HFW > Paris, France > Firm Profile

HFW > The Legal 500 Rankings

France > Aviation Tier 1

HFW specialises in transactions, regulatory work, and dispute resolution in the aviation sector. The firm frequently represents parties in cross-border matters, particularly in relation to the African market, while also fielding in-depth experience in advisory work relating to state aid, financing, and competition law. Paris and Brussels-based Pierre Frühling, who is a popular choice for airlines and insurers in non-contentious as well as dispute matters, leads the team together with aviation liability specialist Jean-Baptiste Charles. Alix d’Arjuzon fields a broad aviation practice with a focus on work pertaining to environmental issues.

France > Insurance Tier 1

With wide-ranging expertise in industrial risks, product liability, professional indemnity and public liability insurance, HFW is highly active in representing major insurance companies in litigation – most recently including a number of business interruption claims relating to the Covid-10 pandemic – as well advising on regulatory, distribution and compliance matters. The team is well-equipped to handle cross-border cases, with members who are qualified in France, England and Wales, and Germany. Pauline Arroyo has a broad practice, with notable strength in product liability. Litigation specialists Olivier Purcell, Guillaume Brajeux (an expert in industrial risks) and Iris Vögeding (who also advises on regulatory issues) are also noted.

France > Shipping Tier 1

HFW offers a comprehensive, internationally-focused shipping practice, covering a wide spectrum of wet and dry matters, encompassing both transactional and contentious work. This includes handling issues such as vessel collisions, groundings, and salvages, as well as disputes, sale and purchase matters, and onboard incidents. Stanislas Lequette, with over two decades of experience in commercial and criminal litigation, leads the practice. He is supported by Guillaume Brajeux, known for his expertise in dispute resolution, and Stéphanie Schweitzer, specialising in international transportation and trade, particularly in ship arrests, collisions, and charter party disputes. Other key contacts also include Vincent Bénézech, a dual-qualified French and English lawyer with proficiency in commercial litigation and arbitration; and Mona Dejean, an experienced practitioner in complex shipping and energy law matters, frequently representing clients in French courts and arbitration proceedings.

France > Aviation finance Tier 2

The aviation finance expertise at HFW spans business aviation as much as commercial, with the firm’s client portfolio consisting of a wide variety of companies such as airlines, airports and insurers. Fleet restructuring and insolvency matters form part of the group’s advisory capabilities under the leadership of Pierre Frühling, an experienced aviation lawyer whose know-how ranges from transactional work to regulatory and litigation. Alix d’Arjuzon was appointed to Counsel in April 2023 and has a specialisation in environmental matters in relation to the aviation industry.

France > Shipping finance Tier 2

Leveraging its extensive global network, the shipping finance team at HFW provides expert counsel to major financial institutions as well as shipowners and maritime enterprises. The team specialises in a wide array of high-value, cross-border matters, with a particular focus on financing through tax lease structures. Jean-Marc Zampa, with over two decades of specialised expertise in large, complex financial transactions, leads the Paris team. He routinely advises both shipowners and banks on various transactional matters, enhancing the team’s comprehensive service, which encompasses international syndicated loans, acquisition finance, asset finance, and export and tax-advantaged financings.

France > Banking and finance: transactional work Tier 4