De Pardieu Brocas Maffei > Paris, France > Firm Profile

De Pardieu Brocas Maffei > The Legal 500 Rankings

France > EU, competition and distribution Tier 1

De Pardieu Brocas Maffei maintains a strong profile in significant antitrust cases, frequently representing clients in cartel and abuse of dominance investigations by the FCA and European Commission, and in litigation before the French and European courts (with notable strength in cases involving both criminal and competition law). The team’s expertise in contentious matters also extends to private antitrust enforcement cases, and it is also frequently active in complex merger control, state aid matters and distribution litigation (where Barbara Levy is a go-to practitioner). Philippe Guibert, who is particularly well known for his robust antitrust litigation practice, leads a strong team which also includes Alexandre Eberhardt (who has excellent recent experience in follow-on damages litigation), Laëtitia Gavoty Tolot, Sofia El Hariri and Chimène Faurant.

France > Industry focus: Energy Tier 1

Active in energy projects including solar farms, geothermal heat and the transport and distribution of electricity, De Pardieu Brocas Maffei assists with, among other matters, M&A work, project finance, public law projects and litigation. Jean-Renaud Cazali spearheads the firm’s renewable energy financing practice, which is an important part of its offering in this sector. Thomas Bréart de Boisanger co-heads the practice and excels in transactional work related to renewable energy and infrastructure. Christine Le Bihan-Graf completes the leadership team and is a key contact connected to public authorities. Antoine Payen is geared to assist with energy project financing, while Laure Rosenblieh further extends the team’s public law expertise.

France > Insolvency Tier 1

The restructuring and insolvency team at De Pardieu Brocas Maffei provides a comprehensive range of services to distressed companies and their shareholders. Strengthened through collaboration with other departments, the team offers multidisciplinary skill, leveraging the expertise of restructuring and insolvency specialists in conjunction with partners from corporate M&A, finance, employment law, and competition practices. Heading the team are Philippe Dubois and Joanna Gumpelson, both of whom possess extensive experience in representing a diverse client base, including French and foreign investment funds, banks, lease-finance institutions, and debtors. Other key individuals include Ségolène Coiffet, and Clément Maillot-Bouvier, both experienced in advising distressed companies, creditors, and investors in debt restructurings and insolvency proceedings.

France > Real estate Tier 1

Lauded for its ‘skilled’ practitioners and ‘business-focused approach’, the team at De Pardieu Brocas Maffei is a strong choice for a wide range of real estate matters. Key strengths include real estate sales and purchases, financings and the setting up of property funds, as well as development and management mandates. The practice is co-led by Emmanuel Fatôme, who routinely assists real estate companies, investment funds, insurance companies and credit institutions with their real estate needs; and Paul Talbourdet, who handles real estate investment and financing mandates. Pierre Gebarowski, Yannick Le Gall and Katia Belhiteche are additional names to note. Adam Haddad was promoted to partner in September 2023.

France > Banking and finance: transactional work Tier 2

De Pardieu Brocas Maffei fields a sizeable team that brings together almost 40 lawyers and has a strong focus on advising banks, while also handling some work for borrowers. The team regularly assists pools of banks on the granting of syndicated loans and RCF credits to corporates (including during major debt restructuring procedures), and on the financing of LBO and public tender offers. The team is also prominent in the market for large real estate financing. The practice is headed by Christophe Gaillard and also includes Corentin Coatalem; both are experts in corporate and acquisition finance. Yannick Le Gall and Emmanuel Fatôme are two strong references in real estate finance.

France > Dispute resolution: Stock market litigation Tier 2

At De Pardieu Brocas Maffei, corporate partner Patrick Jaïs is retained by financial companies and their members to assist with shareholders’ conflicts and governance disputes pertaining to publicly listed companies as well as during AMF investigations concerning insider trading and other securities law breaches. He is supported by of counsel Alice Gaillard.

France > Project finance Tier 2

The group at De Pardieu Brocas Maffei is active on PPP transactions and renewable energy project financings, routinely assisting private sector clients, including credit institutions, and investment fund sponsors. The team handles a broad range of mandates involving the management of tender procedures, preparation of bids, and the drafting of contracts and financing documents. Jean-Renaud Cazali heads the practice, and is noted for his deep expertise in financing matters, while Antoine Payen is known for his deep expertise in the telecoms, infrastructure, and energy segments.

France > Tax Tier 2

Utilising its full-service structure, the tax practice at De Pardieu Brocas Maffei works closely with the firm’s corporate M&A, financing, real estate and restructuring specialists to provide clients with comprehensive tax advice. On the real estate front, the team is well versed in advising on tax applied to real estate investments and financing transactions. Its corporate and private equity tax offering encompasses transactional, financing and restructuring operations, due diligence and tax modelling. Emmanuel Chauve  leads the team and specialises in real estate tax, SIICs and real estate investment funds. Other key members of the team include Alexandre Blestel, Priscilla van den Perre and Anne-Laure Drouet.

France > Administrative and public law Tier 3

De Pardieu Brocas Maffei is a strong choice for complex energy regulatory matters through practice head Christine Le Bihan-Graf, who has a strong reputation for energy regulatory issues and is frequently entrusted by leading operators for strategic advice, notably in relation to energy taxonomy, hydrogen, renewables and state aid issues. She is also regularly entrusted to initiate administrative recourses challenging new governmental regulations and to assist with state aid issues and innovative projects. In addition, the firm also advises on public law and regulatory issues in other fields, including in the transport area. Counsel Laure Rosenblieh also contributes.

France > Derivatives and structured finance Tier 3

France > Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation Tier 3

De Pardieu Brocas Maffei is able to take on a large array of disputes, regularly combining its litigation expertise with the firm’s corporate, antitrust, banking and insolvency strengths. The team notably handles a steady stream of commercial disputes on behalf of major French corporations, dealing with contract and distribution issues. It is also involved in high-stakes civil liability cases including in the insolvency and antitrust follow-on fields, while the firm’s top real estate practice also generates contentious work managed on behalf of leading asset managers and investors. The practice is co-headed by Barbara Levy, Alexandre Vermynck and real estate expert Paul Talbourdet. Insolvency specialist Philippe Duboisis another regular contributor.  

France > Employment Tier 3

The team at De Pardieu Brocas Maffei is particularly noted for its capabilities advising on the employment aspects of restructuring and insolvency, but also handles a wide range of matters for domestic and international clients. Practice head Philippe Rozec is an expert in litigation and social security and has cross-sector experience. He is supported by Elise Bénéat, Isabelle Dauzet and Sandrine Azou.

France > Intellectual property: Trade marks and designs Tier 3

De Pardieu Brocas Maffei has cultivated robust expertise in intellectual property across diverse sectors, spanning luxury goods, automotive, energy, telecommunications, banking, and real estate. Under the leadership of Barbara Levy, the practice serves clients in the French market and international groups, excelling in handling all aspects of trade mark matters, from contract negotiations to courtroom litigation. The firm frequently takes charge of the IP facets in significant M&A transactions, offering crucial support to both private companies and governments through IP due diligence and the establishment of global licensing agreements.

France > Mergers and acquisitions Tier 3

De Pardieu Brocas Maffei has a large and experienced team that is particularly sought after for deals in the insurance and financial services sectors. Real estate and infrastructure M&A deals and strategic partnerships are two other areas of expertise and the corporate team can leverage the support of other internal teams for these matters. The team recently advised on a headline deal in the nuclear sector. Guillaume Touttée, Nicolas Favre and Cédric Chanasare the practice heads. Magali Massonand Grégoire Balland are other key names.

France > Private equity: LBO Tier 3

France > Capital markets: equity capital markets