The Legal 500

Clifford Chance’s ‘powerful team’ has the ‘ability to help customers close a deal’, and delivers an ‘extraordinary level of service’. The practice has a full range of expertise, including property fund formation, and it advises many leading players. Highlights included advising Chartis on the sale of Chartis Tower, and LaSalle Investment Management on the sale of the Olympe company and building. The 13-lawyer team is led by François Bonteil and the ‘charismatic’ Aubry d’Argenlieu, a ‘very business-oriented’ adviser who is ‘personally involved in transactions’.

For some, De Pardieu Brocas Maffei A.A.R.P.I has ‘the best practice’. It is involved in many high-profile transactions, and advises on investments, financing, tax issues or leasing. Emmanuel Fatôme, Pierre Gebarowski, Guillaume Rossignol and Paul Talbourdet are the core partners, with Jacques Henrot and outstanding tax partner Emmanuel Chauve also deserving mention. The practice represents top investors and lenders, and advised Scor Properties on its acquisition of the 5 Avenue Kléber building.

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.’s ‘highly experienced lawyers’ are ‘deal doers’ with ‘sound, imaginative judgement and strong capability to find constructive solutions’. The firm, which also ranks as ‘the best-in-class for real estate finance’, runs a full-service practice staffed by around 35 lawyers. It advised MGPA on the refinancing of Les Trois Quartiers shopping centre and Unibail Rodamco on development of the Tour Triangle. Key figures include ‘incomparable technician’ Frédéric Nouel; the ‘very knowledgeable and proactive’ Stanislas Dwernicki; Eric Martin-Impératori; Renault Baguenault; Erwan Le Douce-Bercot, who has ‘unrivalled sense of client’s business interests’; and Bertrand Oldra. Jean-Jacques Raquin joined Lacourte Balas Raquin.

Allen & Overy LLP’s comprehensive practice attracts a growing base of investors (GE Real Estate), investment funds (JP Morgan European Property Funds) and banks (Credit Suisse). The team advised Unibail-Rodamco on the sale of two shopping centres and Perella Weinberg on the acquisition and refinancing of the AIG office tower. Jean-Dominique Casalta heads the transactional practice, Christophe Jacquemin handles property financing, and Jean-Yves Charriau is highly regarded for tax matters.

Baker & McKenzie SCP has ‘outstanding knowledge of the real estate industry’ and ‘great experience of large transactions’. Marc Mariani heads a comprehensive practice which stands out for its integrated tax practice led by the highly regarded Olivier Mesmin and Christine Daric. Recent instructions include fund formation and hotel transactions, and advising Carval on the acquisition of logistics sites from Gecina. Other key clients include Generali and Qatar Islamic Bank.

Pascal Schmitz leads Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s nine-lawyer practice, in which the ‘charismatic’ Benoît Marcilhacy is the other key contact. The client base includes leading US, European and Middle Eastern investors, for which it handles a range of matters including investments, refinancing, leases and fund formation. The team advised Grosvenor on its acquisition of a portfolio of European commercial centres from Unibail Rodamco.

Headed by the well-regarded Pierre Popesco, Herbert Smith LLP’s practice covers the full spectrum of real estate work. Pierre-Nicolas Sanzey and real estate development expert Florence Chérel are also recommended. Eric Fiszelson’s recruitment from Linklaters LLP reinforced the firm’s financing expertise. The client base includes French and German investors, sovereign wealth funds and major developers. The firm recently advised UBS Real Estate on the sale of a three-building complex in Arcueil, and Predica on its joint acquisition of the Europe Avenue building and its holding company.

Jones Day’s strong five-lawyer practice is recommended for major property investment and development work. Recent transactions include advising Predica and Generali on the acquisition of the company owning the Europe Avenue office building. Practice head Jean-Louis Martin has ‘good expertise and a very good sense of the client’, and Vincent Agulhon is a leading name in property tax matters.

Property boutique Lacourte Balas Raquin was joined by a trio of partners: market-leading figure Jean-Jacques Raquin, Damien Grosse and Alexis Le Lièpvre, who all joined from Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.. Raquin is recommended for his ‘in-depth knowledge of property law’. The eight-partner practice also includes founding partners Thierry Lacourte and Jean-Claude Balas. The practice, which spans contentious and non-contentious matters, advised Hines European Development Fund on the sale of Tours Horizons, and also acts for Allianz and Gecina.

Lefèvre Pelletier & Associés’ comprehensive practice is particularly notable for its ‘strong commercial lease expertise’. The ten-partner team is managed by Marie-Odile Vaissié and also includes key partners Philippe Lefèvre, Philippe Pelletier, Véronique Lagarde, Antonia Raccat and Olivia Michaud. Silke Nadolni, who joined from Marccus Partners in 2011, will be an asset for the firm’s German and Austrian clients. The team advised Unibail Rodamco on the renovation of the Forum des Halles in Paris and on the development of Phare Tower.

Françoise Maigrot heads Linklaters LLP’s eight-lawyer practice, which advises investors and corporate occupiers on sales, acquisitions, and leasing. The team had a busy year assisting Beacon Capital Partners with various transactions including the sale of the Europe Avenue building. Medica and Invesco Real Estate are also clients.

White & Case LLP’s clients include major investors (Klépierre), developers (Amundi) and leading hotel franchises (Marriott). Brice Engel and Frank Peter co-head the ten-lawyer practice, which advises on acquisitions and sales, property fund formation, and hotel refurbishments. It advised Unibail-Rodamco on its acquisition of Lehwood Montparnasse, owner of Le Méridien Hotel.

Ashurst LLP’s ‘customer-tailored, all-round service’ practice is led by Philippe None, who has ‘outstanding legal and client skills’ and ‘in-depth knowledge of the market’. The ten-lawyer practice also includes property finance expert Hassan Javanshir, the ‘best “bad guy” for hard negotiations’ and a ‘very forward-thinking’ lawyer. The client portfolio of investors, funds and banks includes CBRE Investors and Landesbank Berlin. The team also advised Citigroup Property Investors on restructuring a loan.

CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre’s practice is managed by Jean-Luc Tixier and Philippe Riglet, who is a leading commercial leasing expert. The firm provides expertise on transactions, tax, financing and leasing, and recently advised Esprit on the disposal of its commercial lease on the Champs Elysées to Marks and Spencer plc. The group also advised AIK AG on the disposal of the holding company owning the CB 16 Tower building.

Orrick Rambaud Martel represents numerous German funds and English and Middle Eastern investors, and advised Benson Elliot on the €138m refinancing of its Opera Portfolio. The team includes Catherine Saint Geniest, Alfred Fink and finance expert Hervé Kensicher, who shows ‘thoroughness and efficiency’. Patrick Gerry joined Simmons & Simmons LLP.

Paul Hastings LLP’s David Lacaze advises on property investments and refinancing for clients including Groupe du Louvre and JP Morgan Asset Management. The team also recently advised UK investors on the distressed sale of the Front de Parc building.

Salans ranks ‘highly in all aspects’, and provides the ‘right advice to achieve the best outcome’. The firm advises leading players such as AEW, Blackstone, Corio and ING REIM, and recently handled major instructions in the hotel sector and advised Northwood Investors on the acquisition and financing of an office in La Défense. Practice head François Verdot is ‘a leading real estate attorney who understands very well clients’ needs’. Also recommended are of counsel Henry Lazarski, Antoine Mercier and tax expert Sybille Salmon-Legagneur.

Wragge & Co’s strong, full-service practice advised Predica and Generali on the acquisition of the Europe Avenue Building. Henry Ranchon heads the practice, in which David Blondel is recommended for finance work, and Pierre Appremont and Eglantine Lioret have good tax expertise. Arnaud Guérin has ‘very good knowledge of French real estate funds’.

Bird & Bird’s collaborative team advises clients including institutional players (Gecina, AEW Europe, Generali) and large tenants (Sanofi, Rhodia). Practice head Constance de la Hosseraye advises on transactions, lease management and project development, and also undertakes litigation.

DLA Piper focuses on corporate real estate and investments, and represents various US, UK and German investment funds. Practice head Philippe Ledoux and Lionel Rosenfeld are the key contacts.

de Gaulle Fleurance & Associés represents major real estate developers and investors on acquisitions, sales and portfolio restructuring, and also advises many corporate occupiers on leasing and litigation issues. It recently completed transactions in the retail and luxury resort sectors. Didier Bruère-Dawson, Henri-Nicolas Fleurance and Catherine Castro are recommended.

Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP gives ‘sound advice’ to investors on transactional and portfolio management issues, and represents occupiers in asset management work. Clients include Amundi Immobilier, Geodis and SITQ. Practice head Corinne Knopp is a ‘very persuasive and knowledgeable’ property specialist. Other key figures in the team are Jean-Pascal Bus, whose expertise also encompasses litigation, urban planning and construction matters, and tax expert James Vaudoyer.

Mayer Brown advises on sales and acquisitions, high-end commercial leases, financing and restructuring. Recent instructions include work relating to hotels and palaces. Practice head Andrew Armfelt is highly regarded, and Jean-Philippe Lambert and Privat Vigand are also key figures in the group.

Racine’s leading real estate litigation team shows ‘remarkable client and business sense’, and represents promoters, investors, insurance companies and occupiers. Jean-Philippe Lorizon is ‘remarkably clever and quick’. Nicolas Boytchev, who advises French luxury goods retailers, and newly promoted partner Nelson Segundo run a strong commercial leasing practice.

Reed Smith’s practice head Stéphane Illouz is praised for his ‘excellent expertise and judicious advice’. The team is recommended for corporate real estate, asset management and French real estate funds matters. It recently advised HSBC REIM on the purchase of an office building in Paris.

SJ Berwin’s six-lawyer practice handles investment, development and finance work and also assists retailers and corporate occupiers on asset management issues. Key clients include AMB, KVG Invest and Hermès as well as Marks and Spencer plc, which the team assisted with the leasing of its first store in France. Practice head Ann Ly Ky advises many Anglophone clients including funds. Vincent Lassalle advises numerous German funds.