The Legal 500

Within Administrative and public law, White & Case LLP is a third tier firm,

White & Case LLP’s Jacques Bouillon and Paule Biensan are renowned for advising lenders on PPP projects, most notably in the transport and other infrastructure sectors. It advised the lenders, including EIB and CDC, on financing of the Tours-Bordeaux railway project.

Within Aviation finance, White & Case LLP is a second tier firm,

White & Case LLP’s Thomas McDonald, Victoria Westcott and Louise Mor advise major lenders such as Société Générale and Natixis, as well as export credit agencies, manufacturers and lessors. Highlight included assi sting ALC and CIC on the financing of an A380 Airbus for Singapore Airlines.

Within Banking and finance, White & Case LLP is a first tier firm,

White & Case LLP’s ten-lawyer practice advises global financial institutions on acquisition finance, as well as high-yield finance and, increasingly, on corporate and property finance. It acted for Société Générale on the financing of Carlyle’s acquisition of Sagemcom, and for a pool of banks on a €1.5bn credit facility for Accor. Practice head Gilles Peigney, Raphaël Richard and newly promoted partner Denise Diallo are recommended.

Within Capital markets Other recommended firms

Within Construction Other recommended firms

Within Commercial litigation , White & Case LLP is a third tier firm,

White & Case LLP has substantial experience representing banking institutions and handling cases involving evidence under the Hague Convention, and also undertakes commercial and corporate cases. Practice head Philippe Métais and Michel Beaussier are the key figures.

Within International arbitration, White & Case LLP is a second tier firm,

White & Case LLP’s ‘excellent’ team of six partners, led by Michael Polkinghorne, is instructed in strategic cases in the gas and construction fields, notably regarding the CIS and Africa. The practice represents a mix of companies and state entities, such as Georgia, and has received new instructions in disputes involving South America and Brazil. Christopher Seppälä is a leading reference for construction disputes, John Willems and Philippe Sarrailhé are also established advisers, and younger partners Charles Nairac, Christophe von Krause and Matthew Secomb are also recommended.

Within White-collar crime Other recommended firms

Within EU competition and distribution, White & Case LLP is a third tier firm,

Jean-Paul Tran Thiet heads White & Case LLP’s ten-lawyer practice, which acts in national and EU antitrust cases and advises many clients on dawn raids. It represented L’Oréal in the perfume case and Nexans in a global cartel case.

Within Employment , tier 4

Alexandre Jaurett heads White & Case LLP’s four-lawyer group, which advises French and foreign companies on day-to-day employment issues, restructuring and corporate transactions, and in litigation. The team recently assisted T-Systems with the restructuring of its French subsidiary.

Within IT, telecoms and the internet Other recommended firms

Within Insolvency Other recommended firms

Within Full-service firms Other recommended firms

Within Legal market overview,

The market’s elite are French firms Bredin Prat, Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier, De Pardieu Brocas Maffei A.A.R.P.I and Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.; British firms Allen & Overy LLP, Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP and Linklaters LLP; and US firms Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, White & Case LLP and Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP.

Within Mergers and acquisitions, tier 5

White & Case LLP’s 50-lawyer practice, led by François Leloup and Philippe Sarrailhé, handles major cross-border transactions, notably in Morocco and Asia, for major French clients including Publicis. Eric Laplante advised France Télécom on its investment in Médi Télécom. The recruitment of Hugues Mathez from Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. should help the firm to boost its French corporate client base.

Within Private equity, White & Case LLP is a second tier firm,

White & Case LLP advises on mid and large-cap transactions. It acted for IK Invest on the sale of Etanco, and Carlyle on the acquisition of Sagemcom. Vincent Morin leads the practice, which also includes Franck De Vita. The team can call on the firm’s complementary expertise in tax and finance.

Within Energy Other recommended firms

Within Project finance, White & Case LLP is a first tier firm,

White & Case LLP’s Paule Biensan, Jacques Bouillon and Victoria Westcott are involved in large infrastructure projects in France, CEE and Africa, often on the lender side. It also handles mining and energy work. It manages a high number of instructions in the French transport sector, and is advising lenders on the Tours-Bordeaux railway PPP project. The team is also advising the consortium formed by Eiffage regarding the Dakar toll motorway project.

Within Real estate, White & Case LLP is a second tier firm,

White & Case LLP’s clients include major investors (Klépierre), developers (Amundi) and leading hotel franchises (Marriott). Brice Engel and Frank Peter co-head the ten-lawyer practice, which advises on acquisitions and sales, property fund formation, and hotel refurbishments. It advised Unibail-Rodamco on its acquisition of Lehwood Montparnasse, owner of Le Méridien Hotel.

Within Shipping finance Other recommended firms

Within Tax, White & Case LLP is a third tier firm,

White & Case LLP’s six-lawyer team advises on corporate and property transactions as well as restructuring, and acted for IK Invest on the acquisition of a majority stake in Snacks International. It also represents a number of private clients. Practice head Norbert Majerholc and Alexandre Ippolito are recommended.