The Legal 500

Within Administrative and public law, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is a third tier firm,

Orrick Rambaud Martel’s team is led by Frédéric Torron and Jérôme Pentecoste – Bruno Richard left the firm to join Wragge & Co. The practice advises sponsors and public entities on public contract and litigation matters. It assisted a consortium made up of Bouygues, Thalès and Sodexo on the high-profile Balard project, and the University Paris VII on the construction of new premises.

Within Banking and finance, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is a second tier firm,

Orrick Rambaud Martel has made continuous efforts to develop its banking and finance practice, which is now regarded as ‘extremely good’ by major financial institutions. The 28-lawyer team is led by ‘very committed partners’ who ‘focus on important issues’, including practice head David Syed, Pascal Agboyibor, Diane de Moüy and Jean-Marc Zampa, who represent leading financial institutions. In 2010, the practice was busy advising on corporate banking, debt restructuring and asset finance work. It assisted Natixis and a syndicate of international banks on the arrangement of a syndicate back up line for Unedic, and Crédit Agricole CIB on the restructuring of the cruise activities of a prominent European operator.

Within Capital markets, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is a second tier firm,

Orrick Rambaud Martel’s practice is headed by Pascal Agboyibor, a renowned expert for structured finance and securitisation work. The firm also has a growing ECM practice in the ‘reactive and wise’ Louis de Longeaux who has ‘real expertise’ in the field advising corporations. The team handles transactions advising on both the issuers and underwriters’ sides. It represented CIC and six other international banks on the increase of the €420m freight receivable securitisation by CMA CGM and Vivendi on the issuance of €750m notes.

Within Construction Other recommended firms

Within Dispute resolution Commercial litigation , Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is a second tier firm,

Orrick Rambaud Martel’s practice, headed by Frédéric Lalance, has large resources in key litigators Jean-Pierre Martel, Sophie Scemla and Dominique Bordes. The firm receives a high number of instructions from leading financial institutions to act on major financial cases, including on subprimes and Madoff-related disputes. The practice also represented the main French banks regarding investigations on their involvement in the MATIF stock-market. The firm also acts for large corporations and handles major commercial, corporate governance, securities and criminal disputes.

Within Dispute resolution International arbitration, tier 4

Orrick Rambaud Martel has a ‘great and dynamic team’, with key figures including Laurent Jaeger, senior counsel William Laurence Craig and George Rigo. The group has a strong ICC practice, also handles investment work and is involved in large energy disputes. The practice is managing several strategic cases for Vivendi, winning a LCIA arbitration versus Elektrim and acting in an ICC arbitration against Deutsche Telekom and Elektrim.

Within Dispute resolution Stock market litigation, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is a first tier firm,

Orrick Rambaud Martel’s practice is praised thanks to Jean-Pierre Martel. Frédéric Lalance is also involved in the practice.

Within Dispute resolution White-collar crime Other recommended firms

Within EU competition and distribution, tier 4

Orrick Rambaud Martel’s practice is led by the ‘very good’ Philippe Rincazaux, who stands out for his ‘excellent écritures’. The seven-lawyer team handles major antitrust and merger-control cases. It represented Areva T&D on the sale of its transmission and distribution business to Alstom, and Schneider and Total in the jet-fuel cartel in La Reunion.

Within Employment Other recommended firms

Within Environment Other recommended firms

Within IT, telecoms and the internet Other recommended firms

Within Insolvency, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is a third tier firm,

Orrick Rambaud Martel’s ‘very responsive and commercial’ practice is ‘very good for sophisticated investors and Anglo-Saxon clients’. The team is led by Jean-Pierre Martel and Saam Golshani, who is recommended for his ‘strategic vision and depth of experience’. The ‘very bright and commercial’ Matthieu Grollemund, who joined as of counsel in 2009 from Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP in New York, is also a strong addition to the group. The practice represented some senior creditors and bondholders on Technicolor’s safeguard proceedings.

Within Mergers and acquisitions, tier 4

Orrick Rambaud Martel’s ‘proactive’ corporate group includes forty lawyers with six partners driving the practice. The firm handled a deal of restructuring work in 2010, notably acting for financial institutions. It also advised some large French companies with Jean-Pierre Martel and Jean-Michel Leprêtre assisting SNCF-Geodis on the acquisition of the logistic division of Italian BFH.

Within Private equity Other recommended firms

Within Project finance and energy: Energy Other recommended firms

Within Project finance and energy: Project finance, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is a second tier firm,

Orrick Rambaud Martel’s team is ‘business-minded’ and provides a ‘good level of service’. The five-partner practice is led by ‘deal maker’ Yves Lepage and includes public law specialist Jérôme Pentecoste and finance expert Pascal Agboyibor, who handles project finance in Africa for clients such as the African Development Bank. The firm assisted the Banque Nationale d’Investissement on the financing of a toll bridge in Abidjan.

Within Real estate, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is a third tier firm,

Orrick Rambaud Martel’s practice is led by Patrick Gerry, whose ‘sound advice and high standards of services’ are praised by clients. The team also includes Catherine Saint Geniest, Hervé Kensicher and Alfred Fink, who advises numerous German funds. Highlights included advising Tamar Capital Partners on the acquisition of Kenmore European funds, and Panattoni on the development of a warehouse in the Bordeaux area.

Within Shipping finance Other recommended firms

Within Tax,

UGGC & Associés is good for transactionnal, patrimonial and litigation work. The practice, led by Michel Turon, Laurent Chambaz and Antoine Gabizon, is a regular adviser to French and international groups (Pitney Bowes, CIC France) and families.