The Legal 500

Within Administrative and public law, Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

Linklaters LLP enjoys strong reputation for its PPP expertise. The firm stands out in the market thanks to practice head Paul Lignières who is ‘one of the most well-known public law practitioners in the country’. Lignières is praised for his ‘perfect technical skills based on a wide experience’. The team is ‘available’ and ‘proactive, always taking initiatives to anticipate future potential problems’. Recent credentials include advising a bidding consortium in the land extension project of the Principality of Monaco, and Xstrata Canada Corporation and Koniambo Nickel on the permits and authorisations for the development of the Koniambo mining and metallurgical project in New Caledonia.

Within Banking and finance, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Linklaters LLP demonstrates ‘very high-quality standards’ and relies on a ‘very strong and dedicated team’. Practice head Olivier Jauffret is ‘very professional, efficient and proactive’, with Nathalie Hobbs recommended for her ‘problem-solving capabilities’, while Arnaud Fromion is also a key element in the group. The team is recognised for its first-class acquisition finance practice, but also possesses expertise in restructuring, recapitalisation, real estate financing work and mid-cap LBO transactions. Recent highlights include advising ABN AMRO, BNP Paribas and Société Générale on the financing of the proposed public takeover of Hagemeyer by Sonépar; Calyon on the acquisition and refinancing facilities to finance the public takeover of Completel by Altice and Cinven; and Société Générale and Crédit Industriel on the financing of the LBO acquisition of Etanco.

Within Capital markets, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Linklaters LLP covers equity and debt capital markets and structured finance transactions at the highest level, where its ‘strong track record’ and ‘experience is very valuable in negotiations’. The seven-partner team is led by practice head Gilles Endréo, who is considered by a large number of sources to be ‘the best lawyer in Paris for debt capital markets’ and ‘a fount of knowledge, but also a calm and collected influence with an excellent sense of humour’. Other leading figures include Cenzi Gargaro and Philippe Herbelin for equity work. The team delivers ‘precise and pragmatic responses’ and recently assisted ABN AMRO, BNP Paribas, Calyon, Natixis and RBS as lead managers in the issuance by the French Treasury of OAT (treasury bonds) indexed on the French inflation consumer price index. It advised Suez on the spin-off and IPO of Suez Environnement Company, the waste and waters treatment division. The Paris team also represented BNP Paribas on a €3.4bn securitisation of personal, equipment finance and automobile loans by BNP Paribas’ subsidiary Cetelem.

Within Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation , Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

Linklaters LLP’s litigation department delivers ‘outstanding work’, headed by Arnaud de La Cotardière, who is a ‘really good’ practitioner. The team is particularly adept with litigation involving banks and financial services, in addition to enjoying recognition for M&A litigation. Clients include high-profile French and international companies and financial services players.

Within Dispute resolution: International arbitration

Within Dispute resolution: Stock market litigation, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Linklaters LLP has ‘undisputed expertise’ added to a ‘good vision of how financial markets work’. The team is led by Arnaud de La Cotardière, also includes Jean-Jacques Essombè, and represents high-profile clients. It is involved in some of the most important cases brought before the AMF, the French stock market authorities.

Within Dispute resolution: White-collar crime, Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

At Linklaters LLP, Kiril Bougartchev, a ‘reactive and efficient’ lawyer,leads the white-collar crime practice, and is involved in important cases in the energy, insurance, aerospace, defence and banking industries.

Within EU competition and distribution, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Linklaters LLP has ‘one of the very top competition practices in Europe’. The team is ‘business-oriented’, has ‘strong credibility with official authorities’, and is led by the ‘very good’ Olivier d’Ormesson. It also includes Anne Wachsmann and Pierre Zelenko, who was promoted to partner in 2008. Clients include blue chip names such as Air France/KLM, BP, Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, and Suez. While the team handled high-profile merger control cases in 2007, it was as busy advising on significant litigation and antitrust matters in 2008. The team notably assisted Sanofi-Aventis in the context of the European Commission’s enquiry in the pharmaceutical sector, and also advised Areva on the creation of a joint venture with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which obtained clearance from the European Commission and other competition authorities across the world.

Within Environment

Within Insolvency, Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

Linklaters LLP’s practice is led by partners Aymar de Mauléon de Bruyères and Cécile Dupoux, and is a recognised leading player in M&A, private equity and banking and finance. The insolvency and restructuring team is constantly busy, playing a major role in the French aspects of the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers. The team recently assisted Immobilière Hotelière in the restructuring of its bond debts and the sale of the Hilton Suffren hotel in Paris, and VRG Linhas Aéreas on the transfer of airline routes and slots following the judicial recovery proceedings of Brazilian airline company Varig.

Within Insurance

Within Intellectual property: Full-service firms , Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

Linklaters LLP offers a ‘high level of expertise in IP and procedural law’. The practice is led by Marianne Schaffner, who is an ‘excellent lawyer’ and provides ‘excellent service with great reactivity and style’. The IP department has developed a stand-alone practice both in patents and trade marks, in addition to providing support within the firm. The team was involved in a number of patent litigations in the pharmaceutical industry and pan-European cases.

Within Legal market,

UK law firms have a significant presence in France led by Magic Circle firms Allen & Overy LLP, Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP and Linklaters LLP, who dominate at the top end of the market.

Within Mergers and acquisitions, Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

Linklaters LLP’s team is led by partner Marc Loy, and is recommended for its ‘excellence in M&A matters’ and ‘very good contacts with the French stock market authorities’. The practice combines the expertise of 13 partners including Bertrand Cardi, Thierry Riguet, and Alain Garnier, who delivers ‘outstanding service’. High-profile transactions for 2008 include assisting HSBC with the sale of seven of its French regional banks to Banque Fédérale des Banques Populaires; Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations on the share capital increase of Dexia; and STX Europe on the acquisition of shares in STX France (former Chantiers de l’Atlantique) by the French state.

Within Private equity, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Linklaters LLP has ‘a reactive team’ which ‘takes the time to advise’ and stays close to its clients. The dedicated private equity team has recognised expertise in both corporate and banking deals, with Fabrice de la Morandière and Vincent Ponsaille in corporate, and Olivier Jauffret in finance. The team is active in the large and mid-cap markets, working for CVC Capital Partners and Axa Private Equity. The Paris team recently assisted Carlyle in its acquisition of 35% of Numericable and Completel, and advised L Capital Management on its acquisition of the entire issued share capital of the Renwick Group.

Within Private equity: Fund formation

Within Project finance and energy Energy

Within Project finance and energy Project finance, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Linklaters LLP provides ‘added-value advice in complex projects’, bringing together partners with complementary expertise: Bertrand Andriani in finance, Paul Lignières in public law and Simon Ratledge in English law. The Paris team advises banks and sponsors on their projects in France, its overseas territories and in Africa; and is active in infrastructure projects whilst developing its presence on energy projects in the mine and renewable sectors. The practice continued working on the Koniambo Mining Project in New Caledonia alongside Xstrata Nickel, and assisted a bidding consortium on the mega-PPP tender offer launched by the Principality of Monaco for its land-extension project. It also advised the lenders supporting Aquilea, the concessionaire structure established by a consortium, on its bid for the design, construction and financing of a rail high-speed line between Tours and Bordeaux.

Within Real estate, Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

Linklaters LLP’s well-established practice is led by partner Françoise Maigrot and covers acquisition, financing, asset management and property funds. Highlights include advising Beacon Capital Partners on the acquisition of 50% of the entity owning the Axa Tower in Paris La Défense, and Invista Real Estate Investment Management on the sale of a portfolio of 23 assets for office and commercial use to Clerical Medical Non Sterling Property Company.

Within Tax, tier 4

Linklaters LLP has a ‘good reputation’ and an ‘excellent tax partner’ in Edouard Chapellier, who is firmly maintaining the firm’s reputation following the departure of star partner Philippe Derouin to Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in 2008. Chapellier, assisted by Thomas Perrot in a practice that focuses on cross-practice and cross-border transactional and restructuring work, assisted HSBC on the sale of seven of its French regional banks to Banque Fédérale des Banques Populaires, and L Capital on the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of the Renwick Group.