The Legal 500

Within Administrative and public law Other recommended firms

Within Banking and finance, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP provides ‘very thoughtful advice’ and ‘excellent response times’. The 13-lawyer practice is jointly led by Jacques Bertran de Balanda, the ‘highly technical’ Régis Oréal, and Eric Fiszelson, who joined from Linklaters LLP and is a ‘very valuable lawyer during tense negotiations’. The practice advises major banks on acquisition, project and energy finance, as well as property finance, regulatory issues and Islamic finance. It acted for CACIB on a €1bn revolving credit facility for Air France.

Within Capital markets Other recommended firms

Within Commercial litigation , tier 4

Litigation remains a core area for Herbert Smith LLP’s Paris office, despite Denis Chemla and Erwan Poisson joining Allen & Overy LLP. The team is heavily involved in banking and aviation disputes as well as cases in Africa. It is acting for Goldman Sachs in a case launched by the founders and former shareholders of Autodistribution. Of counsel Clément Dupoirier now heads the practice, and is recommended along with fellow of counsel Dominique Jardin.

Within International arbitration, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP’s 17-lawyer practice is led by Charles Kaplan, who also co-heads the department globally. The team represents major French and international clients and is involved in strategic cases regarding long-term gas supply contracts, as well as various investment cases. It acts in many ICC cases including against certain African states, and has advised corporations on secession, maritime boundary and international sanction issues. The ‘very responsive’ Isabelle Michou and Emmanuelle Cabrol, who also has ‘a strong public international law practice’, are also recommended. Michael Young joined Allen & Overy LLP.

Within Stock market litigation Other recommended firms

Within White-collar crime Other recommended firms

Within EU competition and distribution, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP’s Sergio Sorinas has elevated the firm’s profile, and clients praise his ‘loyalty, humility and capability to quickly identify relevant matters’. The four-lawyer practice obtained a substantial fine reduction for Arkema, and unconditional merger clearance for Lagardère regarding the sale of its international magazine business. The team attracted several major new clients in 2011. Jacques Buhart joined McDermott Will & Emery.

Within Employment , tier 4

Sophie Brézin heads Herbert Smith LLP’s five-lawyer team, which advises many Anglo-Saxon clients including assisting Ernst & Young during the Nortel insolvency proceedings. Of counsel Emma Röhsler is also recommended.

Within IT, telecoms and the internet, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP represents top names in the internet sector, including Google and Amazon. Alexandra Néri heads the team.

Within Insolvency Other recommended firms

Within Full-service firms, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP’s six-lawyer practice is strongly recommended for matters involving the internet, and Alexandra Néri has built a fine reputation handling trade mark issues in this context. Of counsel Céline Bey is also recommended. The team is managing a case raising new key matters in relation to the implementation of the new internet law (Hadopi law).

Within Mergers and acquisitions, tier 5

Herbert Smith LLP completed a high number of deals in 2011, notably for a number of new major French clients who value the firm’s cross-border capabilities. It advised Casino on the acquisition of Carrefour assets in Thailand, and Infineon Technologies on the sale of its wireless business to Intel. The team’s four partners are Bruno Basuyaux Hubert Segain, Frédéric Grillier and Philippe Trosset, who are assisted by 15 associates and recently recruited of counsel Edouard Thomas, who joined from Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. Former practice head Jacques Buhart joined McDermott Will & Emery.

Within Private equity Other recommended firms

Within Energy Energy

Within Project finance, Herbert Smith LLP is a first tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP is highly recognised for its oil and gas and mining practice in Africa, for which it shows ‘genuine industry knowledge’, ‘in-depth knowledge of local constraints’, and ‘perfect handling of possible contentious issues’. The firm handles projects in Francophone and Anglophone Africa and is a growing challenger for renewables and upstream projects in France. Highlights included advising Rio Tinto on the Simandou integrated project in Guinea, and OMV on the acquisition of Tunisian oil exploration and production subsidiaries. The ‘very experienced’ Stéphane Brabant is global head of the mining, Africa and crisis management groups. The team also includes Bertrand Montembault; Mehdi Haroun, ‘an outstanding oil and gas and M&A lawyer with genuine knowledge of legal systems and cultures in North Africa and France’; solicitor Nina Bowyer; Jacques Bertran de Balanda; and Christophe Lefort, who joined from Bouygues Travaux Publics.

Within Real estate, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

Headed by the well-regarded Pierre Popesco, Herbert Smith LLP’s practice covers the full spectrum of real estate work. Pierre-Nicolas Sanzey and real estate development expert Florence Chérel are also recommended. Eric Fiszelson’s recruitment from Linklaters LLP reinforced the firm’s financing expertise. The client base includes French and German investors, sovereign wealth funds and major developers. The firm recently advised UBS Real Estate on the sale of a three-building complex in Arcueil, and Predica on its joint acquisition of the Europe Avenue building and its holding company.

Within Tax, tier 4

Herbert Smith LLP’s three-lawyer practice provides ‘a good level of technical knowledge and understanding’. It advises on corporate and property transactions, including assisting Deutsche Bank with the refinancing of the Mercuriales towers. Practice head Jean-Luc Calisti is ‘very good and responsive’, and of counsel Jérôme Le Berre is also recommended.