The Legal 500

Within Administrative and public law, tier 4

Headed by Philippe Malléa, Norton Rose LLP’s team focuses on PPP and public contracts, and mainly advises sponsors and public entities. The practice is handling major matters in the prison and university sectors, including assisting a consortium on the Toulouse II University PPP.

Within Aviation finance, Norton Rose LLP is a first tier firm,

Norton Rose LLP has unmatched expertise through Marc Hamilton and George Paterson, who is ‘very well respected’. The team advises major French banks, including BNP Paribas and Natixis, on deals in France and Asia. It also advises on tax leasing and export credit agency financings, including Japanese operating leases. Highlights included advising CACIB on the financing of an A380 aircraft for Air France.

Within Banking and finance, Norton Rose LLP is a third tier firm,

Norton Rose LLP fields 50 lawyers and stands out for its superb domestic and international asset finance practice – particularly in aviation, shipping, rail – and renewable energy projects. It advised Deutsche Bank on the financing of two photovoltaic power plants, and represents a number of other leading institutions. Anne Lapierre, Georges Paterson, Martin Gdanski, Christine Ezcutari, Marc Hamilton, Erwan Héricotte and newly promoted partner Arnaud Bélisaire are recommended.

Within Capital markets, Norton Rose LLP is a second tier firm,

Norton Rose LLP provides ‘a very good level of service for small and medium-sized ECM transactions’, and has ‘a good team to work on complex and sophisticated transactions’. This five-lawyer practice, which undertakes creative equity and equity-linked work for prominent banks, advised CACIB on Terreïs’ €96m rights issue. Roberto Cristofolini and Marie-Aude Noury ‘are brilliant lawyers with tremendous ability to spot key issues, always very passionate about finding tailor-made and innovative solutions’.

Within Commercial litigation Other recommended firms

Within EU competition and distribution, Norton Rose LLP is a third tier firm,

Norton Rose LLP’s Mélanie Thill-Tayara has extensive experience handling challenging national and EU antitrust cases. The seven-lawyer team has built a strong client base in the pharmaceuticals and luxury goods sectors. Of counsel Marta Giner Asins is also recommended.

Within Employment Other recommended firms

Within Health and life sciences, Norton Rose LLP is a second tier firm,

In 2011, Norton Rose LLP created a global group dedicated to the pharmaceuticals and life sciences field, headed by Mélanie Thill-Tayara for the Asian, European and Middle-Eastern regions. The team advises leading manufacturers including Sanofi and Medtronic on strategic and regulatory issues, competition law and disputes.

Within IT, telecoms and the internet, Norton Rose LLP is a second tier firm,

Marc d’Haultfoeuille heads Norton Rose LLP’s IT group, which attracted numerous new high-profile instructions and clients in 2011. It is managing multi-jurisdictional outsourcing projects and advising on data protection and social network issues. L’Oréal is a key client. On the telecoms side, the practice is adviser to NRJ Mobile and handles transactions in the Maghreb through Alain Malek. Hervé Castelnau joined Jones Day.

Within Insurance, Norton Rose LLP is a second tier firm,

Norton Rose LLP has strong contentious expertise through practice head Barthélemy Cousin, who provides ‘excellent strategic advice’. Of counsel Franck Poindessault is ‘thorough and client-focused’.

Within Legal market overview,

Norton Rose LLP, which experienced a series of departures in early 2011, is back on track after an intense recruitment effort saw several new partners brought in from international law firms. UK law firm Olswang and US-based McDermott Will & Emery were newcomers to the market.

Within Mergers and acquisitions, tier 6

After losing most of its team in 2011, Norton Rose LLP rebuilt its practice by recruiting highly rated public M&A expert Stéphane Sabatier from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, as well as Jon Harry from Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP. Alain Malek also remains part of the team, and leads a very active practice in the Maghreb region. Highlights for the practice included assisting BMW on the acquisition of ING Car Lease.

Within Energy Energy

Within Project finance, Norton Rose LLP is a second tier firm,

Norton Rose LLP’s Philippe Malléa advises lenders and sponsors on domestic infrastructure projects, including recently advising Eiffage on the Le Mans-Rennes railway PPP. Alain Malek is greatly involved in the Maghreb region and advised a consortium on its tender offer for Casablanca’s tram project. Anne Lapierre and Arnaud Bélisaire are leading figures in wind farm and solar energy projects. The team recently advised Deustche Bank on the financing of two photovoltaic power projects in France.

Within Shipping finance, Norton Rose LLP is a first tier firm,

Norton Rose LLP’s practice scores at ‘the highest level’ for its ‘rigour and professionalism’. Practice head Christine Ezcutari is praised for her ‘listening and personal abilities’ and ‘rigorous writing’. The firm advises lenders, shipowners and managers on a broad range of financing structures. Longstanding clients include several large banking institutions, which appreciate the firm’s international resources.

Within Tax Other recommended firms