The Legal 500

Within Capital markets, Paul Hastings LLP is a third tier firm,

Erwan Barre heads Paul Hastings LLP’s team, which handles IPOs, public offerings and private placement work for financial institutions, such as Société Générale, and issuers including Acadomia. Barre is recommended, as are Aline Poncelet, Joel Simon and Samia Sellam. The firm’s experience includes assisting French companies and investors with US securities transactions, and it recently advised the selling shareholders on Sequans Communications’ IPO on the NYSE.

Within Commercial litigation , Paul Hastings LLP is a third tier firm,

Litigation is one of Paul Hastings LLP’s main areas of expertise in Paris, and it is recommended for financial, commercial and corporate cases. Philippe Bouchez El Ghozi heads this strong team, which also includes Sylvie d’Arvisenet, Aline Poncelet, Nicolas Faguer and the ‘wise and intelligent’ Dominique Borde. The firm’s large client base includes a number of auditors as regular clients.

Within Stock market litigation, Paul Hastings LLP is a first tier firm,

Paul Hastings LLP’s Dominique Borde and Sylvie d’Arvisenet are adept at handling sensitive cases and represent major financial institutions.

Within White-collar crime Other recommended firms

Within EU competition and distribution, tier 5

Pierre Kirch leads Paul Hastings LLP’s three-lawyer group, which advises on EU law. It represented Samsung in phase II proceedings regarding the sale of its hard disk drive business to Seagate.

Within Employment , Paul Hastings LLP is a third tier firm,

Paul Hastings LLP’s ‘highly competent team’ of four lawyers advises major international groups such as Monoprix and Deloitte on various matters including redundancy and bonuses, as well as in litigation. Practice head Deborah Sankowicz and Stéphane Henry are recommended.

Within Legal market overview,

‘Magic Circle’ firms Allen & Overy LLP, Clifford Chance and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP made significant lateral hires in the M&A and litigation fields, and market challengers Paul Hastings LLP, Salans and DLA Piper, determined to become heavyweights in France, stepped up recruitment drives. French firms De Gaulle Fleurance & Associés and Lefèvre Pelletier & associés also significantly strengthened their ranks, with partners joining from Anglo-Saxon and other foreign law firms.

Within Mergers and acquisitions, tier 5

Thanks to a new enlarged team of some 30 lawyers, Paul Hastings LLP was able to increase its deal flow in 2011. The firm mainly handles mid-cap transactions for listed clients such as Bull, Iliad and Publicis, and advised Ausy on investments in the group by CDC and Siparex. Aline Poncelet shows ‘high business acumen’, and is recommended along with Pascal de Moidrey, Edith Boucaya and Guillaume Kellner.

Within Private equity Other recommended firms

Within Real estate, Paul Hastings LLP is a third tier firm,

Paul Hastings LLP’s David Lacaze advises on property investments and refinancing for clients including Groupe du Louvre and JP Morgan Asset Management. The team also recently advised UK investors on the distressed sale of the Front de Parc building.

Within Tax, tier 4

Allard de Waal heads Paul Hastings LLP’s well-regarded transactional and tax controversy practice, which is also able to handle property tax and fund structuring work. The team advised Cambridge Place Investment Management on the distressed sale of Front de Parc building.