Clifford Chance's market-leading practice is at the forefront of high-value, cross-border matters, involving IPOs, SPACs and rights issues, where it is a popular choice for banks and issuers. It has a sizeable leadership team with the practice headed by Alex Bafi, who is an expert in US security transactions; Aline Cardin, who assists French European issuers with public and secondary offerings and corporate governance issues; Jonathan Lewis, who is a key adviser on equity derivatives, equity-linked notes and margin loans; Anne Lemercier, who specialises in compensation and benefits; and Julien Rocherieux, who also contributes experience in international employee share schemes. Olivier Plessis has expertise in SPACs and block trades.

The equity capital markets practice at Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. remains a force in the market. It handles high-value, multi-jurisdictional equity transactions for major domestic and multinational issuers, shareholders and financial institutions and corporates. The team is headed by ECM expert Arnaud Duhamel, who assists with complex IPOs, private placements and public equity offerings, Melinda Stege-Arsouze, an expert in IPOs and share capital increases in the tech and biotech space, and Guilhem Richard, who was promoted to partner in July 2022 and manages cross-overs, PIPE deals and block trades. Supported by senior associate and specialist in US securities law Scott Logan, the group’s client base also spans the aviation, automotive, infrastructure, utilities, healthcare and sports sectors. Sami Toutounji, who headed the team’s employee and management equity plan practice at Shearman & Sterling LLP, joined the firm with Françoise Even in October 2022.

White & Case LLP is well known for its high-end IPO work, ability to link up with its global offices on cross-border deals and its deep bench. It is frequently instructed by major domestic and multinational financial institutions, corporates, insurers and sovereigns. Headed by Séverin Robillard, an expert in matters involving share distribution and preferential subscription rights, the group's active client base spans the transport, automotive, pharmaceutical, real estate and energy sectors. Thomas Le Vert has experience in rights issues, ABB placements and IPOs. Philippe Herbelin, an authority in this area, handles complex transactions in the energy space. Max Turner specialises in placements in the US market. The team was further bolstered by the promotions Olga Fedosova to partner and Tatiana Uskova to counsel in early 2022.

The team at Bredin Prat is 'highly experienced and solutions oriented.' The group has expertise in high-value transactions involving major financial institutions and corporates active in a range of sectors. Led by equity capital markets expert Olivier Saba, the group advises on equity and hybrid securities, IPOs, private placements and spin-offs. Counsel Jean-Damien Boulanger specialises in capital share increases and block trades, among other areas.

Jones Day provides a one-stop-shop for equity capital markets services for a broad client base of issuers and underwriters and is particularly noted for fielding an ‘excellent team for ECM small and mid-cap transactions’. Headed by the highly regarded Florent Bouyer, Linda Hesse, who is an expert in equity securities and accompanying regulatory matters, and Renaud Bonnet, who has forged a reputation as a start-up specialist, the group assists with high-value IPOs, block trades, share capital increase, public and private placements, convertible bonds and SPACs.

Latham & Watkins leverages its strong global platform to represent a variety of high-profile issuers and underwriters. Headed by Thomas Margenet-Baudry, a public equity offer specialist who is dual qualified as a member of both the Bar in New York and in Paris, the group assists clients with major IPOs, share increases and other complex raisings. Roberto Reyes Gaskin brings expertise to block trades, rights issues and regulatory matters.

Headed by experienced partner Véronique Delaittre, the capital markets team at Linklaters has strength advising key market players in such sectors as healthcare and energy on high-value SPACS and IPOs. The team is supported by Bertrand Sénéchal, who also assists with rights issues and private placements, in addition to regulatory matters. Another key figure is senior associate Cheri De Luca, who is US-qualified and advises on equity-linked bond offerings.

The team at McDermott Will & Emery AARPI has established itself as a key destination for investment banks and corporates in the biotech, medical devices, pharmaceuticals and tech sectors for IPOs and various equity offerings. Headed by Bertrand Delafaye, who has experience assisting with global offerings aimed at capital increases, and David Revcolevschi, a specialist in IPOs and a key name for interactions with regulators, the group also has expertise managing the underwriting of new shares with warrants attached.

Headed by capital markets expert Hervé Letréguilly, the team at Shearman & Sterling LLP stands for its ‘knowledge of the regulations and their application in practice’. It is a popular choice for multinational financial institutions and corporates. Supported by counsel Séverine De La Courtie, the group assists with multi-jurisdictional IPOs, secondary raisings, rights offerings, equity-linked securities, hybrid securities and block trades. Sami Toutounji left the firm in October 2022.

Taking a two-pronged approach, the equity capital markets team at Jeantet is led by Cyril Deniaud, who handles the financial transactions side of the practice (IPOs, takeovers, share issues, equity-linked securities) and Frank Martin Laprade, who manages the litigation side (sanctions, shareholder conflicts). The firm's clients range from investment firms to corporates active in aviation, IT, tech and medtech.

The Paris team at Norton Rose Fulbright utilises the wider firm's global network to advise domestic and multinational financial institutions, sovereigns and corporates on a broad range of equity-linked issues. Headed by corporate lawyer Roberto Cristofolini, who divides his time between Paris and Casablanca, and supported by senior associate Aurélie Pelisson, the group assists clients with IPOs, share capital increases and the subscription of various classes of warrants.

Led by experienced ECM/M&A partners Olivier Jouffroy, who has strength in matters relating to infrastructure and real estate, and Alexis Marraud des Grottes, who is a specialist in transactional and litigation advice on securities and stock exchange regulations, the team at Orrick advises venture capital firms, insurers and corporates on high-value share buybacks and IPOs. Etienne Boursican left the firm in 2022.

Winston & Strawn LLP has a notable track record advising issuers, underwriters, institutional investors and shareholders, on matters ranging from IPOs, reserved capital increases and private placements to equity lines and private investments in public equity. The team is led by Jérôme Herbet, a banking regulatory specialist, and Annie Maudouit-Ridde, who has expertise in SPACs.