, Kami Haeri and Florence Chafiol-Chaumont lead August & Debouzy’s IT and internet practice, which advises leading technology companies and users on a broad range of matters and also has strong litigation credentials. Clients include Geodis. Competition expert Christophe Clarenc, who recently joined from Latham & Watkins, is a regular adviser to France Télécom on strategic matters.

IT is Courtois Lebel’s core business. Hervé Gabadou, Cédric Frenel and Arnaud Tessalonikos head the team, which advises major IT providers and users, notably from the banking and insurance sectors, on IT implementation and outsourcing, as well as on internet law and data protection.

DLA Piper advises large users and technology suppliers on outsourcing, transactional and commercial matters and in litigation. The firm advised Pixmania on the signature of an e-commerce agreement with Carrefour. Stéphane Lemarchand is a ‘strong reference’ for IT matters, and Carol Umhoefer is recommended for data protection advice.

De Gaulle Fleurance & Associés provides an ‘excellent quality of service’ and ‘understands specific business needs’. The IT practice is highly recommended for contract advice and litigation relating to issues such as online gaming, cloud computing and mobile phone technology, and is also a major reference for IP including software copyright and internet piracy issues. Its large and experienced team includes key individuals Julien Horn, Frank Valentin, Louis de Gaulle and Béatrice Delmas-Linel, who is ‘a seasoned professional with a really exceptional business mind and a sharp communication style’.

IT boutique Derriennic Associés is ‘a very good firm for IT litigation’. The key figures in the team are François-Pierre Lani, Georges Jenselme and Pierre-Yves Margnoux. The highly regarded Jean-Noël Derriennic has retired from practice but remains involved as a consultant. Anne-Sophie Poggi recently left the firm.

Franklin’s ‘very good practice’ advises technology users and providers, and its expertise covers data protection, e-commerce, encryption, outsourcing, commercial, corporate matters with niche expertise in technology tie-ups between France and India. The team represented book publisher La Martinière in proceedings against Google which led to a settlement. The ‘very experienced’ Bradley Joslove heads the practice, in which of counsel Olivier Haas is the other key figure.

Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP’s David Taylor is expert in internet matters, and he advises online giants such as Facebook on issues including protection or recovery of domain names worldwide. Xavier Buffet Delmas, Winston Maxwell and Michel Debroux advise telecoms operators and French and foreign regulatory authorities regarding contentious and non-contentious regulatory and state aid issues. The firm also assists several technology users and providers with data protection and IT projects.

Latham & Watkins provides ‘a very good level of service and business knowledge’ for clients including L’Oréal, Publicis and technology start-ups. Jean-Luc Juhan focuses on transactions, advising corporate users on large IT, cloud-computing and network-integration projects. Myria Saarinen deals with IT and telecoms litigation and data protection.

Marc d’Haultfoeuille heads Norton Rose LLP’s IT group, which attracted numerous new high-profile instructions and clients in 2011. It is managing multi-jurisdictional outsourcing projects and advising on data protection and social network issues. L’Oréal is a key client. On the telecoms side, the practice is adviser to NRJ Mobile and handles transactions in the Maghreb through Alain Malek. Hervé Castelnau joined Jones Day.

Aramis’ five-lawyer team, led by Benjamin May, advises prominent companies on major outsourcing and IT projects. E-payment, data protection and regulatory issues are also fields of expertise. The firm advised Natixis on a cross-border services agreement with TNS regarding the processing of transactions for Chinese cardholders. Alstom and Cofiroute are also regular clients.

Bersay & Associés’ of counsel Martine Georges-Naïm has a strong reputation in telecoms, where she advises various alternative operators and public authorities and has extensive experience handling cases before the French telecoms regulator. Senior associate Delphine Touboul, is a ‘proactive, dedicated and creative’ lawyer in the growing IT practice.

Clifford Chance’s counsel Victoriano Melero advises large companies on major IT outsourcing and technology agreements. He recently advised Société Générale on several agreements for its mobile service payment scheme, and Openware on an agreement with French mobile operators. The practice also handles work in the internet sector for clients such as Honda and Carrefour.

Cotty Vivant Marchisio & Lauzeral’s Guillaume Seligmann advises some high-profile corporate users on software, cloud-computing and other IT and technology agreements, such as representing LVMH in the negotiation of agreements with Hewlett-Packard, Oracle and Microsoft. The team also advises on internet law and data protection, and undertakes litigation.

Herbert Smith LLP represents top names in the internet sector, including Google and Amazon. Alexandra Néri heads the team.

Hugotavocats is ‘one of the market’s leading firms for internet issues’, and shows ‘excellent knowledge of IT matters’. Jean-Philippe Hugot and Olivier Hugot lead the practice, which has a notable niche advising on free software. The firm advises many internet websites, operators and software and internet editors. Wikipédia is the practice’s flagship client.

IT Law Avocats provides a broad range of services and has expertise in complex IT projects. The five-lawyer team is led by Claudia Weber, and senior associate Céline Vo is recommended for cyber-surveillance matters. The firm assists large technology users and providers such as Eiffage and Wincor Nixdorf.

Ichay & Mullenex Avocats has ‘sharp expertise in the telecoms area’, ‘strong knowledge of the European e-commerce and online travel industry’, as well as ‘good understanding of the online gaming sector’. This seven-lawyer team is ‘professional, pragmatic and has a strong fighting spirit’. Diane Mullenex heads the practice, with Annabel Richard and corporate expert Frédéric Ichay also recommended. Key clients include Expedia France, Viagogo and Monaco Telecom.

Kahn & Associés’ practice, led by Sabine Lipovetsky and Fabrice Perbost, shows an ‘in-depth understanding of internet and technology issues’. This ‘serious and reactive’ team ‘can really adapt to the clients’ needs’, and advises technology providers and users on IT, internet and telecoms matters.

Marie-Hélène Tonnellier leads Latournerie Wolfrom & Associés’ IT and telecoms practice, which is particularly expert in projects combining public law elements with telecoms or IT law issues. It recently assisted Direction Générale de l’Armement on establishing IP network services for French military bases.

Magenta’s telecoms-focused group has ‘deep understanding of competition and regulation issues’. Sylvain Justier and Vincent Jaunet have ‘in-depth knowledge of the sector regarding both mobile and landline operators’, are ‘extremely dedicated and hardworking’, and ‘deliver high-quality advice on critical issues’. Clients include Afone and Outremer Telecom.

Salans provides IT advisory and litigation support for technology providers and users. David Masson leads the practice, which also advises clients such as large healthcare companies on data protection issues.

Staub & Associés is ‘very knowledgeable about IT and internet matters’, and has recently won difficult cases for clients. Sylvain Staub heads the five-lawyer team, which advises and litigates on computer and software integration projects, database and e-commerce matters for service providers and users.

Taylor Wessing’s six-lawyer practice, led by Philippe Glaser and Valérie Aumage, advises several leading IT manufacturers and providers. It has strong litigation expertise, having acted in various software-related disputes.

Dedicated to IP and IT law, Teissonnière Sardain Chevé is recommended for its strong knowledge of the internet and digital economy. The practice leaders are Frédéric Sardain, Guillaume Teissonnière and Laurence Chevé, who is proficient in IT criminal law.