August Debouzy maintains a robust compliance and investigations practice, acting for domestic and international clients on compliance audits and risk mappings, with demonstrable experience in corporate investigations led by French and foreign regulators. Key sectors of expertise include military and defence, aerospace, banking and finance, tobacco, pharmaceuticals and energy. The ‘top-class’ Bernard Cazeneuve, who handles business ethics issues, corporate governance matters and mandates concerning corporate duty of vigilance, leads the team alongside Astrid Mignon Colombet, who ‘stands out for her dynamism and knowledge of compliance’, and the ‘top-notch’ Olivier Attias. Senior associate Anaïs Coviaux, who ‘possesses an exceptional level of expertise in the nuances of French regulatory compliance, particularly in the realm of anti-corruption and anti-money laundering’, is another key contact in the group.

Clifford Chance assists clients with the development and implementation of compliance programmes relating to anti-bribery, anti-money laundering and anti-competitive behaviours, in addition to conducting due diligence reviews and international investigations. With additional experience defending companies and individuals in regulatory enforcement actions and criminal prosecutions, the team has seen an increase in matters concerning EU, UK and US sanctions. Thomas Baudesson, who handles domestic and cross-border litigation and enforcement cases in the financial services, automotive and aeronautical sectors, jointly leads the team alongside Charles-Henri Boeringer, who assists clients in criminal proceedings, as well as fraud, corruption, money laundering and market abuse offences. Of counsel Dominique Laymand is another key contact in the group.

Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP handles the full range of mandates, from the development and implementation of compliance programmes to representing clients in regulatory investigations, in addition to domestic and cross-border matters concerning economic sanctions, export controls and anti-money laundering. Key clients include large-scale French and European companies spanning the energy, construction, transport, consumer and luxury goods sectors, among others. Managing partner Bryan Sillaman, who frequently advises clients on independent corporate monitorships, jointly leads the team alongside Jan Dunin-Wasowicz, who also co-chairs the firm’s sanctions, export controls and anti-money laundering practice. Michael Huneke is praised for his ‘knowledge of compliance, pragmatism and efficiency in handling cases’, while other key contacts in the group include ‘excellent compliance specialist’ Nicolas Tollet and Anne Gaustad.

Norton Rose Fulbright boasts ‘excellent expertise’ across a range of mandates, from business ethics, fraud prevention and anti-corruption to human rights, sanctions and export controls, compliance integrity programmes, whistleblowing and internal and government-led investigations, among others. Key sectors of expertise include financial services, energy, healthcare, transport and technology. Praised as ‘one of the top compliance lawyers in Europe’, Christian Dargham leads the team and has considerable experience in matters concerning business ethics, in addition to internal investigations. Solène Sfoggia, who advises on anti-corruption, human rights and fraud prevention matters, is another key contact in the group.

Litigation boutique Bougartchev Moyne Associés has demonstrable experience of advising on matters concerning anti-corruption and anti-money laundering, in addition to implementing compliance programmes and assisting in compliance audits undertaken by the AFA. Kiril Bougartchev handles the implementation of anti-corruption programmes in relation to the Sapin II law, while Emmanuel Moyne has experience in internal investigations and conducts compliance due diligence audits during M&A transactions. Bougartchev and Moyne collectively lead the team alongside Geoffroy Goubin and Edward Huylebrouck, both of whom focus on white-collar crime matters.

The ‘dynamic and pragmatic team’ at Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. is noted for its expertise in conducting internal investigations involving issues such as anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, duty of vigilance and breach of international sanctions. The practice is also well placed to assist with the implementation of compliance programmes, in addition to advising on matters concerning cyber security and data protection regulations. The ‘remarkable’ Sophie Scemla, who acts for domestic and international clients in compliance audits led by the AFA, and advises on the setting up of anti-corruption compliance programmes, jointly leads the group alongside Bruno Quentin and Jean-Philippe Pons-Henry.

The compliance team at Jones Day ‘continues to gain momentum on the Paris scene’, assisting with anti-corruption compliance programmes and international sanctions mandates, in addition to handling compliance audits led by the AFA. The practice is also well placed to leverage the firm’s international footprint when acting for domestic and multinational companies across the energy, technology and telecoms sectors. Bénédicte Graulle is praised for her ‘unrivalled commitment to protect and defend her clients’ in internal investigations involving issues such anti-corruption and anti-money laundering. Graulle leads the team alongside Françoise Labrousse, the co-head of the firm’s global government regulation practice, Linda Hesse, Jean-Michel Bobillo and Emmanuelle Rivez-Domont.

White & Case LLP stands out for its experience in representing multinational financial institutions in domestic and cross-border investigations, in addition to assisting listed companies in administrative proceedings instigated by the AFA. Praised as ‘responsive, dynamic and solutions-focused’, the team also advises on matters concerning fraud risk prevention, anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing. Jean-Pierre Picca and Jean-Lou Salha left the practice in January 2024, while Kami Haeri, who has extensive experience in white-collar crime cases, investigations and compliance, joined from Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP in the same month.

With significant experience across the telecoms, transport and energy sectors, the ‘pragmatic, clear and responsive’ team at Adaltys Avocats assists with the implementation of compliance programmes, spanning anti-corruption, ethics, anti-bribery and anti-money laundering, with additional capabilities in conducting internal investigations. Sylvie Le Damany, who regularly conducts governance audits, as well as mapping criminal and ethical risks, jointly leads the team alongside Edouard Lemoalle, who boosts the practice’s expertise in data privacy compliance issues.

Bredin Prat routinely assists clients with setting up procedures concerning the prevention of corruption and breach of the duty of integrity, duty of vigilance and internal anti-money laundering procedures, in addition to conducting internal investigations relating to internal control procedures. Éric Dezeuze, who advises companies on AFA controls, jointly leads the team alongside Guillaume Pellegrin, who acts for multinational corporations in litigation concerning the duty of vigilance.

De Gaulle Fleurance & Associés has been kept busy with anti-corruption mandates, in addition to advising on the surge of international economic sanctions and export control regulations due to the EU, US and UK sanctions adopted in response to the Russo-Ukrainian War. Pierrick Le Goff advises corporations on the deployment and enhancement of compliance programmes, while Matthieu Dary assists clients with matters concerning anti-corruption under the Sapin II law and compliance with export control regulations. Le Goff and Dary lead the team alongside Thierry Titone and François Zocchetto.

Demonstrating strength across the aviation, automotive, life sciences, IT and technology sectors, the ‘structured and united team’ at DLA Piper is noted for its expertise in cross-border investigations, in addition to assisting with the risk prevention and implementation of compliance programmes. Practice leader Fabien Ganivet advises clients on the assessment of compliance programmes, ranging from governance, code of conduct and risk mapping to whistleblowing and internal controls, and also represents companies and their executives in criminal and regulatory investigations. Sara Koski is another key contact in the group.

Noted for its expertise across the healthcare, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, financial services and telecoms sectors, the multidisciplinary team at Latham & Watkins conducts internal investigations involving issues such as anti-corruption and anti-bribery, in addition to implementing compliance programmes. ‘An iron fist in a velvet glove’, Fabrice Fages leads the team and assists domestic and international companies in cross-border internal investigations, with the support of the ‘extremely professional, creative and rigorous’ Elise Auvray.

Mayer Brown ‘provides technical and practical advice’ to financial institutions when called upon to conduct internal investigations, with additional expertise in setting up compliance programmes and advising on sanctions issues. Nathalie Jalabert-Doury, who splits her time between Paris and Brussels, jointly leads the team alongside Joydeep Sengupta, who represents clients in internal investigations related to US and European anti-money laundering, in addition to economic sanctions and anti-corruption mandates.

Praised for its ‘perseverance and excellent knowledge’, UGGC Avocats advises on compliance issues associated with public procurement contracts, in addition to matters concerning anti-corruption and ethical obligations. Thierry Dal Farra, who spearheads the firm’s public business law department, jointly leads the team alongside ‘elder statesman’ Michel Ponsard and Corinne Khayat, who has ‘perfect knowledge’ of data protection issues.