The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Bredin Prat is a third tier firm,

Bredin Prat’s Raphaële Courtier and Alexander Blackburn advise on corporate finance, debt restructuring, bond issuance and acquisition finance. The team advised Société Générale and a pool of international banks on a €5bn credit facility arranged for Vivendi.

Within Capital markets, Bredin Prat is a second tier firm,

Bredin Prat has an ‘extremely brilliant team of partners who share common values and spirit’, and the key figures are Didier Martin, Patrick Dziewolski, Olivier Assant and Olivier Saba. The firm advises on strategic ECM transactions, such as recently assisting Carrefour with the Madrid listing of Dia, and also undertakes high-yield work, including advising the banks on CMA-CGM’s issuance of high-yield bonds.

Within Commercial litigation , Bredin Prat is a first tier firm,

Leading French corporate firm Bredin Prat is a strong option to instruct in high-profile corporate, securities or commercial cases. The practice has an outstanding client portfolio and an unsurpassed track record. The following lawyers are all recommended in this first-class team: Didier Martin, Claude Bendel, Sylvie Morabia, Jean-Daniel Bretzner, Sébastien Prat, Sophie Cornette de Saint Cyr, Florian Bouaziz and Matthieu Pouchepadass.

Within International arbitration, Bredin Prat is a third tier firm,

Bredin Prat fields a quality quartet of partners: Tim Portwood, José María Pérez, Louis Christophe Delanoy and Raed Fathallah. It has a busy practice representing states and corporations in investment disputes, often in the oil and gas and mining sectors. Its experience includes ICC cases, where it won a major victory for Sonatrach in a gas-price dispute with Sagane. The practice is also handling ICSID proceedings against the Republic of Romania.

Within Stock market litigation, Bredin Prat is a first tier firm,

Bredin Prat routinely participates in emblematic securities disputes. Didier Martin and Sylvie Morabia are the key figures.

Within White-collar crime, Bredin Prat is a first tier firm,

Bredin Prat’s Eric Dezeuze is widely regarded as the leading white-collar crime expert of his generation. He represents many top companies and acted in the Chirac case.

Within EU competition and distribution, Bredin Prat is a first tier firm,

Bredin Prat is ‘highly reliable and responsive’, and provides an ‘outstanding level of service’ concerning complex EU and domestic matters. The firm is always in high demand for merger control and antitrust advice, and also handles state aid cases at EU and national levels. It recently advised Lactalis on its acquisition of Parmalat, and 1PlusV in landmark EC proceedings regarding abuse of a dominant position against Google. The practice is led by the ‘remarkable’ Robert Saint-Esteben; Hugues Calvet, whose ‘knowledge of the EU, people and procedure is unique’; Olivier Billard, whose ‘good business acumen and client relationship’ are superb; the ‘very qualified’ Marie-Cécile Rameau; and Marc Pittie in Brussels.

Within Employment , Bredin Prat is a first tier firm,

The ‘highly competent’ Pascale Lagesse heads Bredin Prat’s 15-lawyer team, which maintains ‘excellent client relationships’ and shows business acumen. It is recommended for complex matters including corporate transactions, restructuring and site closures, and handles large collective litigations. Clients include Hewlett-Packard. Counsels Cyril Gaillard, Cécile Zoro and Alexandra Stocki are also recommended.

Within Insolvency, Bredin Prat is a third tier firm,

Bredin Prat is a go-to option for complex restructuring and bankruptcy matters. This ‘responsive’ practice shows ‘consistent strength across the team’ and its lawyers ‘bring practical business perspectives to their advice’. It is advising SNCF on SeaFrance’s recovery proceedings. The ‘calm’ and ‘commercial’ Nicolas Laurent is a ‘committed negotiator’, and Olivier Assant and finance expert Raphaële Courtier are also recommended.

Within Legal market overview,

The market’s elite are French firms Bredin Prat, Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier, De Pardieu Brocas Maffei A.A.R.P.I and Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.; British firms Allen & Overy LLP, Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP and Linklaters LLP; and US firms Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, White & Case LLP and Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP.

Within Mergers and acquisitions, Bredin Prat is a first tier firm,

‘Absolutely world class’, Bredin Prat ‘sets the benchmark for service’ in France. This ‘fully dedicated’ team brings ‘a breadth of experience, technical expertise and sound judgement that are rarely seen at other firms’. This independent French firm is the reference for strategic domestic and cross-border transactions. Recent highlights include advising GDF Suez on its business combination with International Power, and Rhodia on Solvay’s takeover bid. The practice fields 20 heavily involved partners who are able to litigate as needed. These include the ‘smart’ Patrick Dziewolski, who adds his ‘high tactical input’ in deals; Didier Martin; Sébastien Prat; Olivier Assant; Benjamin Kanovitch, who ‘always provides smart and efficient solutions’; and the ‘very reliable’ Matthieu Pouchepadass. The firm has US law capabilities through the ‘superb’ and ‘fiercely intelligent’ Kate Romain, who ‘always gives the right advice’.

Within Private equity, Bredin Prat is a second tier firm,

Bredin Prat is strongly recommended for LBO transactions, notably for deals involving securities aspects. It advised Ande Investissements on the acquisition of a controlling stake in Delachaux, and key client Eurazeo on the sale of B&B Hotels. Patrick Dziewolski, Sébastien Prat, Olivier Assant and the ‘very client-focused’ Benjamin Kanovitch are recommended.

Within Tax, Bredin Prat is a second tier firm,

Bredin Prat’s ‘extremely professional’ 13-lawyer team is roundly regarded as the best for tax advice on corporate transactions. Its lawyers are ‘proactive’, ‘fast’ and ‘always answer queries in due time’. Renaud Streichenberger is France’s foremost expert for complex corporate tax issues and has great relationships with tax authorities. Edouard Sicot is also a major figure, the ‘imaginative’ Sébastien de Monès is ‘well introduced with the tax authorities’, Pierre-Henri Durand is ‘an expert and a straight shooter’, and Yves Rutschmann and Julien Gayral are also strongly recommended. The team advised Rhodia on Solvay’s takeover bid.