The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > France > Project finance

Clifford Chance combines leading domestic and international project expertise. The firm advises all types of stakeholders, including French and international banks, international development banking institutions, private operators and sponsors, as well as government entities. In France, the practice advises on the development and financing of the country's largest energy, transport and other public infrastructure projects. Abroad, the team has a very strong presence on landmark renewables and power projects in Africa, but is also involved in several renewables projects in Eastern Europe. The firm also acts on on several port infrastructure and highly strategic pipeline project. The practice unites 28 Paris-based lawyers led by project finance partners Anthony Giustini, Nikolaï Eatwell, Delphine Siino Courtin, Richard Tomlinson and Daniel Zerbib, as well as public law experts David Préat and Gauthier Martin. Also recommended are counsels Milica Zatezalo-Falatar and Peter Cuthbert.

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.’s 29-lawyer team runs a comprehensive practice. The firm is a key player for large PPP and infrastructure projects in France. The international practice is equally strong and advises on major infrastructure projects in Africa. The group stands out for advising leading financial institutions, sponsors and governmental entities on landmark renewables and power projects, but also acts on several projects in Asia, including one of the continent’s ground-breaking nuclear projects in India and strategic oil and gas projects. The practice is co-headed by Stéphane Vernay and Marie Bouvet-Guiramand, both key names for international projects. Other key members for international projects include the highly-experienced John Crother, Nicolas Jean and Victor Grandguillaume who became a partner in February 2020. Thomas Courtel and Laetitia Lemercier are top names for domestic work.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP combines leading public law and finance expertise that earns the firm top instructions on France’s largest infrastructure projects. The practice recently advised on landmark domestic financing and refinancing project work in the transport sector. Other work includes advising on several greenfield and brownfield infrastructure and energy projects abroad, including in Eastern Europe and Africa. The practice also advised CMA CGM on the development of the Puerto Antioquia maritime terminal in Colombia. Amir Jahanguiri is in charge on the financing side, with Michaël Armandou as the other key member. Thierry Laloum chairs the public law practice.

Headed by Jean-Renaud Cazali, the team at De Pardieu Brocas Maffei regularly receives instructions from banks to advise on large and mid-size infrastructure and energy projects in France. The practice shoulders a high volume of work, primarily for banks, but also for energy companies. Recent work includes several significant refinancings, for example assisting EIB with Lisea’s €2bn debt in the context of the new high-speed railway line 'SEA', and advising Puy du Fou on the financing of a new leisure park in Spain. Financing and refinancing deals in the cogeneration and renewals sector is another busy line of work, with recent examples including assisting CIC and Auxifip with the financing of the acquisition of a majority stake in a Dalkia-held cogeneration facilities portfolio by Amundi Transition Energétique, and advising the lenders on the financing of the conversion of a 33.5MW coal-fired power plant into a thermal biomass plant. Senior associate Antoine Payen is also recommended.

Dentons is involved in several of the French state’s largest infrastructure projects. The firm is especially well versed in advising public sector entities on landmark rail and transport projects. In addition, the ten-lawyer practice also advises on smaller projects in France, particulary in the education sector, and is active in one of France’s landmark renewable energy projects. Finally, the team also assists with infrastructure and energy projects abroad, such as assisting Inframed with a solar and wind power plants project in Jordan. Public law expert Marc Fornacciari and project finance specialist Jean-Marc Allix co-head the practice. Of counsel Dorothée Griveaux, a public law expert, is also noted. Nicholas George joined the team in June 2020 from Orrick Rambaud Martel while Leïla Hubeaut joined August Debouzy in January 2021.

Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP is a strong name for large transport infrastructure projects, spanning road, rail and airport sector work. The ten-lawyer team also advises on several large-scale renewables projects. Domestic projects account for the bulk of the caseload, but the team also fields a busy practice in Africa, especially in francophone countries, for example in Mali and Senegal. Public law experts Bruno Cantier and Ludovic Babin co-head the practice together with finance specialist Olivier Fille-Lambie.

Norton Rose Fulbright is recommended for its leading work in strategic energy projects in France and especially in Africa, including in Cameroon, Mali, Benin, Senegal and Morocco. The 18-lawyer team has attracted a large client base made up of leading energy producers and infrastructure providers, banks, sponsors, investment funds and governments, whom the group assists with landmark solar, offshore wind, cogeneration, hydropower and oil and gas projects. The team also has experience in advising on large-scale projects in Asia. Increasingly, the practice acts on innovative electricity projects, including interconnection projects and M&A transactions. Global practice head Anne Lapierre is a leading figure in the energy sector. Her team includes very experienced M&A and projects practitioner Christophe Asselineau, Arnaud Bélisaire, Alain Malek and Simon Cudennec, who made partner in 2019.

Orrick Rambaud Martel stands out for its large sector spectrum and geographical reach. The practice fields a very impressive caseload of top-level project work, both in France and in Africa. In France, the practice plays a key part in most of the country’s few high-profile infrastructure projects, including railway, motorway, high-speed internet and airport infrastructure projects. Abroad, the firm recently advised on several airport and road projects, including the new JSC Nikola Tesla Airport project in Serbia. In Africa, the team is highly involved in road and energy projects, for example as advisor on one of the first road concessions in the Republic of Congo and on the Nachtigal 420MW hydropower plant project in Cameroon. Yves Lepage chairs the practice which includes leading public law expert Noël Chahid-Nouraï, a senior counsel, as well as key members Geoffroy Berthon, who was made partner in 2020, and of counsel Foucaud Jaulin. Pascal Agboyibor and Simon Ratledge left the firm to set up Asafo & Co., while other key member and public law partner Jean-Luc Champy left to join White & Case LLP in February 2020. Nicholas George moved to Dentons in June 2020.

White & Case LLP assists lenders, sponsors and state entities. The ten-lawyer team advises on some major domestic road projects, but is mostly active in African projects, with matters including several large-scale hydropower, cogeneration and renewables projects. Another highlight matters was assisting the Georgian State with a landmark hydropower project. The practice is chaired by project finance expert Paule Biensan, with public law expert François-Guilhem Vaissier as the other key member. Jacques Bouillon left the practice and counsel Marianna Sedefian joined Trinity International LLP in June 2019. In February 2020, the firm hired highly recognised public law partner Jean-Luc Champy from Orrick Rambaud Martel, which is a very promising addition.

Asafo & Co.

CMS

DLA Piper

Jones Day

Simmons & Simmons

Taylor Wessing