The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is a third tier firm,

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP focuses on corporate finance and advises large corporations such as Vivendi and Vallourec on loan facilities and debt restructuring. Valérie Lemaitre and Marie-Laurence Tibi are the key partners.

Within Capital markets, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is a first tier firm,

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP provides ‘first-class legal advice’ in the ECM field and ‘full dedication to time-critical projects’, and represented the underwriters on Michelin’s €1.2bn rights offering. It also handles DCM work, notably advising on US offerings and liability management transactions. The team includes the ‘highly dedicated and fully hands-on’ Marie-Laurence Tibi, the ‘very knowledgeable and reliable’ Andrew Bernstein, Pierre-Yves Chabert, John Brinitzer and Valérie Lemaître.

Within Commercial litigation , Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is a second tier firm,

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s Jean-Yves Garaud is a highly respected litigator for corporate, post-acquisition and shareholder disputes. Counsels Delphine Michot and Olivier Loizon are also recommended. Long-term clients include BNP Paribas, ArcelorMittal and Sanofi. The practice won several key judgements in 2011 including private enforcement cases.

Within International arbitration, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is a third tier firm,

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s ‘excellent’ group excels in investment and public international law work, and has acted for state entities and companies in many groundbreaking cases. It is representing the Russian Federation in three UNCITRAL disputes with Yukos’ former shareholders; and the Republic of Slovenia in proceedings launched by Bosnian individuals against the successor states to the former Republic of Yugoslavia. The practice has acted in many ICC cases. The practice is jointly led by Claudia Annacker and Jean-Yves Garaud, an ‘outstanding advocate; very clear, always right to the point and convincing’. Senior counsel Robert Greig and counsels Roland Ziadé and Olivier Loizon are also recommended.

Within Stock market litigation Other recommended firms

Within White-collar crime Other recommended firms

Within EU competition and distribution, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is a second tier firm,

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is strongly recommended for ‘highly technical and strategic EU cases’. The nine-lawyer team is led by Antoine Winckler, who is one of France’s most prominent experts, and François Brunet. Leading corporations turn to the team for high-stakes antitrust and merger control work, and it is representing Lagardère in proceedings launched by Odile Jacob against the EU Commission’s approval of Lagardère and Hachette’s acquisition of Vivendi Universal Publishing.

Within Insolvency, tier 4

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP handles complex domestic and global financial restructuring, distressed M&A and insolvency cases. It is a regular adviser to the FSI and recently assisted H2D on the acquisition of the shares of the insolvent Helio Lys. Fabrice Baumgartner, François Jonemann and Jean-Yves Garaud are recommended.

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, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is a second tier firm,

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is marked by the ‘outstanding technicality, business acumen and attention to details shown by each of its lawyers’. It is a prominent player in French deals and, increasingly, in the emerging markets. The practice advised Groupama on its possible acquisition of a minority interest in Premafin, and Lafarge on its joint venture with PLC. Pierre-Yves Chabert is exceptional, and Marie-Laurence Tibi, John Brinitzer, François Jonemann, Jean-Marie Ambrosi, Andrew Bernstein and Fabrice Baumgartner are also recommended.

Within Private equity, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is a second tier firm,

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP advises several major private equity players including Arcapita, BC Partners and Qualium Investissement on large-cap transactions. Jean-Marie Ambrosi is the main contact, with Pierre-Yves Chabert also involved in some large transactions. The firm advised Bridgepoint and Eurazeo on the acquisition of Foncia.

Within Energy Other recommended firms

Within Project finance, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is a second tier firm,

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is advising on various large electricity, mining and infrastructure projects in Africa, and provides ‘excellent service in terms of knowledge and responsiveness’. It represents governments, contractors, sponsors and lenders, and recently advised the Gambia River Basin Organisation on a construction of a hydroelectric dam project. Jean-Pierre Vignaud, Barthélemy Faye and Gamal Abouali are recommended.

Within Tax, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is a second tier firm,

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s ‘top-quality’ practice includes senior counsel Gilles Entraygues, Anne-Sophie Coustel and consultant Pascal Coudin. The team provides ‘very business-oriented’ advice on tax aspects of M&A, restructuring and securities transactions for clients such as Accor, Alstom and BNP Paribas. The practice also represents clients in tax controversies.