Insurance in France

Launched in 2017, the Dentons insurance group at the Paris office continues to be a market leader, advising top insurers, reinsurers, brokers, financial institutions and clients in the construction, transport and energy sectors involved in a diverse spectrum of complex, multi-jurisdictional claims. The team’s comprehensive service covers the distribution and review of insurance products, regulatory and transactional work, disputes related to industrial risks, claims and civil and administrative courts and non-contentious review of insurance programs. The team is led by experienced litigator Sévérine Hotellier, who specialises in high-stakes disputes, and Frédérique de La Chapelle, newly appointed (March 2021) head of the firm’s European insurance practice, who brings her expertise in advising insurers on internal and international regulatory issues to the table.

With a presence spanning the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, the Paris insurance team at DLA Piper leverages the bench strength of its global network and the experience of its team to advise major risk carriers and French and multinational insurers, insurance distributors, equipment manufacturers, aircraft manufacturers and MROs industrial companies. Headed by international liability claim and aviation industry expert Vonnick Le Guillou, the group’s full service extends to assistance with tort and personal injury claims, product liability, casualty, property, cyber, and trade credit and credit risk. The team also handles civil or criminal pre-litigations, litigations and arbitration cases. The group’s client portfolio includes key market players such as Chubb, Zurich Insurance, and Allianz. Counsel Luc Bigel and senior associate Hamza Hakli support the team in insurance regulatory matters.

The insurance, industrial risks and transport group at the Paris office of Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. continues to be a dominant force in the market, assisting major insurers, operators in banking and finance, service providers, industrial groups and international law firms, on a diverse spectrum of issues. Matters include class actions, the establishment of distribution schemes and insurance programmes, acquisitions, accident management, settlements, regulatory compliance, and life and non-life insurance contracts. The team is led by insurance and reinsurance authority Richard Ghueldre and civil and professional liability expert Capucine Bernier. Supported by counsel Charles-Eric Delamare-Deboutteville, the group is also recognised for it work involving air, maritime and industrial disasters.

Acting for major insurers such as AXA, Zurich and General, as well as underwriters, brokers, policyholders and other intermediaries involved in high-value cross-border claims, the insurance and reinsurance team at the Paris office of global firm HFW continues to lead in the marketplace. Headed by international commercial litigation and arbitration expert Olivier Purcell, the group’s expertise covers product liability, professional indemnity and public liability insurance coverage and claim litigation. The management of third party disputes is another area of strength. Guillaume Brajeux advises on industrial risks while Iris Vögeding specialises in matters involving the transport, renewables, pharmaceuticals and food sectors.

The insurance and reinsurance team at Squire Patton Boggs continues to be a leader in the practice area, utilising its global presence and the experience of its team to advises major international and middle-market European insurance companies on a broad spectrum of matters. These include policy review, regulatory compliance, reinsurance, professional indemnity litigation and coverage litigation. In addition, the team specialises in handling serial losses for pharmaceutical and medical device companies. The group is led by Paris managing partner Carole Sportes, who brings expertise on aviation claims, and international dispute resolution partner Valérie Ravit, whose expertise includes environmental liability matters.

The experienced team independent at Paris law firm ADVANT Altana, which recently advised mutual Aéma Groupe in its €3.2bn acquisition of Aviva France, continues to assist major insurers (AXA, AIG), reinsurers, intermediaries and corporates on matters across the practice area. Employing a multidisciplinary approach, the team is led by corporate and insurance law expert Gilles Gaillard, business litigation and pre-litigation specialist Valérie Lafarge-Sarkozy and Frédéric Manin, who advises on competition and antitrust law. The group’s range extends to insurance products, regulatory compliance, civil liability, damage, M&A, cyber-risk and data protection.

The Paris office of global firm DWF (France) AARPI marshals the bench strength of over 30 locations worldwide to assist major insurance and reinsurance companies (Allianz, Zurich, Tokio) with a diverse array of matters involving such sectors as transport, hospitality, life sciences, retail, advertising, and sports. Headed by veteran litigator Romain Dupeyré, who specialises in coverage disputes and recovery proceedings, the team provides a comprehensive service, covering professional liability, product liability, policy review, indemnity coverage, M&A, data protection and employment claims.

The insurance department of the Paris office of global law firm Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP combines the expertise of its team with the scale of its worldwide network to assist major major insurers, reinsurers (Allianz, Aviva, AXA, Zurich, Chubb) and financial institutions on a wide range of transactional and regulatory insurance matters. These include M&A, disposal of assets, joint ventures, group reorganisations, portfolio and business transfers, insurance products and licensing requirements. The group is led by practice head and corporate insurance expert Sébastien Gros, with Sharon Lewis in charge of the insurance securitisation practice, and counsel Ghina Farah providing key support, among others when advising e-money and payment institutions.

The insurance team at the Paris office of global law firm Kennedys takes a multidisciplinary approach to advising major insurance and reinsurance companies, brokers and policyholders on a broad span of matters. Insurance and reinsurance expert and managing partner Alexis Valençon advises clients on insurance and reinsurance litigation and arbitration, construction, industrial risk, cyber security and date protection and product and professional liability. Aurélia Cadain brings extensive experience in transport law (aviation, marine, rail and road),  and Nicolas Bouckaert specialises in coverage disputes and defence work over such sectors as real estate, aerospace, manufacturing and finance. Valençon, Cadain and Bouckaert co-founded the Paris location.

At the Paris offices of LPA-CGR avocats, a dedicated practice assists major insurers, underwriters and energy, civil engineering, manufacturing, transport and water management companies on a broad spectrum of matters. These include risk management, policy drafting and distribution, claims analysis and management, settlements and insurance litigation. In addition, the team has two specialised strands of expertise: industrial risks, a section headed by Gilles Gassenbach and Alexia Eskinazi which handles liability and technical questions, and financial risks, led by partner Arnaud Molinier, which manages the assets and liabilities of banks and financial institutions.

The dedicated insurance practice at the Paris office of Norton Rose Fulbright crafts tailored solutions to assist major banks, private equity firms and insurers and reinsurers on a diverse range of issues. These include reorganisations and portfolio transfers, joint venture transactions, strategic distribution schemes and outsourcing agreements, and regulatory permissions and compliance reviews.  The team is anchored by financial insurance sector expert Benedicte Denis, who specialises including cross-border M&A transactions, and asset and share acquisitions and disposals. The group is supported by Christian Dargham, who advises on alternative dispute resolution and arbitration.

The insurance team at the Paris offices of multinational law firm Signature Litigation AARPI marshals the expertise of its team to advise insurers, financial institutions, and clients in the hospitality sector. The group is headed by founding partners Emmanuèle Lutfalla, who specialises in insurance and reinsurance litigation and claims management, and Thomas Rouhette, who assists clients in the aviation industry with medical issues and product liability. In addition, the team handles industrial risk investigations and high-value claims concerning accidents involving pollution and nuclear energy.

The insurance group at the Paris office of global law firm Taylor Wessing employs the experience and expertise of its team to advise major insurers and reinsurers and corporates involved in complex, multi-jurisdictional claims across a range of industries, including the tech, energy, transport and construction sectors. The team is headed by Pierre-Olivier Leblanc, who specialises in professional indemnity claims, industrial risks and subrogation claims, and Philippe Glaser, who advises on regulatory and litigation issues in the asset management sector. In Marc Schuler, who assists clients with the drafting of insurance products, the group also has an expert in insurance-related AI and contentious cyber matters.

Alerion

Baro Alto

DS Avocats

Franklin

Herald Avocats

Laude Esquier Champey

Preel Hecquet Payet-Godel PHPG Avocats

Stephenson Harwood