The projects team at Clifford Chance, noted for its ‘market knowledge and sector expertise’, has a range of specialists at the helm; notable names include partners Anthony Giustini , Nikolaï Eatwell, co-founder of the Paris renewable energy group Delphine Siino Courtin, co-head of the firm’s power and energy networks sub-group Richard Tomlinson, Milica Zatezalo-Falatar, Daniel Zerbib, David Préat and Gauthier Martin. The practice covers the full scope of projects work across a multitude of industries, predominantly advising domestic and foreign lenders and sponsors on the structuration, implementation and negotiation of complex and high-value projects. The team’s workload is increasing in regard to advising clients on projects which meet ESG principles, as part of the sector's energy transition. Notably, the team is currently advising Biovéa Energie S.A. on the largest biomass power plant in West Africa powered by agricultural waste.

Marie Bouvet-Guiramand , specialist in transport infrastructure and public facility projects, co-leads the sizeable practice at Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I., alongside Thomas Courtel , John D Crothers , Farah El-Bsat, Victor Grandguillaume, Nicolas Jean , Laetitia Lemercier and ‘outstanding business lawyer’ Stéphane Vernay. The team is well-equipped to advise its noteworthy client list, being sponsors and lenders including EDF and Total Renewables, on significant and often cross-jurisdictional PPP and concession matters, as well as the tendering and development process of projects, spanning the full-range of industry sectors. A significant example of the complex and high-value work the team is currently involved in, is its work advising Naval Group on the €50bn, cross-jurisdictional project regarding twelve submarines and their shipyard in Australia.

The projects team at Linklaters has strong experience in advising its clients, being well-known and often internationally renowned sponsors and lenders such as the European Investment Bank, on high-value and complex projects across the full-range of industry sectors. Its infrastructure and energy work is particularly impressive and includes advice to lenders on all aspects of the financing of the first floating offshore wind asset in the world, to be financed on a limited-recourse basis. Its consistently high-value projects are regularly cross-jurisdictional in nature. Bertrand Andriani leads the team, which is formed of specialist partners in the sector, Stephen Le Vesconte, François April, Darko Adamovic and Pierre Guillot. Counsel Samuel Bordeleau has expertise in advising clients on the development, acquisition, construction, financing and refinancing of their projects in energy and infrastructure.

François-Guilhem Vaissier co-leads the practice at White & Case LLP, alongside Jean-Luc Champy and Amaury de Feydeau, noted for his ‘precise knowledge of the law and the market’. The team advises reputable sponsors and arrangers on high-value projects across the spectrum of industry sectors. It is particularly active in renewable energy, notably advising on significant offshore windfarms, which is a growing area of focus for the team. Recent standouts included its assistance to the French government on the South Brittany floating offshore windfarm and its oversight of a major hydrocarbon asset in Algeria. In addition to its impressive domestic and European work, the team is well-experienced in handling cross-border matters, namely being Africa-based projects. Transcontinental work, a further key facet of the practice, often involves complex hydropower projects, solar farms and thermal power plants.

De Pardieu Brocas Maffei‘s projects team is led by expert in the field Jean-Renaud Cazali . It is well-regarded for its experience of and involvement in the arrangement of national and international infrastructure projects, in particular. The team also readily assists its notable clients on the construction and financing of significant energy projects, namely advising BioSynErgy on the financing of a waste-to-energy plant, which will heat Le Havre. Its matters are predominantly regional, though the team has international capabilities also, and its projects consistently involve high-values. July 2021-appointed partner Antoine Payen has a specialism in infrastructure, telecom and energy finance work.

The team at Orrick is described as having ‘extensive expertise in the field’ and regularly acts on high-value deals, both domestically and internationally. Yves Lepage , noted for his ‘rich experience’, leads the team which advises well-known clients such as the French Government, on projects across a range of industry sectors, including renewable work such as offshore wind farms. The predominant focus of the team is the transport sector, on matters ranging from motorways through to maritime and aviation. In addition, the team has extensive experience advising on PPP contracts, for the construction and operation of projects.

Amir Jahanguiri , noted for his ‘long-standing expertise’ in the sector, leads the project finance team at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP. The team ably advises its noteworthy and often international clients, both lenders and sponsors, on high-value projects predominantly in the transport, energy and infrastructure industries. It advises on the drafting of, developments for and financing of such projects and is experienced in doing so in novel and cross-jurisdictional circumstances. It is also equipped to advise on limited recourse matters. Michaël Armandou, former partner in the team, departed to Herbert Smith Freehills LLP in October of 2021. Antoine Bouzanquet was notably appointed partner in January 2022, and is described as ‘an expert in project finance.’

The DLA Piper finance team, led by Eric Villateau and Jérôme Pentecoste, continues to impress in the project finance sector, consistently advising lenders and borrowers on noteworthy PPP model projects across a range of industry sectors. Standout recent work involves an infrastructurally significant telecoms project, wherein the practice is advising on the financing of a high-speed broadband network as part of a major urban, social and economic project of national interest in France, the Grand Paris Express. In addition to its presence in France and Europe, the team’s workload expands to the African continent.

Shearman & Sterling LLP‘s team ably handles matters advising on a broad range of project types of significant value; the Paris team regularly works in collaboration with various international offices within the firm, to advise on complex global projects. It is experienced in acting as grant provider, collaboration partner and general adviser to its key clients, and holds significant expertise in financial restructurings. Infrastructure and energy specialist Lachlan Poustie is at the helm.

Jean-Marc Allix and Marc Fornacciari co-lead the project finance team at Dentons. The team is experienced in advising its clients on significant cross-border projects in relation to climate change, transportation and infrastructure projects and is currently advising on a high-value offshore windfarm project. The practice is notably adept at advising on complex bidding procedures involved in the granting of awards of concession relating to said cases.

The team at Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP is co-led by Bruno Cantier and Olivier Fille-Lambie, the former of whom also co-heads the global Africa practice at the firm. The offering ably handles work assisting its clients on significant projects involving renewable energy, transport and infrastructure; there is a focus on France-based work, with a definite presence in Africa also. Former specialist partner Ludovic Babin departed to BCTG Avocats in January of 2022.

The team at Jones Day is co-led by ‘expert in the team’ Sophie Chevallier and Nicolas Brice, both of whom specialise in asset and project finance in particular. It is well-equipped to advise on a broad range of corporate and financing issues, being that the team leads are ably supported by a multitude of experts in various related sectors, being Frédéric Gros , Rémi Fekete, Philippe Delelis, Audrey Bontemps, Alexandre de Verdun and Qian Hu . The group’s project finance work involves predominantly domestic advisory work, in such key industries as solar, waste management and energy, with its PPP and IPP projects also spanning other jurisdictions, namely in Africa.

The multi-disciplinary practice at Norton Rose Fulbright is co-headed by global head of the firm’s energy practice Anne Lapierre  , project finance specialist Arnaud Bélisaire and Simon Cudennec . The team is heavily focused and has an impressive workload in the energy sector, particularly on the African content, and advises on numerous project and financing matters in this regard.