The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance Other recommended firms

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

Bredin Prat has great expertise in ECM combined to a leading securities litigation practice, through Didier Martin, Olivier Assant, Patrick Dziewolski and Olivier Saba. The team is adept at advising large issuers, assisting CFAO on its IPO on Euronext Paris and UC Rusal on its initial listing on Euronext Paris. Finance expert Raphaële Courtier is also active in the practice, and assisted Magnesita on its $400m high-yield bond issuance.

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

Bredin Prat’s practice has it all; high-profile cases, a fabulous CAC 40 client base and a brigade of fine litigators. Some ten partners are actively involved in the practice, including the experienced Jean-François Prat, Didier Martin, Claude Bendel and the ‘brilliant’ Sylvie Morabia. The young guard is led by Jean-Daniel Bretzner, Sébastien Prat, Sophie Cornette de Saint Cyr, Florian Bouaziz and Matthieu Pouchepadass. Recent victories include representing Danone in a case against Yoplait regarding its Actimel product, and Darty in proceedings launched by consumer group UFC Que Choisir, in relation to the sale of computers with pre-installed software.

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

Bredin Prat’s ‘team is very experienced, responsive and efficient in managing a case’. The multilingual team is a rising force in the market and won several major cases. The practice is made up of Tim Portwood, José María Pérez, Louis Christophe Delanoy and newly promoted partner and ‘always dedicated’ Raed Fathallah, who ‘masters the procedure of ICSID arbitration’ and stands out as a ‘team leader with great ethics’. The group handles large ICC and investment cases, representing state entities and private companies.

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

With its superb track-record, Bredin Prat is called upon to take part in the market’s top securities battles; the firm is involved in the EADS case. Jean-François Prat, Didier Martin and Sylvie Morabia are leading figures.

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

Bredin Prat’s Eric Dezeuze is one the finest white-collar crime lawyers of his generation. The firm represents leading corporations (EADS, Veolia).

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

Named by many as the leading competition practice in France, Bredin Prat achieved impressive results handling landmark antitrust cases. The team is led by Robert Saint-Esteben and includes Hugues Calvet, Olivier Billard and Marie-Cécile Rameau, while Marc Pittie manages the Brussels practice. The group acted in several disputes in the telecoms and cable sectors, notably for France Telecom and Orange, which it successfully represented in a case regarding its exclusive TV football rights. The firm also obtained an 85% reduction of the highest fine ever awarded in a cartel case for ArcelorMittal.

Within Employment , Bredin Prat is a first tier firm,

Bredin Prat’s Pascale Lagesse manages the 14-lawyer team, with counsel Cyril Gaillard and Cécile Zoro also playing a key role in the practice. The group handles the labour aspects of high-profile M&A transactions, alongside a highly-regarded stand-alone practice, dealing with major restructurings and large collective litigations. In 2010, the practice was selected by Hewlett-Packard to advise on its merger with EDS and on numerous collective litigations. The team also assisted Banque Fédérative du Crédit Mutuel on the acquisition of Cofidis and Monabanq.Anne Le Quinquis moved to Fromont Briens & Associés in March 2011.

Within Insolvency, tier 4

Bredin Prat gained its recognition in the field after setting up France’s first pre-pack arrangement in the Autodistribution case in 2009. The team, made up of Nicolas Laurent, Olivier Assant and finance expert Raphaële Courtier, was highly active in 2010, handling major distressed M&A, restructuring and safeguard cases. It represented SNCF in the safeguard recovery proceedings of its subsidiary SeaFrance, and Saint-Gobain as main shareholder in SGD’s restructuring.

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

Few firms can match Bredin Prat’s track record on high-profile public M&A transactions. But besides the credentials, what sets the firm apart in the market is its ‘special touch’, ‘responsiveness’, ‘commitment’ and ‘very commercial’ approach. The firm ‘always delivers an outstanding level of service’, while its first-class expertise in litigation is another asset to the practice. The team is made up of 20 partners with Patrick Dziewolski, Didier Martin, the ‘outstanding’ Sébastien Prat, Olivier Assant and Benjamin Kanovitch ranking among the market’s finest corporate lawyers. Newly promoted partner and French and American-qualified Kate Romain also deserves mention. Highlights included advising the French State on the sale of Areva T&D business to Alstom-Schneider, and Honeywell on its acquisition of Sperian Protection.

Within Private equity Other recommended firms

Within Tax, Bredin Prat is a second tier firm,

‘Exceptional firm’ Bredin Prat has a ‘first-class’ 13-lawyer team, which has unmatched expertise for corporate M&A work, and benefits from its ‘very good relationships with the tax authorities’. The practice is led by the ‘remarkable’ Renaud Streichenberger, whose ‘legal opinions are the authority’, and includes Edouard Sicot, Sébastien de Monès, Pierre-Henri Durand, the ‘very creative and innovative’ Yves Rutschmann and newly promoted partner Julien Gayral. The team handles the tax aspects of M&A, private equity and property transactions and advises on management incentives. Highlights included assisting Natixis on the implementation of a guarantee mechanism, and Banque Fédérative du Crédit Mutuel on its acquisition of Monabanq and of the majority control of Cofidis.