The Legal 500

Within Administrative and public law Leading individuals

Within Banking and finance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP remains a strong player in the field through its versatile 18-lawyer team led by Jean-Luc Michaud, and including key figures Antonin Besse and Hervé Touraine. The practice attracts high-profile restructuring work, including advising the banks on Technicolor’s restructuring. It also handles corporate finance deals, assisting Crédit Agricole CIB and BNP Paribas on the arrangement of bonding guarantee facilities for Alstom. The firm is finally renowned for its leading securitisation expertise.

Within Capital markets, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is ‘ideal for sophisticated corporate finance transactions’. Patrick Bonvarlet and David Revcolevschi lead the 14-lawyer ECM team, advising issuers and underwriters. The practice assisted Accor as majority shareholder on the Lucien Barrière IPO project, and handled several IPOs on foreign markets, including in Hong-Kong and Frankfurt. The debt and structured finance practice, led by Hervé Touraine, is also well-regarded with the ‘very valuable’ Dougall Molson and Fabrice Grillo. The firm stands out for its securitisation expertise, which ranks among the market’s first three practices. Highlights included advising BNP Paribas and HSBC on a pan-European securitisation restructuring for Dow Chemical under new US accounting rules.

Within Dispute resolution Commercial litigation , Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Led by Elie Kleiman, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s practice comprises 13 lawyers including Stéphane Bénouville and counsel Dimitri Lecat. The firm is strong in the financial field, and also acts for large companies in numerous corporate and commercial cases. Highlights included assisting Sabic on major construction proceedings and UC Rusal on a large claim against the Republic of Guinea.

Within Dispute resolution International arbitration, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP has an ‘excellent’ arbitration group comprising 27 lawyers, handling high-profile commercial and investment cases. The practice is led by Peter Turner, and includes Jan Paulsson (a strong authority for public international law matters), Georgios Petrochilos, Elie Kleiman and newly promoted partner Noah Rubins. Highlights included representing the Republic of Turkey in a large-scale ICSID arbitration dispute against Libananco, regarding alleged expropriation of power facilities, and the Kingdom of Cambodia on its first ICSID case against a US power producer.

Within Dispute resolution Stock market litigation Other recommended firms

Within Dispute resolution White-collar crime Other recommended firms

Within EU competition and distribution, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s growing 14-lawyer practice is led by the ‘really good’ Jérôme Philippe and Maria Trabucchi. The team has strong litigation and state-aid expertise, while also handling a fair amount of merger work. It is representing Laboratoires Pierre Fabre before the European Court of Justice in a landmark case regarding the sales of product on the internet through selective distribution networks. It also acts for Wendel in proceedings brought by Editions Odile Jacob against the EU Commission’s decision authorizing the acquisitions of Vivendi Universal Publishing by Lagardère and Editis by Wendel.

Within Employment , Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s ‘solid’ 18-lawyer team, led by the prominent Gilles Bélier, the ‘really good and friendly’ Emmanuel Bénard and Gwen Senlanne, advises large French and foreign corporations. In 2010, the practice handled the labour aspects of a number of corporate transactions, including assisting Chartis Europe on its merger project with Chartis UK. The team also attracts stand-alone work from clients such as Electrolux and France Telecom.

Within Insolvency, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s impressive track-record helped the firm secure a very high-profile instruction on Thomson’s restructuring, where it advised the bank steering committee and senior creditors. The team, led by Alan Mason and Antonin Besse, is adept at handling restructuring work involving complex finance and securities aspects. It also acted in Chargeurs’ restructuring and Descamps’ insolvency proceedings.

Within Mergers and acquisitions, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Led by Fabrice Cohen, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s corporate group numbers 35 lawyers including six partners with key figures in the practice being Antoine Vignial and Patrick Bonvarlet. The firm focuses on advising large corporate clients on key acquisitions in France and abroad, assisting Daimler on its partnership with Renault-Nissan and Icade on its tender offer on Compagnie la Lucette.

Within Private equity, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Headed by Fabrice Cohen, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s practice focuses on large-cap transactions. Jean-Claude Cotoni is also active in the practice. The team assisted Qualium on the sale of Marc Orian.

Within Project finance and energy: Project finance,

Salans has ‘excellent knowledge of the problems raised by industrial and financial projects’. The ‘reactive’ nine-lawyer team has an integrated PPP practice through financial experts Philippe Max and Jean-Marc Allix, and public law specialist Marc Fornacciari. The firm is assisting lenders, sponsors and public entities on numerous high-profile infrastructure projects.

Within Real estate, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Tax, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Strong on M&A, private equity and structured finance taxation, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s ten-lawyer team was able to adjust its practice, turning to restructuring and work in the emerging markets in the downturn. The three-partner group includes practice head Cyril Valentin, managing partner Antoine Colonna d’Istria and Eric Thomas. It assisted Danone on its joint venture with Unimilk, and the senior lenders on Technicolor debt restructuring.