Firm Profile > Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. > Paris, France

Banking and finance: Bank regulatory Tier 1

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. offers strong contentious and non-contentious expertise, with corporate support work making up a third key pillar of the practice. The group also boasts an innovation and fintech desk to assists start-ups and established players alike with the regulatory issues at the intersection of technology and financial services. Jean-Guillaume de Tocqueville, who co-directs the practice with managing partner Stéphane Puel, advised Kepler Chevreux on regulatory issues relating to the acquisition of 28% of its share capital by Atlas Merchant Capital Fund and Edmond de Rothschild. Olivier Bernardi assisted Eurazeo with the regulatory aspects of its acquisition of Idinvest Partners. Guillaume Goffin, who has a particular focus on investment funds, was recently promoted to the partnership.

Banking and finance: transactional work Tier 1

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. is particularly active in leveraged finance, real estate finance and acquisition finance, but offers a wide-ranging portfolio of expertise that also covers capital markets and structured finance. The firm is also turning its attentions to newly emerging areas of finance with its innovation and fintech desk. A team led by Kamel Ben Salah recently advised BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, ING Bank and Natixis as arrangers on Amundi Immobilier's acquisition of the Coeur Défense office complex, while other major highlights include advising Europcar on the financing of its acquisition of Goldcar, led by Eric Cartier-Millon, and acting for BNP Paribas, CACIB, Natixis, PBB and La Banque Postale on a €480m development financing, led by Rémi Tabbagh. The team also advised ING Bank on the first green corporate loan made available to real estate investment trust Gecina. Laetitia Lemercier is also recommended, while Olivier Bernardi joined the partnership at the start of 2018. Bank of Ireland recently joined Société Générale, Lombard Odier Europe and Morgan Stanley on the firm's client roster.

Capital markets: debt capital markets Tier 1

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.'s team 'has significant expertise in a wide range of debt capital market instruments'. 'The particularly reliable' practice 'provides high-quality advice' and 'is very close to its clients'. Able to assist with the entire gamut of debt capital market transactions, it regularly acts on the most high-profile mandates, including high-yield offerings. Recent stand-out instructions range from advising Europcar on a concurrent dual offering of high-yield bonds under Rule 144A, including an issuance of senior notes and senior secured notes with an aggregate value of €950m, to assisting Crédit Logement with the restructuring of its market debt through a liability management transaction and issuance of new hybrid notes. The 'really client-oriented' Arnaud Duhamel heads the practice alongside the 'pragmatic and open-minded' Hubert Merveilleux du Vignaux and Melinda Stege-Arsouze. Counsel Laurent Vincent 'is always able to provide technical as well as business-oriented advice on both debt and derivatives matters'. Société Générale, Gecina and Banque Palatine are also clients.

Derivatives and structured finance Tier 1

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. provides 'a great platform to handle complex cross-border transactions for French clients' and 'delivers a great service'. The 'responsive', 'dedicated' team is noted for its 'very constructive ideas'. Equity derivatives are the group's mainstay, but it also demonstrates strength in advising on securitisation matters and covered bonds. In addition to assisting Arélia with the derivatives aspects of the new Paris courthouse refinancing, including developing a hedging structure, it also assisted Europcar with the extension of its car fleet securitisation programme, increasing the programme's aggregate amount from €1.3bn to €1.7bn. Arnaud Duhamel, who gives 'valuable input when implementing innovative solutions', and Xavier Chassin de Kergommeaux head the practice. Counsel Laurent Vincent 'always goes the extra mile'. Idinvest Partners, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank and Bouygues Bâtiment International also count among the team's clients.

Employment Tier 1

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. has a large and very experienced team of more than 20 lawyers, who are regularly instructed on challenging work. The team's current workload includes acting for clients in mass disputes involving several hundreds of employment terminations, sometimes in the context of insolvency proceedings. The practice is notably representing European ferry company DFDS Seaways in litigation arising from the employment termination of some 600 employees, as well as Recylex in disputes connected with the employment termination of 800 employees. It also advised on major restructuring projects. The firm is entrusted by high-profile French and international companies including stellar names in the energy and luxury goods sectors. Akers and Stora Senso are also clients. Baudouin de Moucheron, Foulques de Rostolan, David Jonin and François Vergne are highly regarded.

Environment Tier 1

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. provides ‘high quality services’, ‘takes time to understand business constraints and really acts as a business partner to reach its clients' goals’. The team has a full range of industrial and mining environmental expertise and also stands out for its niche in high-level nuclear law knowledge. The practice is appointed by leading names in the oil, nuclear and other industrial fields to handle high-profile strategic projects, disputes and crisis management situations. It is providing continuous assistance to Andra with its Cigeo project, which involves building the only French underground nuclear waste site storage. The practice is also advising Euro Disney with the expansion of a leisure park. In addition, the team is frequently consulted to provide guidance on key matters. It notably advised UUFIP - the trade union representing the oil industry players in France -  on the French Environment Ministry’s decision to cancel energy savings certificates. Total, PSG football club, Vinci Airport and EDF are other clients. Practice head Jean-Nicolas Clément is among the most respected experts in the field.

EU, competition and distribution Tier 1

The competition and European law team at Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. consists of experts such as Antoine Choffel, Emmanuel Reille and Dimitri Dimitrov, and is currently advising Les Mousquetaires on the merger clearance aspects of its acquisition of do-it-yourself retailer Bricorama. In other highlights, Choffel is representing Drouot before the FCA in abuse of dominant position and cartel proceedings following a complaint filed by the Figaro company in 2012, and L'Oréal appointed the group to assist with a damage claim filed by Carrefour following the FCA's decision to fine the client on the grounds of its role in the hygiene and personal care sector. On the distribution front, Franck Audran - who was recently promoted to partner - is handling Caudalie's claim against Enova pertaining to the right of a selective brand to prohibit the resale of its products through third-party platforms. Counsel Laura Castex is also a name to note and is currently supporting Choffel in his work for Iveco. Other key clients include Petit Bateau, SNCF and Clarins.

Banking and finance Tier 1

IT, telecoms and the internet Tier 1

Industry focus: energy Tier 1

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. advises on several of Africa's largest traditional power, LNG and oil, hydropower and renewables projects, representing sponsors, investors and state entities. The practice is notably assisting EGL and the contracting states with the development of the Ruzizi III 147MWh hydropower plant in the Grands Lacs region. Other highlights include advising EDF on the development of six EPR nuclear reactors in India. The firm houses leading regulatory expertise in Michel Guénaire, who acts for several of France's main energy operators, frequently handling strategic regulatory disputes. He is notably representing electricity grid operator Enedis in facing claims concerning feed-in tariffs from around 130 solar power producers. Stéphane Vernay, John Crothers, Marie Bouvet-Guiramand and counsels Victor Grandguillaume and Nicolas Jean are highly regarded. Petroci, Engie and the state of Mauritania are other clients.

Industry focus: Luxury goods Tier 1

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.'s luxury team fields distribution expert Joëlle Salzmann, who advises on selective distribution and e-commerce matters, and Antoine Choffel, who acts for clients on competition and antitrust issues, as well as employment, intellectual property and corporate partners. As part of its work involving the protection of international intangible asset portfolios and employment disputes, the team advises on the seizure of counterfeit goods and the distribution of products infringing major trademarks. Key clients include Louis Vuitton, Moët Hennessy and Dior.

Insurance Tier 1

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. assists with contentious and non-contentious matters, especially in the finance and insurance and reinsurance sectors. Richard Ghueldre heads the practice, with Capucine Bernier as the other main practitioner. In recent work, the duo defended CNP Assurances subsidiary Filassistance International in several headline-grabbing civil litigation and criminal proceedings regarding Humania Consultants, its partners and clients. In a stand-out matter, Eurazeo instructed the practice to assist with the insurance aspects of its acquisition of Albingia; the team jointly worked with corporate expert Olivier Diaz. It also defended Axa in France's first finance and reinsurance class action, which further underlines the practice's excellent reputation. Clients also include AIG, Allianz and EDF. Of counsel Jonathan Rubinstein joined from DLA Piper.

Intellectual property: copyright Tier 1

Recently strengthened by the promotion to partner of Jean-Hyacinthe de Mitry, the intellectual property team at Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. represents an enviable client base in the luxury, media, fashion and technology sectors. Emmanuel Larere is currently assisting John Galliano - a subsidiary of Christian Dior - with a dispute brought by its founder, who demanded the forfeiture of all John Galliano marks and the prohibition of the use of his name for corporate purposes. Grégoire Triet is representing Fondazione Prada as the owner of a Jeff Koons sculpture at the centre of a copyright infringement action pertaining to the sculpture's alleged reproduction of a previous advertisement campaign owned by the plaintiff, Naf Naf. Other key names include Raphaëlle Dequiré-Portier and Arnaud Michel, who advise high-profile clients.

Intellectual property: Patents Tier 1

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.'s patents offering sits within the wider IP/TMT department and consists of five partners who hold substantial expertise in the pharmaceuticals, medical devices and telecoms sectors. Raphaëlle Dequiré-Portier is currently defending Guerbet in a patent invalidity claim brought by Bayer, and Emmanuel Larere teamed up with her to advise Ono Pharmaceutical on its overall patent strategy in France, which currently includes two appeals regarding the French patent office's refusal of two SPCs for major immunotherapy treatments. The team also handled high-stakes litigation on behalf of clients such as Shionogi, Nokia and Maury Imprimeur. Also notable are Grégoire Triet, Jean-Hyacinthe de Mitry and Arnaud Michel.

Intellectual property: Trade marks and designs Tier 1

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.'s intellectual property team is currently assisting a subsidiary of Dior in litigation against its founder, John Galliano, pertaining to his demand to forfeit all trade marks and uses of his name for corporate purposes. The recently promoted Jean-Hyacinthe de Mitry is currently representing Klesia in a trade mark infringement case brought by Ecclesia Versicherungsdienste in France and before the European courts. Also notable are Raphaëlle Dequiré-Portier, who advised a major fashion brand on all intellectual property issues arising from the bankruptcy of a licensee; Arnaud Michel, who continues to protect the brand of a well-known TV show; and Emmanuel Larere, who acts for clients such as Adidas and Guerlain.

Private equity: Fund formation Tier 1

The 'extremely reactive' team at Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. provides 'pragmatic advice' and, 'due to its expertise, network and capacities', provides a 'one-stop shop' approach, which is 'a strong asset'. The group also impresses with its 'technical expertise and creativity' and fields a varied funds practice, ranging from private equity and venture funds to real estate funds, infrastructure funds, debt funds and UCITS funds. Managing partner Stéphane Puel, who 'provides tailor-made and business-oriented advice', and the 'very responsive' Ann Baker, known for her 'great knowledge of international standards', lead the team. 'Extremely reliable' counsel Rima Maîtrehenry 'has outstanding knowledge of funds practices, including on non-legal matters such as financing, accounting and regulatory'. In addition to advising Sigefi Private Equity on the structuring of a French cross-border fund created with the purpose of making investments in France and Canada, the group also assisted Idinvest Partners with the structuring of its third private equity fund investing in mid-sized companies in the technology sector. Isatis Capital, Five Arrows Managers and Partech Partners are also clients.

Private equity: venture/growth capital Tier 1

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. has particular strength in the technology sector. The group acts for start-ups, new economy players and investors alike, with a particularly notable track record advising on private investment in public equity (PIPE). Pierre Karpik and David-James Sebag head the practice. Recent highlights include advising Idinvest as investors of Secret Escapes, a members-only travel club, on its $111m investment, to assisting Partech Ventures with its €60m investment in ManoMano, an e-retailer specialising in DIY, home improvement and gardening products. A key highlight related to the financial services sector was acting for online crowd-lending platform Younited on the full range of issues pertaining to its development, including financial services regulatory questions. Electranova Capital, Eurazeo and Meero are among its other clients.

Project finance Tier 1

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.'s wide-ranging expertise and international reach makes the team a popular choice for large-scale projects, especially in France and Africa. The group has considerable French PPP expertise and is notably assisting the Ministry of Transport with the landmark Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport express rail project. Thomas Courtel is highly regarded for domestic work. The team is also advising on key infrastructure projects in Africa and other parts of the world. It is assisting EBRD and IFC as advisers to the government of Kazakhstan with the country's very first PPP pertaining to the building of a road project. The group also has a leading presence in large-scale international energy projects and in recent highlights, it is advising EGL and the contracting states on the development of Ruzizi III 147MWh hydropower plant in the Grands Lacs region in Africa, as well as EDF on the development of six EPR nuclear reactors in India. Stéphane Vernay, John D Crothers, Marie Bouvet-Guiramand and counsels Victor Grandguillaume and Nicolas Jean are other key names. Nicolas Jean was recently promoted to partner.

Real estate Tier 1

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. is praised for its ‘capability to go beyond typical real estate issues and advise on broader strategic and partnership matters’. The ‘responsive and efficient’ 50-lawyer team, which also has ‘an excellent proactive and solution-driven approach’, handles an impressive amount of high-profile investment and property finance deals each year, spanning the office, retail and logistics sectors thanks to its combination of top investment, finance and tax expertise. The group is retained by an outstanding domestic and international client base made up of top property investors and developers. Highlights included assisting Accor with the spin-off of Accor Invest; advising a sovereign wealth fund on the sale of 6-8 Boulevard Haussmann building; and acting for EDF on the sale-and-leaseback of a 250 asset and office portfolio. The team also advised landlords and tenants on lease negotiations of commercial and office spaces. The practice is headed by Frédéric Nouel. Other key names include Renaud Baguenault de Puchesse, Eric Martin-Impératori, Stanislas Dwernicki, Bertrand Oldra, Christopher Szostak, the ‘excellent and very business-oriented’ Hugues Moreau, who is ‘highly appreciated for his ability to advise clients on major strategic issues’, and Nicolas Planchot, whose ‘leadership is central to successfully closing deals’. Property finance is another area of strength with Kamel Ben Salah and Rémi Tabbagh frequently advising on the market's largest deals. The practice notably advised  BNPP, Cacib, ING and Natixis on the financing of Coeur Defense building's €900m acquisition by Amundi, Credit Agricole Assurances and Primonial, as well as BNPP, Cacib, Natixis, La Banque Postale and PBB on the €480m financing for the development of the Duo office building owned by Ivanhoé Cambridge and Natixis Assurances.

Administrative and public law Tier 2

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. delivers ‘strong customer services’. The ‘always readily available’ 20-lawyer team has ‘expert knowledge’ in its field, and ‘the more you work with them, the more you feel you should always follow their advice’. The practice offers a wide array of expertise spanning public law contracts and projects, regulatory and privatisation issues, urban law and litigation. It is regularly retained by the state, as well as by sponsors and private sector companies. The firm is advising on several large-scale infrastructure projects, including assisting the Transport Ministry with the CDG Express airport rail project. It is also advising SNCF Réseau on major railway reform and dealing with contentious work such as representing Nice Eco Stadium in a dispute with the City of Nice. Thomas Courtel is highly recommended, and ‘great professional’ Bénédicte Mazel and Alexandre Gauthier are also key members of the team. Emmanuel Vital-Durand has a strong reputation for urban-planning work. Finally, energy is another area of expertise for the practice; Michel Guénaire regularly advises leading energy and power operators such as Exeltium and Engie on strategic matters.

Capital markets: equity capital markets Tier 2

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. combines life sciences and technology-sector expertise with extensive experience handling IPOs, share capital increases and convertible bonds. It attracts high-profile public and private sector clients, including financial institutions and major corporations. Headed by Arnaud Duhamel and Melinda Stege Arsouze, the group also has capabilities in French and US law. Duhamel advised Morgan Stanley as joint global co-ordinator alongside Goldman Sachs on the global offering of ordinary shares in DBV Technologies, including a public offering of ordinary shares in the form of American Depositary Shares in the US and a private placement of ordinary shares in Europe. A recent highlight in the life sciences sector saw Stege Arsouze act for GenSight Biologics in a €22.5m global Regulation S private placement and in a Rule 144A private placement. Other clients include Inventiva, Société Générale and the Agence des participations de l'État.

Compliance Tier 2

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. ‘knows its field and is never left without an answer’. The ‘excellent’ team offers ‘splendid client support’ and is also ‘much appreciated for its ability to explain concepts to non-lawyers’. The firm is particularly expert in the financial services industry, where it advises leading banks and asset management funds on compliance issues, regulatory investigations and enforcement, and internal investigations. The practice also assists leading companies with anti-corruption and antitrust compliance matters. The team includes Bruno Quentin and Jean-Philippe Pons-Henry, who are praised for their ‘high-level skills’; Jean-Guillaume de Tocqueville, who is noted for his ‘knowledge and mastery of his field’; and antitrust specialist Antoine Choffel .

Dispute resolution: commercial litigation Tier 2

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. has a team of ‘very good professionals who are responsive and know how to adapt to their environment’. The firm is ‘savvy in financial services’ and is managing a significant caseload in that area, acting for banks and asset managers. It is notably representing BPCE, Dexia Crédit Local, SFIL and RBS in more than 100 cases dealing with structured loans offered to French local entities. The practice also handles commercial litigation and is involved in the enforcement of arbitration awards and cross-border disputes, including a major case in the African oil sector. The team is led by the experienced Bruno Quentin, who is ‘extremely adept at representing clients before the French courts and at dealing with important procedural issues’, Michel Pitron, Jean-Philippe Pons-Henry and Patrick Ouart.

Dispute resolution: Stock market litigation Tier 2

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. has strong expertise in representing banks and asset management funds facing regulatory investigations, particularly by the AMF. The practice also advises financial institutions, as well as individuals such as bankers, board members and traders, on dealing with AMF investigations into allegations of market abuse, insider dealing and dissemination of false information. Jean-Guillaume de Tocqueville, Bruno Quentin, Stéphane Puel and Jean-Philippe Pons-Henry make up a strong team combining specialised knowledge of the financial sector and litigation.

Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences Tier 2

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.'s Dimitri Dimitrov is currently advising Danish medical device company Coloplast on its acquisition and vertical integration of French distributor Lilial, while Grégoire Triet and the recently promoted Jean-Hyacinthe de Mitry are representing Celltrion in a number of patent revocation claims. The multi-disciplinary offering also includes Pierre Karpik, who is assisting Doctolib with a round of equity financing from Eurazeo, and practice head Matthias Grolier, who specialises in corporate matters. On the intellectual property side, Raphaëlle Dequiré-Portier is also a key name to note.

Industry focus: IT, telecoms and the internet Tier 2

The team at Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. advises on telecom matters in France and Africa, and handles significant mandates on behalf of enviable clients in the technology sector. Olivier Cousi continues to assist leading global TMT players with the regulatory issues arising from the implementation and development of their services in France, and Alexis Pailleret is part of the team guiding two major French telecom clients through a host of issues regarding the development of their operations in North Africa. On the technology front, Thierry Dor is currently leading the advice to a UK-based software provider on its agreement with a financial services company for the digitalisation and the integration of the client's white label online banking tools. Also notable is counsel Julien Guinot-Deléry, who focuses on technology and internet issues.

Tax Tier 2

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. has ‘an extremely responsive, innovative and committed’ team, which ‘provides high-level advice on sophisticated litigation and complex transactions’. The 16-lawyer practice can also rely on 'a good international network and is well connected with industry bodies, as well as governmental and regulatory agencies’. The team notably has ‘deep knowledge of the real estate sector’ and regularly advises on high-profile transactions in that area. It recently assisted Amundi Immobilier and Primonial with the set up of a joint venture for the off-plan acquisition of the Tour Hekla project. The team is also very strong in the banking and financial sector and recently assisted CNP Assurances with the issuance of €500m-worth of Tier 1 notes. Olivier Dauchez ‘demonstrates impressive capabilities to anticipate tax and litigation developments relying upon his broad experience’ and ‘provides strategic assistance with complex situations’. The ‘excellent’ Laurent Modave is ‘solution oriented’ and ‘highly recommended for his real estate fund expertise’. Bertrand Jouanneau is also noted. The arrival of Magali Buchert as partner, previously counsel at Bredin Prat, further strengthens the firm's M&A-related tax capabilities.

Dispute resolution: International arbitration Tier 3

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. has ‘the capacity to mobilise great resources’. The ‘available, quick and efficient’ 22-lawyer team, based in Paris and London, recently handled a large amount of Algerian gas and industrial construction work, notably on behalf of Italian and French construction companies. The practice acted for Saipem in an ICC arbitration with two oil and gas companies regarding the construction of an oil and gas treatment facility in Algeria. The team is also handling exequatur cases and is representing the ICC in a landmark dispute regarding the liability of the court. The practice is co-headed by the ‘very experienced’ Christian Camboulive, who applies ‘sharp analytical skills to complex situations’; Carole Malinvaud, who also regularly acts as an arbitrator in ICC and ICSID disputes; Rupert Reece; and Alexandra Munoz, who has ‘great analytical skills and judgement’ and ‘understands the strategic stakes of a case very well’.

Dispute resolution: White-collar crime Tier 3

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. has recently represented banks and individuals facing tax fraud and money-laundering allegations. The firm is also handling several cases involving the public sector and is assisting French clients in criminal investigations into their activities in Africa. The team is defending a top manager of Business France in criminal investigations into favouritism following the organisation of a French tech event in Las Vegas in 2016, as well as a Latvian bank and its CEO in appeal proceedings regarding a tax fraud scheme set up by France Offshore. The practice is co-headed by ‘very fine and experienced criminal lawyer’ Bruno Quentin, Michel Pitron and Jean-Philippe Pons-Henry.

Insolvency Tier 3

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. represents debtors, lenders and other creditors. The firm has experience handling major cases. Caroline Texier notably acted for Cale Street as main creditor of insolvent company Maranatha during the latter's insolvency, and Spartoo on the takeover of André. Structured finance expert Eric Cartier-Millon is another key name; he assisted CDC and Natixis acting as a trustee of the lenders with Areva’s restructuring.

Mergers and acquisitions Tier 3

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. continues to attract both large-cap and mid-cap transactions, making for an impressive list of recent domestic highlights in addition to several cross-border matters. On the domestic side, Didier Martin advised AccorHotels on the creation of a dedicated subsidiary for its €6.6bn HotelInvest operations. Internationally, Christophe Eck assisted Japanese electric motor manufacturer Nidec with the acquisition of Leroy-Somer's industrial alternators and drive systems division. SPIE, Amundi and Michelin are also clients. Other key contacts are Nadège Nguyen, Hugues Scalbert and Anne Tolila. Olivier Diaz and Charles de Reals joined from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.

Media and entertainment: advertising

The 'highly qualified, very capable and skillfully managed' media team at Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. is co-headed by counsel Julien Guinot-Deléry and 'exceptional strategist and very capable negotiator' Olivier Cousi. The team continues to act for a number of well-known France-based television and radio broadcasters on the full gamut of licensing, copyright and regulatory matters. A government entity also appointed the group to contribute to the creation of a new bill against 'fake news' in both traditional and digital media.