Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP > Paris, France > Firm Profile
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP Offices
2 RUE DE LA BAUME
75008 PARIS
France
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
France > Administrative and public law Tier 1
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is retained to handle high-end work pertaining to the country’s largest and most essential public infrastructure and operating companies. The team regularly advises on financial aid, governance issues and corporate structuring concerning state-owned companies and joint ventures operating in the public sector. Its combined top regulatory and public procurement expertise which earns it prestigious mandates on various energy and new industrial project initiatives (nuclear, hydrogen, semi-conductor) as well as major port, airport and railway public procurement issues. Its involvement in the telecoms sector is also a strength. The practice is co-headed by Frédéric Salat-Baroux and Marc Lordonnois.Practice head(s):
Frédéric Salat-Baroux;Marc Lordonnois
Testimonials
‘Professionalism, responsiveness and creative in terms of the strategy to follow.’
‘Good skill and technical expertise. Excellent knowledge of its clients’ environment and constraints. ’
‘The team is very available and has extensive knowledge of the issues related to the development of major infrastructure projects, particularly in the field of renewable energies.’
Key clients
RTE
SNCF Réseau
Archimed
EDF
Ardian
Géosel
Eutelsat
CVC Partners
EQT
Groupe Casino
Klépierre
Aéroport Nice Côte d’Azur (ACA)
Global Infrastructure Partners
iCON Infrastructure
Compagnie des Alpes
TDF
Orange
Bpifrance
Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations
SNCF Group
Transdev
Aéroports de Paris
Airbus
Compagnie Nationale du Rhône
Gestionnaire d’Infrastructure CDG Express
CDC Habitat
Action Logement Group
Adoma
Eramet
Agence des Participations de l’Etat (French State)
FGTI (Fonds de garantie des victimes des actes de terrorisme)
HLD Europe
Advent International Corporation
Work highlights
- Advising Ardian and its subsidiary Géosel on an infrastructure project located in Fos-sur-Mer (close to Marseille), consisting of the installation of photovoltaic panels in order to produce hydrogen through electrolysis.
- Advising EDF on the New French Nuclear Programme.
- Advising SNCF Réseau on the railway law aspects of a proposed legislation on new French regional rail services.
France > Insolvency Tier 1
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP’s restructuring division is an undisputed leader, with strong recognition across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Continental Europe. This practice, adept at navigating a significant caseload and catering to a diverse client base, offers expert guidance on intricate cross-border matters. Its purview encompasses LBO restructuring, amicable proceedings, and insolvency cases, where they actively engage in some of the market’s most substantial affairs. Facilitating this strength is a culture of collaboration, with co-leaders Anne-Sophie Noury, Jean-Dominique De Cassini and new arrival Céline Domenget-Morin at the helm, integrating with other divisions, especially those immersed in transactional and financial activities. Laura Bavoux further fortifies the practice, specialising in high-stakes French pre-insolvency and insolvency cases, along with cross-border restructuring, across various sectors such as law, retail, media, telecommunications, and sports. Cesar Puech Routier joined the firm alongside Domenget-Morin in late 2023.Practice head(s):
Anne-Sophie Noury; Jean-Dominique Daudier de Cassini; Céline Domenget-Morin
Other key lawyers:
Laura Bavoux; César Puech-Routier
Testimonials
‘The team covers several key areas of expertise, including regulated activities, restructurings, tax and financing, which has enabled us to benefit from a full range of legal services during the receivership period of the company.’
‘The strengths and assets of this team lie in its constant responsiveness and availability to provide us with rapid and efficient assistance. Its lawyers are highly experienced and qualified, which translates into quality legal advice. They take the time to understand our specific needs, which allows us to benefit from tailored and relevant advice.’Â
‘Jean Dominique Daudier de Cassini, specialist in recovery and restructuring operations. We benefited from his expertise and his global view regarding the legal and judicial procedure and strategy.’Â
‘The team’s greatest strength is its detailed and historical knowledge of all the players in the distressed business market. Their excellent reputation among their clients is even shared by debtors.’
‘Available, competent, pleasant and innovative.’
Key clients
SELARL FHBX
Groupe Casino
Bpifrance
Glass Holding
Orange
Intersport
SELARL FHBX & Thevenot Partners
Phoenix
NJJ Presse Sud
Lysogene
Salaün
SGR
Royer
Klepierre
Benta Pharma Invest Holding
Work highlights
- Advised SELARL FHBX and SELARL AJRS as judicial administrators in connection with the subsequent sauvegarde accélérée proceedings of Orpea.
- Advised Intersport France in the takeover of the assets and activities of the Go Sport Group in the context of the receivership proceedings opened in favour of the Go Sport Group holding company and at the level of the operating company, Go Sport France.
France > Private equity: LBO Tier 1
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP assists private equity sponsors, industrial and financial groups and family-owned groups with large-cap LBO transactions. The group is also well placed to advise clients on domestic and cross-border M&A, divestitures, build-ups, financings, and distressed M&A transactions. Infrastructure funds, insurance companies, and pension plans also look to the team for its expertise in the infrastructure segment. David Aknin steers the practice; additional names to note include Jean Beauchataud, Frédéric Cazals, Alexandre Duguay, and Guillaume Bonnard, who focus on high-profile LBOs and M&A transactions.Practice head(s):
David Aknin
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
3i
Advent International
Alpha Private Equity
Adagia Partners
A&M Capital
Antin Infrastructure
Altamir
Archimed
Ardian
Aleph Capital
Astorg Partners
Bain Capital
Capza
Caravelle
Carlyle
Cathay Capital Private Equity
Cerba Healthcare
Ceva
Chequers Capital
Cinven
Clayton, Dubilier & Rice
Compagnie Nationale à Portefeuille
CVC Capital Partners
Ergon Capital Partners
Eurazeo
EQT
Equistone
Generation IM
HLD Europe
Infravia Capital Partners
LFPI
L-GAM
Montagu Private Equity
Montefiore
Naxicap
Omers
Ontario Teacher’s Pension Plan
PAI Partners
Parquest
Permira
PSG Equity
Qualium Investissement
Sagard
Seven2 (previously named Apax Partners)
Sienna Private Equity
TCV
Thétys
Towerbrook
Voodoo
France > Banking and finance: transactional work Tier 2
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP reorganised its team in 2023 through the hiring of Jean-Christophe David and Géraldine Lezmi from Allen & Overy LLP, which has bolstered the firm's capabilities to act for debt funds and further reinforced its sponsor-side position and debt restructuring skills. The group is highly specialised in leveraged finance, while also advising on credit facilities and tackling refinancing work. The team also worked recently on a headline debt restructuring case in the retail sector. James Clarke heads the team alongside David and Lezmi. Olivier Jauffret retired at the end of 2023.Practice head(s):
James Clarke; Jean-Christophe David; Géraldine Lezmi
Key clients
Montagu
TowerBrook
Hayfin Capital Management
Capza Flex Equity
Adagia Partners
Ardian
Groupe Paprec
Infopro
3i
IK
Keensight Capital
Barings Asset Management
Groupe Casino
Arcmont
France > Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation Tier 2
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is a key destination for high-profile M&A-related litigation and shareholders’ disputes involving leading private equity funds and corporations, but the team is also flexible and capable of handling all types of cases. It is notably involved in commercial and civil liability cases and also deals with sensitive bankruptcy-related disputes. Many leading French and international companies and funds are client. The practice is led by Didier Malka, with associate Ambroise Flachs providing key support.Practice head(s):
Didier Malka
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Responsiveness, competence, good understanding of issues .’
‘The team is very solution-oriented. From the start of our dispute, the Weil team was focused on how they could simplify a very complex case. The team took the time to read all the key documents to understand the case. They arrived at a very simple and straightforward argument that positioned us for success. ’
‘Great understanding of the commercial dispute process, ability to simplify a complex case and a drive to succeed.’
Key clients
Orange
NJJ Holding
Altarea
Orpea
Montefiore Investment
Hilton Worldwide
Casino Group/Rallye
Atos
Idemia
Worldline
Banque Palatine
3i
Inetum
Vivendi
Westinghouse
Work highlights
- Representing Altarea (fka Altarea Cogedim), a public real estate company, in proceedings related to the acquisition of Primonial initiated by Primonial’s shareholders.
- Representing Montefiore Investment, a PE fund, before the Paris Court of Appeals in a dispute against Abénex in connection with the sale of Cruiseline.
- Representing Hilton International in a longstanding litigation against the owner of a luxury hotel in Paris, SIHPM, in a contract dispute.
France > Dispute resolution: Stock market litigation Tier 3
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP's litigation team has expertise handling public tender stock-market battles and AMF investigations into stock-market law breaches. The firm is notably acting in two headline cases for major French companies concerning communication of financial information and insider trading accusations. The practice is headed by Didier Malka.Practice head(s):
Didier Malka
Key clients
Rallye
Casino
Altarea
Orpea
Atos
Orange
Work highlights
- Represented Rallye (mother company of Casino SA) in an AMF investigation in connection with Rallye’s financial communication.
- Representing Altarea, a public real estate company, in proceedings related to the acquisition of Primonial initiated by Primonial’s shareholders.
France > EU, competition and distribution Tier 3
Romain Ferla leads the practice at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, which is frequently active in French and EU merger control proceedings, with an emphasis on advising domestic and international private equity firms. The team is particularly well equipped to handle cross-border transactions and merger control filings in multiple jurisdictions. In addition, the firm has played a prominent role in antitrust litigation and private enforcement actions; its current caseload includes representing one of the defendants in follow-on damages claims stemming from the floor coverings cartel.Practice head(s):
Romain Ferla
Testimonials
‘They quickly understand the issues and give pragmatic and actionable advice.’
‘Romain Ferla is our main contact. He is extremely accessible, available, non-nonsense and pragmatic. He is supported by a good team.’
‘An extremely accomplished and experienced group who have the benefit of being able to seamlessly tap into Weil’s worldwide network of practices across the world.’
‘They are across all the issues and leave you in no doubt they have things covered.’
‘Knowledge of the law, creativity, adaptability.’
‘Romain Ferla has top knowledge of his files, shows great flexibility in difficult conditions, and is excellent at explaining the issues to third parties.’
Key clients
Advent
Apax
Ardian
CNP/Sienna
CVC
Caisse des dépôts et consignations (CDC)
Chequers
Genstar
FILMM
Groupe Casino
Interflora
Kartesia
Luxempart
Montagu
Omers
SNCF
SRS
Work highlights
- Advised CNP and Sienna on the EU merger control procedure relating to the acquisition of ECT group, a leader in the French waste treatment sector.
- Representing Kaléi, a French trade association of manufacturers of flooring products, in an antitrust private enforcement case brought against the client and three of its members by approximately 300 French hospitals using PVC flooring products.
- Advising Advent on the merger control aspects of the sale of Cobham Aerospace Communications to Thales (involving filings in multiple jurisdictions).
France > Mergers and acquisitions Tier 3
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is engaged by several listed companies to assist with transactions, including recently in relation to satellites and retail. The M&A practice handles a steady amount of public and private M&A work for French and international corporations and also regularly advises on corporate restructuring and governance issues. The practice is jointly headed by Claude Serra and Yannick Piette. Agathe Soilleux and recently promoted partner Jean-Baptiste Cornic are other major contributors.Practice head(s):
Claude Serra; Yannick Piette
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Hardworking, very available and in tune with the client’s culture.’
Key clients
Altarea
Casino
Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations
Engie
Eiffage
Eutelsat
JCD Holdings
Linedata
LISI
Orange
Paprec
Rallye
Total
Vallourec
Vinci
Work highlights
- Advising Casino on the sale of its stake in Assai (EUR 1,400 million).
- Advising Eutelsat on the acquisition of the majority control of OneWeb (USD 2,500 million).
- Advisor to Cobham on the sale of Cobham Aerospace Communications to Thales.
France > Tax Tier 3
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP's tax practice has a primary focus on transactional tax work, specifically the tax structuring of M&A and private equity matters. The team is sought after by private equity funds and infrastructure funds for advice on on transactions, including capital development and large-cap transactions and reorganisations. Edouard De Lamy is a key name for private equity M&A tax matters, as well as advising on estate planning, income and wealth tax matters. Lamy jointly leads the practice with Benjamin Pique, who joined from Ernst & Young Société d'Avocats and has expertise in the tax aspects of leveraged buy-outs, multi-jurisdictional tax structuring, complex carve-outs, post-merger integration and tax modelling.Practice head(s):
Edouard de Lamy; Benjamin Pique
Key clients
Montagu Private Equity
Eurazeo
Eurazeo Infrastructure
Groupe Casino
Groupe Paprec
Adagia Capital Europe
Clayton Dubillier & Rice
Infravia
3i
Capza
Bridgepoint
Ardian
Work highlights
- Advised Clayton Dubillier & Rice on the acquisition of the Atalian business in the UK and in Asia.
- Advised Eurazeo and Infravia in the context of the sale of Reden Solar to a consortium of investors comprising Macquarie, Munich RE and British Columbia.
- Advised Group Casino on the various tax aspects of its debt restructuring.
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP > Firm Profile
The firm: Founded in 1931, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is a preeminent provider of legal services. With offices on three continents, Weil has been a pioneer in establishing a geographic footprint to partner with clients wherever they do business. The firm’s four departments, corporate, litigation, restructuring, and tax, executive compensation and benefits, and more than two dozen practice groups are consistently recognised as leaders in their respective fields.
Areas of practice: Weil’s Paris office enjoys a reputation as one of the leading business law firms in France. The office regularly handles the most challenging domestic and cross-border transactions, disputes, business and financial restructurings and provides counseling to corporations, private equity (PE) funds, financial institutions, public organisations, senior management, board of directors and individuals in sensitive situations. Weil’s highly experienced lawyers are recognised for their pragmatic approach and their commitment to clients’ interests. The sophistication, global reach, experience and personal involvement of its partners is well known, and the firm is consistently ranked at the top of France’s legal market.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
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Antitrust/competition | |||
Banking and finance | |||
Business finance and restructuring | |||
Capital markets | |||
Tax | |||
Dispute resolution | |||
M&A | |||
Private equity | |||
Public |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Mr David Aknin | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Jean Beauchataud | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Frédéric Cazals | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr James Clarke | Partner | View Profile | |
Me Jean-Dominique Daudier de Cassini | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Alexandre Duguay | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Romain Ferla | Partner | View Profile | |
Mrs Emmanuelle Henry | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Olivier Jauffret | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Didier Malka | Partner | View Profile | |
Anne-Sophie Noury | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Yannick Piette | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Frédéric Salat-Baroux | Partner | View Profile | |
Claude Serra | Partner | View Profile | |
Agathe Soilleux | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Edouard de Lamy | Partner | View Profile |