Public law boutique firm CABANES Avocats advises a prominent client base, acting for a mix of public and private sector entities, and has key expertise in public law procurement. It advises on large public procurement tenders, including in the areas of data and transport. In recent work, the team has advised several public local entities on the opening of their regional rail networks to competition and on the awarding of new contracts. The team also handles major infrastructure projects, including working on the construction of a new metro line, power plant and bridge. The group is equally proficient in the litigation space and manages several large proceedings before administrative courts, often linked to the awarding or execution of public contracts. Founding partner Christophe Cabanes, Vincent Michelin, Benoît Polderman, Charlotte Pezin and Jérémie Couette are the key names.

Clifford Chance is regularly retained by leading sponsors or by the French state to assist with the country’s largest infrastructure projects. The firm is involved in several landmark projects, including in the transport area where it advises on several motorway and Parisian metro projects and in the energy field where it works on several offshore wind projects. The team is also well known for its ability to handle strategic public procurement execution and performance issues, as well as sensitive related litigation, notably in the railway area. The firm also has top regulatory expertise and regularly assists with the drafting of new regulations in innovative areas; it has been instructed to advise on various hydrogen and solar panel projects. David Préat is one of the leading names in the field; he co-heads the practice with the highly regarded Gauthier Martin. Counsel Jean-Baptiste Merigot de Treigny provides additional support.

Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier houses one of France’s most prestigious public law practices and is able to provide a wide range of expertise. It is a popular choice for leading domestic companies to handle complex regulatory work (including before the courts) and is notably advising on some of the country’s most pressing regulatory matters, spanning the energy, telecoms and media sectors. The group is assisting EDF with its renationalisation process, in addition to providing strategic advice on nuclear and electricity tariff issues. The public law team also supports the corporate department on high-profile M&A work, notably in the field of foreign investment authorisations. Its range of expertise also extends to public procurement contracts and projects. The team is notably involved in several landmark rail projects, including handling related performance issues before courts. Practice head Henri Savoie is highly regarded. Counsel Jean-Baptiste Aubert provides additional support.

Dentons ranks among the market’s top experts in the field of public procurement and infrastructure projects. The team regularly assists the French state and public entities in relation to strategic transport projects, including recently advising on large motorway contracts, or on the opening of regional rail networks. Private companies also make up a strong part of the team’s client portfolio. The team has also seen a rise of new mandates in the field of public procurement and construction-related litigation. It is notably handling top matters in the hospital and railway sectors. The group is also active in the fields of renewables energy and electronic mobility projects, advising on regulatory and public procurement aspects, while also handling work in the telecoms infrastructure area. Practice head Marc Fornacciari and Dorothée Griveaux are the key names. Associate Prisca Betesta also contributes to this area.

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. fields a sizeable team that acts for both public and private entities including the French state and is retained to advise on the market’s largest projects in relation to public infrastructure and public or private real estate projects where it is able to draw on its considerable experience in urban planning. In the PPP area, the firm is particularly active in the transport sector and is advising on several public procurement contracts linked to projects relating to the 2024 Summer Olympics. Other areas of expertise include assisting with regulatory and other sensitive public law issues, such as the governance of public entities. The team is led by Thomas Courtel and Bénédicte Mazel, who excel in the field of general public law and public procurement work; Emmanuel Vital-Durand and Alexandre Gauthier, who are top references for urban planning issues; and Frédéric Mion, who joined as a partner in 2022 from the Conseil d’Etat adding complementary privatisation and regulatory strength, especially in the telecoms and media fields.

Jones Day has high-level public procurement and regulatory expertise. The practice is particularly strong in the energy sector where it assists prominent French companies in dealing with strategic regulatory, project and public procurement work (including before the courts). The team is also regularly involved in large infrastructure projects concerning the construction of new electricity and internet cables network in the country or across various EU countries. In the field of public procurement, the team has extensive expertise assisting mostly major private sector companies in their response to public tender offers, spanning various areas including IT, energy, water or gas supplies. The group is also involved in several disputes in the healthcare sector linked to the Covid-19 outbreak. The team is co-headed by Philippe Delelis and Nicolas Brice.

Linklaters has a stellar reputation for handling infrastructure projects of national importance. The public law team, which combines its expertise with the firm’s project practice, is able to assist all types of stakeholders, from sponsors to lenders. Recent work includes advising on several major transport projects, especially related to motorways, as well as those in the telecoms area. The team is heavily involved in the energy sector, where it utilises its high-level regulatory expertise; the group is assisting with several of France’s landmark offshore renewables projects, while also advising clients on pressing renewables, nuclear and gas tariffs issues. The team has also been retained by the French state to assist with the launch of its national sponsored hydrogen programme. Recently, the team has also seen new mandates coming in the defence sector. Practice head Pierre Guillot is supported by managing associate Pierre Sikorav.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is entrusted with the management of complex regulatory matters. The firm is regularly retained by the French state’s financial institutions to assist with strategic issues, including in-depth institutional reorganisation, as well as the granting of financial aid and investment support. Leading French private sector companies also feature in the client base, notably those from the telecoms, rail and energy sectors. The team also provides key guidance to private investors investing in public sector companies or in strategic infrastructure projects, including in the area of satellites and renewables, regularly working alongside the firm's M&A practice on those matters. Recently, the team has been retained to assist with the construction of several new nuclear plants. The group also has strength in litigation. The practice is led by Frédéric Salat-Baroux and Marc Lordonnois, and also include counsel Maria Kabanova.

Major sponsors, private operators and engineering corporations regularly turn to White & Case LLP for its expertise in high-level infrastructure projects. The firm has recently been retained to advise on one of France’s largest military accommodation projects. It is also very active in the transport area where the team has been advising on regional rail network market opening issues, on new large motorway projects and on several regional airport concessions. Energy is another key area and the team is advising on several of France’s landmark renewables offshore projects. It also assists several key clients in dealing with regulatory issues and also handles public law aspects linked to corporate deals in the energy sector. The highly regarded Jean-Luc Champy and François-Guilhem Vaissier head the practice, which also includes counsels Quirec de Kersauson and new arrival Ximena Vásquez-Maignan, who joined in 2022 from her previous position as head of the general legal affairs office at the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and adds further expertise in the nuclear energy sector.

A well-established name in the public law space, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is appointed by a prominent client base, including leading private operators, engineering companies, banks and public sector entities and operators. The public law team regularly combines forces with the firm's projects and finance department, to advise on large public infrastructure and financial investment matters. It is notably instructed to assist with complex state aid issues – recently advising on new public financial support provided to develop electrical car charging stations in France. The team is regularly involved in landmark projects and handles strategic issues in the transport and energy sectors, where it stands out for its ability to combine top-end public procurement, regulatory and litigation expertise. In addition to advising on the development of several major infrastructure projects, the practice also manages several high-profile matters concerning public contract execution and performance issues in relation to large infrastructure projects, notably in the transport area. The firm also advises operators on their negotiations with the French state or public sector entities to obtain financial compensation concerning past Covid-19 disturbances. Practice head Thierry Laloum has a stellar reputation. Also recommended are European counsel Charles-Antoine Erignac, senior associate Anne-Laure Barel and associates Gabrielle Reddé and Virgile Chanel.

August Debouzy is increasingly retained to advise on highly strategic work. The firm has prominent regulatory law expertise and is retained to assist with strategic reorganisation projects and the management of sensitive regulatory issues, notably in the media and rail sectors – among its recent highlights, the practice advised on a strategic public audiovisual reorganisation project and on a major privatisation. The team also increasingly receives instructions to assist clients with obtaining foreign investment authorisations, notably in the defence area, as well as handling various other sovereign issues, particularly in the field of data and cloud computing. EU public law and EU regulatory law are other strong areas of focus for the team, which further strengthened its capabilities in these areas after hiring Marc Mossé in May 2022; he joined from Microsoft. The team also has additional strength handling sensitive interactions between the public and private sectors as well as expertise in litigation and public procurement. The highly regarded Vincent Brenot and Emmanuelle Mignon are the practice heads; counsel Hélène Billery provides additional support. Of note, the practice further strengthened its capabilities following the arrival of top regulatory expert Nicolas Baverez from Gibson Dunn in early 2023.

Fréget Glaser & Associés is recognised for its high level regulatory expertise. The firm notably handles strategic regulatory work in the energy sector, managing several high-end disputes regarding electricity and renewables tariffs. The group also has expertise in the media space and also regularly provides strategic advice to regulated professional bodies or authorities as well as to several major public and private operators. It is also retained to advise on public procurement contracts or to manage major litigation in that area. The highly regarded Emmanuel Glaser jointly heads the practice with Sandrine Perrotet.

Latournerie Wolfrom Avocats’ public law practice stands out for its ability to combine high-level public procurement and regulatory know-how in the telecoms infrastructure, data centre and technologies areas. The firm assists a prominent client base in those areas, made up of public and private sector entities including several blue-chip US companies. The team provides key support on the development of large network and infrastructures, regularly representing clients before the regulator or administrative courts. It is also advising on several strategic technologies projects and public procurement contracts concerning the defence area. The public law practice also works in many other areas, providing regulatory, urban planning and public procurement advice to public and private sector entities, notably in the railway and transport sectors. The practice is led by Jean Latournerie, Térence Cabot and Marion Delaigue.

McDermott Will & Emery AARPI assists a prominent client base and notably advises on large public infrastructure and utilities procurement including urban heating and gas supply contracts. The team also has strong regulatory expertise spanning the transport, energy, rail and telecoms sectors. The team is also increasingly involved in the healthcare industry, advising on regulatory issues linked to corporate deals (radiology and veterinary). The team also handles high-stakes regulatory disputes in the telecoms sector, while defence is another key area of work for regulatory authorisations. Sabine Naugès and Laurent Ayache co-head the practice, and counsel Charlotte Michellet provides additional support.

Orrick is often retained to advise on top infrastructure projects. The firm has a strong focus on energy, spanning renewables, nuclear and new alternative initiatives. It is notably advising the French state on its landmark offshore and floating renewables projects. The team also assists clients during brownfield transactions, notably in relation to electrical charging stations. The team also advises on various airport, port and motorways projects in France as well as in Africa. The team is co-headed by Geoffroy Berthon and senior counsel Noël Chahid-Nouraï. Associates Constance Boillot and Janina Dahmouh also provide strong support.

Public law boutique PARME Avocats fields an experienced team of partners and has a range of expertise including in high-level public procurement and litigation know-how. It acts for several leading private sector operators and public law entities (cities, regions), where it advises on the conclusion of public procurement contracts and assistance with infrastructure projects. The team notably manages large mandates in the waste, lighting, cooling, heating and water management areas. The firm also advises on energy projects and regulatory issues. It has recently been retained to handle strategic litigation linked to the opening of the regional railway network to competition. The excellent Xavier Matharan co-heads the practice alongside Karine Hennette-Jaouen. Also recommended are Mathieu Noel, Emmanuel Guillini, Tony Janvier and of counsel Ghislain Minaire. 

UGGC Avocats‘ public law practice benefits from a sizable and experienced team. The firm advises both leading private operators and public sector entities. It has a wide range of expertise, spanning public economic law, regulatory, litigation, public procurement and urban planning. Recently, the team has been busy challenging new French regulations in the areas of gaming and single-use plastics before courts. The team is also regularly involved in matters concerning the railway and transport sector. It is managing several construction issues linked to new metro lines in various French cities. The practice also advises on several public procurement contracts linked to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, and is also knowledgeable in the field of ethics and compliance. Practice head Thierry Dal Farra, Philippe Hansen, Franck Lepron, Benjamin de Sevin and Edouard Caupert are the names to note.

Adaltys Avocats fields one of France’s largest public law teams in France with a strong presence in Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux and Marseille. The practice has a broad range of expertise in general public law, public contracts, as well as public domain and urban law. The practice is frequently entrusted by public sector entities, especially large metropolis such as Lyon, but also regularly assists private companies. It assists with major urban renovation projects (in Lyon, Marseille and Lille notably), and also advises on several Summer Olympics 2024 projects. The team is also involved in several arena and sports stadium redevelopment projects. It also has a high-level expertise in the energy sector – for instance, the team advises on the renewal of one of France’s largest hydroelectric concessions. The practice is co-headed by Gilles Le Chatelier in Lyon and Laurent Sery in Paris, and also relies on the expertise of Lyon members Jean-Marc Petit, Clément Nourrisson and Philippe Nugue; Paris-based Guillaume Chaineau; Marseille-based Benjamin Boiton and Xavier Heymans in Bordeaux.

The well-regarded Etienne Amblard leads a solid practice at Aramis. The team assists several major French companies as well as public sector entities and is appreciated for its strong public procurement and litigation expertise. The practice notably handles work in the fields of energy, transport (rail) and telecoms. It has recently assisted several bidders in responding to tender offers regarding new major airport concessions. The practice also has solid regulatory expertise and advises on urban law issues linked to large transport infrastructure projects. Associate Kévyn Gillet provides additional support.

Bredin Prat advises a prominent client base made up of leading companies as well as public law bodies, notably in the transport and energy fields. The team has strong regulatory expertise and also regularly assists companies with the analyses and drafting of law proposals, the challenge of legal provisions before courts and in managing their relationships with the public sector. The practice also assists major public bodies with their restructuring. It also provides support to the corporate department and advises on environmental and ethics issues. Yann Aguila heads the practice and is assisted by counsel Guillaume Froger.

CMS Francis Lefebvre is recommended for its strong expertise in the field of public procurement. The firm recently obtained a series of victories before courts in proceedings challenging the validity of several public procurement procedures. The practice also advises leading French companies on the awarding of large public infrastructure projects, notably in the public heating and healthcare areas. François Tenailleau takes a leading role on many of the firm's matters; he co-heads the practice alongside Claire Vannini, who is an expert in regulatory, public economic law and EU regulation issues, recently assisting clients with matters concerning rail and solar tariffs. Counsels Kawthar Ben Khelil  and Thomas Carenzi are other key team members.

De Gaulle Fleurance & Associés regularly assists governmental and local authority entities, as well as private clients. Its expertise extends to regulatory issues (notably in relation to the energy and defence industries) as well as infrastructure projects and public law contracts. The team is advising the Ministry of Justice on several public procurement projects and litigation linked to the penitentiary sector. The team is also handling major litigation, performance and execution issues in the rail sector. It also handles work in relation to the 2024 Summer Olympics. The team is a key adviser to several French overseas territories undertaking major development projects, notably in Guyana, concerning the transport, energy and telecoms sectors. Agnès Macaire, Frédéric Destal and Jean-François Vilotte are the practice heads.

De Pardieu Brocas Maffei is a strong choice for complex energy regulatory matters. Practice head Christine Le Bihan-Graf is a recognised expert in the field. Her team assists leading private and public operators in dealing with complex regulatory issues, including before courts, on matters such as renewables, nuclear and electricity tariff issues, as well as in the context of M&A deals and public procurement work. The team’s regulatory expertise is also sought after in other fields, including urban transport, and its experience also extends to public procurement contracts and large infrastructure projects. Counsel Laure Rosenblieh also provides key support. Anne Richier left the firm in 2022.

DLA Piper's Jérôme Pentecoste has a strong reputation in the area of public procurement and projects; he advises governmental and public sector entities as well as private operators. The team has recently been mandated to advise on innovative projects in the rail sector, including the launch of new hydrogen trains and fast railway lines. The practice also shows strong regulatory know-how via Ruxandra Lazar, who is instructed by professional bodies as well as public and private operators to advise on new legislation, permits and litigation recourses. She is particularly active in the oil and gas sector, but also handles work in the healthcare area. The practice also handles projects and regulatory matters in Africa. Of counsel Jean-Luc Heckenroth provides additional support.

DS Avocats has a wide range of public law and urban planning experience and practitioners operating from the firm's Paris and Lyon offices. The firm has a large dedicated team that assists a broad range of clients, including public and private sector entities. The practice stands out for its high-level know-how in the field of urban planning and development. Large developers, companies and public entities are clients. The firm advises on several major urban renewal projects, notably around Paris, and also assists with the construction of large logistics and warehouse buildings. Recently, the practice has also been retained to advise on the completion of France’s first industrial carbon storage project. The practice is led by Frédéric Lévy and Jean-Marc Poisson; and also includes David Guillot, Laura Ceccarelli-Le Guen, Michaël Moussault and Nathalie Sultan.

Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP’s public law team works in close cooperation with the firm's project finance department to assist public and private operators, as well as sponsors and lenders involved in infrastructure projects in France and in Africa. Domestically, the team advises on the awarding of public procurement contracts in the rail and healthcare sectors and on several energy-related projects. It also handles related performance issues. In Africa, the team has been involved recently in several road and energy projects in Senegal, Ivory Coast and Gabon. Practice head Bruno Cantier and counsel Perrine Limousin are the key contacts.

Joffe & Associés' expertise is particularly recognised in the rail sector, where the team assists key client SNCF with a range of strategic matters including new rail reforms and the awarding of concession contracts. The practice is also active in other fields, including telecoms and healthcare. It advises on public procurement, regulatory issues and some construction projects, as well as handling litigation. The practice is headed by Mathieu Gaudemet.

Lacourte Raquin Tatar combines strong urban planning and public law contract expertise. Building on the firm’s strong real estate practice, the public law team advises leading developers on public and mainly private real estate projects, consisting of major office, residential, commercial and industrial buildings, urban rehabilitation and development projects; Vincent Guinot and counsel Anne-Laure Gauthier have excellent expertise in that area. In Benoît Neveu, the firm also has strong capabilities in the field of public procurement contract and infrastructure projects, which notably includes litigation. Xavier de Lesquen also contributes.

LPA-CGR avocats stands out its exceptional administrative and environmental permit expertise. The firm is retained by a wide range of clients undertaking major construction projects, particularly in the real estate and energy sectors, where the firm combines strong know-how. In the energy field, the team advises leading operators on strategic permit issues concerning many of France’s landmark offshore wind projects. It has recently been retained to assist with an ambitious construction project in the field of e-batteries. Fabrice Cassin and François Versini-Campinchi are key names in that area. Hélène Cloëz is another stand out member of the team and is sought out by several large developers for prominent real estate projects. The practice also has strong regulatory expertise and also provides assistance in various other areas, including public procurement matters.

Norton Rose Fulbright’s team is well-placed to handle a wide-range of high-profile work. The team has been retained by the state to assist with high-stakes contract execution and performance issues concerning French motorways, notably linked to Covid-19 disruptions. The practice also has impressive capabilities in the regulatory field, handling strategic work in the healthcare, telecoms and transport sectors. Leading private companies also feature in the client base. Marion Roquette-Pfister heads the team, supported by associate Benjamin Jothy.

OYAT is a public law boutique launched in January 2022 by the highly experienced Laurent de la Brosse, who was previously part of the team at Latournerie Wolfrom Avocats. The firm assists a prominent client base, comprising leading companies (notably in the engineering, construction, telecoms and aviation sectors) as well as multiple public sector entities (regions, departments, cities as well as universities and French state agencies). The team has high-level public law contract and procurement expertise. Since its launch, it has already attracted prominent mandates concerning large projects, including the renovation of a university campus, as well as prominent public procurement work, notably advising several public entities on the regional opening of the rail network. The team also advises on high-profile office tower construction projects and also handled litigation and regulation issues. Romain Canot is another name to note.

BCTG Avocats is particularly well known for its high-level expertise in the field of permit authorisations linked to renewables projects and is playing a role on several landmark domestic onshore and offshore projects, areas where practice head Paul Elfassi and counsel Nelsie Bergès are particularly active. Ludovic Babin and counsel Marie Paquier joined the firm in late 2021 from Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP expanding the firm’s capabilities in the field of public procurement; the duo notably advise public and private entities on major public tender in various fields including transport, culture and energy.

Bersay is the go-to-firm for public procurement and regulatory issues linked to major telecoms, digital and data infrastructure projects.  An expert in the aforementioned areas, Martin Tissier is retained by companies as well as cities and departments operating in France’s mainland and its overseas territories.

Cornet Vincent Ségurel's public law team has strong geographical coverage, operating from the firm's Paris, Nantes and Rennes offices. The firm is a popular choice for cities, departments, regions and their public entities and also advises private sector companies. The team is entrusted to deal with public procurement contracts and infrastructure projects. In recent work, it is advising on a major infrastructure telecoms project concerning Paris’ new metro lines, and is managing various matters dealing with port and stadium infrastructures. The team also regularly assists with the creation of new public entities and also advises on urban planning, real estate and construction matters. Frédéric Marchand, Christian Naux, Christophe Pichon and Pierre-Alexis Ramaut are the practice heads.

FTPA combines strong public procurement contracts, urban law and construction expertise. The firm assists several leading names in the rail, energy and culture sectors including museums. It is notably involved in several disputes concerning major construction projects, particularly in the rail sector. The practice also advises commercial and real estate developers on urban and hospitality projects. Raphaël Crespelle co-heads the practice alongside Bernard Cazin and Julien Marceaux.

Taylor Wessing has strong expertise in the infrastructure field. The team regularly advises on internet broadband and telecoms sector projects; recently it has been advising on a major satellite project in French Guyana. It also involved in several port infrastructure projects concerning various French cities and also in Africa. In other work, the group is advising on several urban heating and waste management concessions, and increasingly advising on projects in the energy sector (renewables and biomass). Practice head Sophie Pignon is the name to note.

Watson Farley & Williams LLP houses strong public procurement law expertise. The firm is notably assisting France’s Defence Ministry on the awarding of a major housing construction project. It also assists consortiums and lenders in relation to construction projects and concession contracts spanning various sectors, including education and waste management. In addition, the team has strong knowledge of the French renewables energy sector. It regularly advises developers on the public law aspects linked to the financing and development of solar, corporate PPA and offshore wind projects, as well as on brownfield transactions. The practice is headed by Laurent Battoue and also includes Arnaud Troizier.

ADVANT Altana

Bignon Lebray

Bird & Bird

Earth Avocats

Franklin

Osborne Clarke

Pamina Avocats

Reinhart Marville Torre

Sekri Valentin Zerrouk

Wilhelm & Associés