The Legal 500

A.L.F.A. (Associated Legal & Fiscal Advisors)’s practice is led by the France-qualified and ‘very knowledgeable, very good’ Mireille Chauvet, who is widely regarded as one of the top banking lawyers in Monaco, and is ‘admired greatly, a great banking lawyer’. Chauvet’s team advises banks, asset managers and hedge fund managers, and are regularly instructed on the Monaco aspects of international work by Clifford Chance, and also by Simmons & Simmons, Lovells LLP and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP. Recent work in the financial field includes advising a hedge fund management company on obtaining the regulatory and government approvals necessary for establishing Monaco operations. The team also advised on hotel acquisitions, and a second partner, the Monaco-qualified Jean-Pierre Campana, acts for many Italian clients wishing to set up operations in Monaco.

Donald Manasse Law Offices is arguably the leading corporate firm in Monaco, and also the only one to have a Nice office. In the six-lawyer firm, France-qualified Rémi Delforge is one of two partners, clients describing him as ‘outstanding’ adding: ‘He is always responsive, helpful, provides commercial and well thought through advice. I am confident in his work and find that his fees are reasonable. He is a pleasure to work with’. The practice focuses on cross border transactions, regulatory work and fund work, with an emphasis on the banking and financial sector, handling regulatory work linked to the recapitalisation of major UK banks. The team advised the UK’s Standard Chartered on its acquisition of the banking division of the Monaco branch of American Express, and its subsequent reorganisation and rebranding. The practice is frequently instructed by both Magic Circle and leading French firms. Name partner Donald Manasse, who is a ‘very nice individual’, is US, UK and France-qualified. Although not qualified as a Monaco avocat, Manasse has significant experience as a litigator and frequently advises on litigation and arbitration in the jurisdiction, instructing local counsel for court appearances. Manasse is particularly active in property and construction disputes, private client and employment matters, and also has a leading reputation for non-contentious real estate work, which recently included hotel acquisitions and the refinancing of property investments.

UK-based LG is the only foreign law firm to have a Monaco office, which represents the leading private client practice in Monaco, and also acts for some major corporate clients such as international banking institutions and financial services groups. The team has recently grown to six lawyers through the hire of two France-qualified lawyers; a dedicated tax specialist and a lawyer who previously worked in-house at Monaco’s financial services regulatory body. Partner William Eason’s private international law practice has a focus on clients from English-speaking countries, including Canada and Australia. Partner Peter Walford handles a large amount of advice relating to trusts. London-based partner Tim Thornton-Jones also handles a significant amount of work in Monaco, mainly advising ex-patriot British citizens living in the country. Thornton-Jones also advised Monaco’s Prince Albert on the establishment of the UK offshoot of his charitable foundation, and is currently one of the UK trustees of this foundation.

Christine Pasquier-Ciulla & Olivier Marquet’s name partners, who are both Monaco-qualified, have been joined by two French-qualified lawyers and a US-qualified lawyer, whose arrival has increased the firm’s capacity to act for English-speaking clients. Olivier Marquet spearheads the commercial practice, which is active in advising banks and on real estate acquisitions, and has also advised a well known French luxury goods company on a joint venture with a Monaco yachting company, acted for a major shareholder in relation to the MBO of a Monaco company, and worked on the acquisition by a listed UK company of a Monaco company.

Etude Mullot has grown by the addition of a new lawyer from Paris. Name partner Richard Mullot has an international, particularly US, client base, which also includes Monaco-based groups working in the Middle East and Japan. In relation to private client work, Mullot acts for some significant family-owned businesses, including several major international jewellers. The firm is also active in trade mark registration.

Gordon S Blair Law Offices is a private client focused firm, which also acts for institutional clients, but is best known for working for some major family businesses and for its insurance work. Partner Francis Ferrari has a strong international tax practice, while the ‘truly outstanding’ Florence Pecheral is an expert on trusts and international estate and succession planning.

Groom Hill Law Offices is the practice of two UK-qualified partners who advise an international client base. James Hill is highly regarded as ‘very responsive, and good at dealing with borderline situations, at identifying what is English law and what is Monaco law. He’s used to private international law situations, and is a very good lawyer.’

Jean-Charles S Gardetto is a very well known litigator in Monaco, but also enjoys a good reputation for commercial and international private client work. The team acts for a number of banks, and advised an international bank on data protection issues relating to their Monaco branch. It also advised a construction company on a building project worth €70m, and advised a party bidding for a major state project involving the construction of an island off the Monaco coast. Corporate and employment lawyer Valérie Zoccola enjoys an excellent reputation for being ‘a really good lawyer, extremely proactive, and with perfect English and German.’

Maurizio Cohen heads a four-lawyer commercial firm with particular expertise in sports law. Cohen represented a major sports management company in relation to its European expansion, and advised aircraft owners in relation to disputes with the French Customs, and establishing non for profit entities in Monaco. The firm also has expertise in intellectual property.

Etude Evelyne Karczag-Mencarelli & Alexis Marquet has grown from four to five lawyers. Partner Alexis Marquet spearheads the commercial practice, which handles employment, banking (including debt recovery) work, real estate transactions and the establishment of Monaco companies.

GZ Avocats is the firm of Thomas Giaccardi and Arnaud Zabaldano, and is active in banking, commercial and real estate work. It recently worked on two yacht acquisitions and a commercial property project worth €5bn.

Geraldine Gazo is best known as a litigator, but her five lawyer practice is also ‘really good in banking’, and active in shipping, the financing of construction projects, and in advising international clients on the establishment of Monaco branches, with a UK, US and Italian client base.

Litigator Yann Lajoux heads a three lawyer practice which is active in private client and commercial work including, recently, advising a major international pharmaceutical company on the potential establishment of a Monaco subsidiary, and acting for a major international bank in relation to its establishment in Monaco.