The Legal 500

Clifford Chance remains ‘highly visible’ in the market, advising on investment, finance, lease and construction transactions. François Bonteil leads the 12-lawyer team, with Aubry d’Argenlieu the other key figure in the practice. It acted for BNP Paribas on the acquisition of property retail assets from Casino, and Commerz Real on its acquisition of Espace Saint-Georges shopping mall in Toulouse. UBS is also a client

De Pardieu Brocas Maffei has a ‘very good and highly experienced team, deeply involved in the sector’ through core partners Pierre Gebarowski, Paul Talbourdet, Jacques Henrot, Emmanuel Fatôme and Guillaume Rossignol. The practice has leading investment, financing and tax expertise, advising a superb client base. It was involved in most of the recent landmark transactions, assisting Altarea-Cogedim on the acquisition of the Cap 3000 shopping-mall and La Lucette on the sale of the Colisée building to Allianz.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s practice stands out for its ‘remarkable responsiveness’ and ‘highest capacity to manage complex transactions’. The 11-lawyer practice, led by Benoît Marcilhacy, with Pascal Schmitz the other key adviser, represents French, German and European investors (Allianz, Icade, Real IS) on property sale and acquisition and on the setting up of investment funds. Highlights included assisting Deka Immobilien Investment on the acquisition of Hôtel Renaissance and Salle Wagram in Paris, and Grosvenor on the acquisition of a commercial centre in Lille.

‘Remarkable responsiveness’, ‘highest technical standards’ and ‘in-depth analysis leading to practical solutions’ make Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. a market leader. With its large team (36 lawyers in Paris, 58 worldwide), the firm is viewed by many as France’s first property practice. The ten-partner group includes Jean-Jacques Raquin, the ‘excellent’ Frédéric Nouel, Stanislas Dwernicki, Eric Martin-Impératori and Renault Baguenault. Erwan Le Douce-Bercot, who is praised for his ‘remarkable work handling’ and ‘acute deal-driving sense’ is recommended, as well as newly promoted partner Christopher Szostak. Highlights included advising Hammerson on the setting up of a joint venture with Allianz Real Estate on a shopping centre, and Unibail Rodamco on the acquisition of Simon Ivanhoe.

Baker & McKenzie SCP’s excellent tax property practice, led by Olivier Mesmin and Christine Daric, earns the firm high-profile instructions. Marc Mariani is also a key element in the team, managing the law property practice. Highlights included assisting Galeries Lafayette on the sale of shopping-mall Cap 3000.

Herbert Smith LLP’s dynamic practice gained a series of new clients in 2010 including significant German investors (AIK, Fedreim) and major French players (Aviva). The practice, led by Pierre Popesco, has three core-partners including Florence Chérel and Pierre-Nicolas Sanzey and ten associates. The client base is first-class and well balanced between investment funds, insurance companies, property companies (Icade, Rodamco), banks and developers. The team handles high-profile instructions, including assisting Predica on the joint acquisition of Cap 3000 shopping-mall.

Jones Day’s Jean-Louis Martin leads a six-lawyer team, offering first-class tax expertise in Vincent Agulhon, while Frédéric Gros handles property finance work. The firm was involved in several of key transactions in 2010, assisting ABP/APG on the joint acquisition of Cap 3000 shopping-mall.

Property boutique Lacourte Balas & Associés advises a superb client base consisting of property companies, funds, developers (Bouygues Immobilier, Vinci Immobilier) and leading institutional players (AGF, CDC, Generali). The 20-lawyer team is led by nine partners including Thierry Lacourte, Jean-Claude Balas, Jean-Pierre Daniel and Valérie Marais for construction and urban planning work.

Lefèvre Pelletier & Associés remains a solid force in the market, despite the departures of former practice head Henry Ranchon, David Blondel and tax specialist Pierre Appremont to Wragge & Co. The firm has an extensive array of expertise, a prominent client base and a large nine-partner team, with leading figures including new practice head Marie-Odile Vaissié, Philippe Lefèvre, Philippe Pelletier and Véronique Lagarde. With property and construction at the core of the firm’s expertise, 2010 also saw the appointment of Olivia Michaud and the arrival of Antonia Raccat from Salans. Highlights included assisting Accor on the sale of 158 Formule 1 Hotels. The firm is also well-versed on green property development work, assisting Post Immo on its first green-lease.

At Allen & Overy LLP, the ‘really excellent’ Jean-Dominique Casalta and Christophe Jacquemin are ‘lawyers you want to have on your side’. The team focuses on transactional and finance work, providing ‘concise, commercially aware and straight to the point’ advice. The up-and-coming practice is increasingly retained by key market players (Unibail Rodamco, GE Real Estate), and was further strengthened on the tax property side through the hire of the ‘really great’ Jean-Yves Charriau from CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre. Highlights included advising Centuria Capital on the acquisition of a residential property in Paris from Allianz.

Ashurst LLP scores ‘the best marks’ in terms of quality of services, according to clients. The ‘technical’ ten-lawyer team is led by Philippe None, a lawyer praised for his ‘negotiation and commercial skills’, and Hassan Javanshir who heads up the finance property practice. The group, which gained further new clients in 2010, assists a strong base of investors and lenders (GE Real Estate, Henderson Global Investors) on acquisition, financing and leasing transactions. Highlights included advising Cushman & Wakefield Investors on property acquisitions in France.

Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP’s eight-lawyer practice is led by Corinne Knopp, and includes Jean-Pascal Bus and James Vaudoyer for the tax aspects. The practice advises investors (Amundi Immobilier) and lenders. Highlights included assisting Resolution Property on the acquisition of MacArthur Glen’s outlet centre in Troyes, and Barclays Capital on the lease of its future office in Paris.

Françoise Maigrot leads a well-recognised practice at Linklaters LLP. The eight-lawyer team handles mainstream transactions, property financing and property fund work. Highlights included assisting Beacon Capital Partners on a lease to Ernst & Young regarding Tower First.

Orrick Rambaud Martel’s practice is led by Patrick Gerry, whose ‘sound advice and high standards of services’ are praised by clients. The team also includes Catherine Saint Geniest, Hervé Kensicher and Alfred Fink, who advises numerous German funds. Highlights included advising Tamar Capital Partners on the acquisition of Kenmore European funds, and Panattoni on the development of a warehouse in the Bordeaux area.

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker (Europe) LLP’s David Lacaze leads a three-lawyer practice combining investment and finance expertise, acting for funds and financial institutions (JPMorgan, Crédit Mutuel-CIC). The team completed high-profile work in 2010, assisting Ivanhoe Cambridge on the sale of Simon Ivanhoe, and the setting up of a joint-venture with Unibail-Rodamco.

Salans’ full-service practice spans investment, financing, asset management and taxation work. Led by Henry Lazarski and François Verdot, the team consists of five partners including Pascale Poupelin, newly promoted partner Antoine Mercier and tax advisor Sybille Salmon-Legagneur – Antonia Raccat joined Lefèvre Pelletier & Associés. The group advises leading property investors (Kenmore, ING Reim), companies (Pfizer, Chanel) and some prestigious hotel brands. It assisted Corio on the projected acquisition of a a shopping centre in France, and Blackstone on the acquisition and financing of a portfolio of 23 hotels in France.

White & Case LLP’s 11-lawyer team, led by Brice Engel and the ‘deal maker’ Frank Peter, has built a strong client portfolio including high-profile investors (ING Reim, Unibail-Rodamco) and hotel names (Hilton, Marriott International). The practice assisted Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations on its agreement with Club Méditérannée, and Sofival regarding the construction of a Village Vacances in mountain resort Valmorel.

Bird & Bird AARPI’s Constance de la Hosseraye and two associates are advisers to French and foreign institutional clients (AEW Europe, Gecina, CDC), as well as companies on project development, investment, asset management and litigation matters.

Jean-Luc Tixier and Philippe Riglet manage CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre’s 15-lawyer practice. In 2010, the team advised on commercial lease matters for clients such as Fauchon. It also represented Pierre et Vacances in proceedings regarding an eviction procedure in Courchevel, and Inovalis on the restructuring of a building in Paris. The firm’s tax property practice suffered a major blow with the departure of Jean-Yves Charriau to Allen & Overy LLP, but retains expertise through Richard Foissac.

DLA Piper’s practice head Philippe Ledoux and Lionel Rosenfeld advise on property investments. The five-lawyer team advises major real estate players such as Colony Capital, banks and companies.

de Gaulle Fleurance & Associés’ 13-lawyer team is made up of ‘smart, efficient and very brilliant deal makers’, while the firm also demonstrates the ‘ability to handle complex legal issues with multi-jurisdictional aspects’. In 2010, the practice, led by Didier Bruère-Dawson, Henri-Nicolas Fleurance and Catherine Castro, handled property lease and litigation work for clients such as the Cinémathèque Française, General Electric Healthcare and Atemi. The firm also acted for Sofavim on the development of properties occupied by the Defence Ministry.

Marccus Partners has a strong client base made up of German funds (Deka Immobilien, WestInvest), which the firm advises on investment, leasing, financing and fund structuring work. The team is led by Yan François, Silke Nadolni and Barbara Busch.

Mayer Brown’s recent hire of ‘deal maker’ Andrew Armfelt, with a three-lawyer team from Armfelt & Associés, considerably enhanced the firm’s capabilities. The ten-lawyer practice was also further strengthened on the financing side through the appointments of Patrick Teboul and Privat Vigand. Finance expert Jean-Pierre Lee co-heads the team with Armfelt.

Racine is ‘one of the market’s best firms for real estate litigation’, delivering ‘acute business advice’ with ‘remarkable availability’. The practice is led by Nicolas Boytchev, who is adept at assisting luxury brands on negotiating commercial leases, and Jean-Philippe Lorizon, who shows ‘very strong client understanding’. The 16-lawyer team represents major property players (Nexity, Stam Europe, BNP Paribas Immobilier).

Simmons & Simmons LLP’s Edouard Vitry manages the firm’s practice which also includes Arnaud Achard for finance matters, Marc Fredj for corporate work and tax expert Philippe Royou. The ten-lawyer team advises major investment companies (Rockspring, Axa Reim).

New market entrant Wragge & Co has strong expertise following the hire of a well-regarded team from Lefèvre Pelletier & Associés, including former property practice head Henry Ranchon. The seven-partner team also consists of the ‘committed’ David Blondel for finance work, Pierre Appremont for tax matters and Arnaud Guérin for OPCI issues. The firm advises investment funds (LBO France, Aerium), banks (Natixis) and property companies (Foncière LFPI). It assisted Foruminvest on the sale of its shares in Les Terrasses du Port project in Marseille to Hammerson.