The Legal 500

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

Linklaters LLP’s ‘level of service is the highest a client can expect; response time is short, business approach is practical and accurate’. The six-lawyer team is ‘strong’, ‘resists high pressure’, and is led by Paul Lignières, who comes up with ‘innovative and realistic solutions’. The practice handles privatisation, PPP, litigation and financial work, often advising lenders. The firm regularly advises Caisse des Dépots et Consignations on key matters including the recent privatisations of Transdev and La Poste, and the GSM-R project.

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

Headed by Olivier Jauffret, Linklaters LLP’s team is first choice for acquisition finance deals but in a difficult market the practice diversified its range of work, attracting significant restructuring mandates and advising on syndicated loans and corporate finance. The 22-lawyer group consists of four partners including Bertrand Andriani, Nathalie Hobbs and Arnaud Fromion. It assisted Montagu Private Equity on a €60m facility loan to finance the LBO acquisition of ADB, and ING and LBO France on Terreal’s debt restructuring.

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

Linklaters LLP’s ‘outstanding’ 26-lawyer team, led by Philippe Herbelin, has ‘strong experience and excellent knowledge of market regulations’. ‘All six partners are deeply involved in transactions and listen to their clients’ needs’. The firm’s ‘superb debt practice’ counts in its ranks one of the leading figures in the field in ‘senior statesman’ Gilles Endréo, while the ECM practice is equally well regarded through Herbelin, Séverin Robillard and US-qualified Luis Roth. Cenzi Gargaro, who advises on a broad range of transactions, and structured finance expert Bertrand Andriani are also recommended. The team had a very strong year in the debt area, advising on a record number of transactions. It assisted Société Générale as arranger and the dealers on the establishment of Areva’s €5bn EMTN programme, and the dealer-managers on Aéroports de Paris’ exchange offer. On the equity side, the firm was involved in the market’s largest IPOs, assisting the underwriters on Rusal’s listing on Euronext Paris and Medica on its IPO. It also represented Michelin on its €1.2bn share-capital increase.

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

Linklaters LLP’s ‘highly skilled’ and ‘always responsive’ team, led by Arnaud de La Cotardière, delivers ‘superb services’. The practice is hands on at handling post-acquisition and corporate matters, serving a large and prestigious client base.

Within Dispute resolution International arbitration Other recommended firms

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

Linklaters LLP handles a high volume of work, representing investment and retail banks. Arnaud de La Cotardière leads the team.

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

At Linklaters LLP, the ‘very proactive’ Kiril Bougartchev is praised for his ‘very high quality of work’. He represents a major client in one of the country’s most high-profile cases, and is selected by major corporations and financial institutions to act in fraud and securities-related criminal investigations.

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

Linklaters LLP has a strong 17-lawyer team led by Olivier d’Ormesson, and including Anne Wachsmann and the ‘technically very competent’ Pierre Zelenko, who makes his clients ‘feel very secure’. The practice stands out for its merger control and antitrust capabilities. It is handling one of the most high-profile cartel cases in Europe (which it also coordinates on five continents) through its assistance to Air France in the air freight sector cartel, and advised Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC) on the joint venture between Transdev and Veolia Transport.

Within Employment Other recommended firms

Within Environment Other recommended firms

Within Insolvency, Linklaters LLP is a third tier firm,

Linklaters LLP’s major strength lies in the firm’s capabilities to cover the full spectrum of restructuring and insolvency work (corporate, finance, tax, litigation). The practice, led by Aymar de Mauléon de Bruyères and including Cécile Dupoux, receives a constant flow of work from shareholders, lenders and distressed companies. In 2010, the team continued to represent PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Cœur Défense and Dame Luxembourg cases, and assisted Legris Industries in Keyria’s insolvency proceedings.

Within Insurance Other recommended firms

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

Linklaters LLP’s seven-lawyer practice, led by Marianne Schaffner, takes on a sustained level of stand-alone and litigation work. The team’s main focus is on patents in the pharmaceutical, chemistry and technology sectors. It is involved in several pan-European patent cases and counts Tate & Lyle, Johnson & Johnson and LG Philips as clients. Trade marks and copyrights are also dealt with.

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

Linklaters LLP has a ‘remarkable team’ led by ‘very reactive and outstanding professionals’ who combine ‘legal techniques and business vision’. With some 50 corporate lawyers, the firm is at ease handling large transactions. The nine-partner team includes practice head Fabrice de la Morandière, Marc Loy, Alain Garnier, Thierry Riguet, Pierre Tourres and Bruno Derieux. The firm assisted Schneider Electric on the acquisition of Areva T&D, and Sperian Protection on its public takeover by Honeywell.

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

Fabrice de la Morandière, Vincent Ponsonnaille and David Swinburne at Linklaters LLP handled a good number of mid and large-cap transactions. The practice has great resources thanks to its large client base of funds. It assisted Axa Private Equity on the sale of Spotless to BC Partners, and BC Partners on the sale of Picard Surgelés. The firm also remained highly active handling debt LBO restructuring work.

Within Project finance and energy: Energy Project finance and energy: Energy

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

Linklaters LLP is ‘one of the few firms in France able to achieve a high degree of interaction among its practices’. The 15-lawyer project and energy team is led by ‘one of the most recognised project finance experts in France’ Bertrand Andriani, who can make a ‘deal possible’. Simon Ratledge and François April are also key figures for finance work, while Paul Lignières is ‘able to manage not only the administrative law issues but also the financial and corporate matters at stake’. The firm is a leading player on the French PPP market and combines extensive experience on projects in Francophone Africa. It also handles large renewable projects in France and North Africa and is involved in strategic electricity and nuclear projects. Highlights included advising the senior lenders on the BPL project and Areva on its mining agreement with the Jordanian Atomic Energy Commission.

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

Françoise Maigrot leads a well-recognised practice at Linklaters LLP. The eight-lawyer team handles mainstream transactions, property financing and property fund work. Highlights included assisting Beacon Capital Partners on a lease to Ernst & Young regarding Tower First.

Within Tax, Linklaters LLP is a third tier firm,

At Linklaters LLP, the ‘excellent and very reactive’ Edouard Chapellier leads a strong transactional practice, dealing with the market’s largest corporate and finance transactions. The six-lawyer team also includes the recommended Thomas Perrot. Highlights included advising CDC on the merger between Transdev and Veolia Transport.