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.’s well-rounded practice has a significant transactional dimension, which sits alongside its strength in general regulatory matters and banking and finance disputes. The team’s client base is equally wide-ranging and includes traditional financial services businesses and investment funds, through to emerging fintech players. Department head Jean-Guillaume de Tocqueville has broad international experience, which marks him as a ‘great interlocutor for both domestic and international transactions’. Additional contacts include funds specialist Stéphane Puel, who brings to bear strong expertise in contentious and non-contentious matters, and up-and-coming partner Guillaume Goffin. Olivier Bernardi and senior counsel Benjamin Delaunay are also singled out by clients.

Banking and finance: transactional work Tier 1

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. has 'a great team that is well known on the Parisian scene for its skill and its availability'. The practice has extensive experience in bank lending, capital markets and structured finance across many asset classes and it acts for borrowers, lenders and sponsors. The firm is particularly strong in domestic transactions, though it also highly capable in cross-border matters, notably in the US, Europe and francophone Africa. Structured finance and project finance partner Eric Cartier-Millon, real estate finance partner Kamel Ben Salah, and up-and-coming partners Laetitia Lemercier and Thomas Binet are highly recommended. Structured finance partner Rémi Tabbagh acts for credit institutions, insurance companies and investment funds.

Capital markets: debt capital markets Tier 1

The team at Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.  ‘knows the ins and outs of the industry’, which is evidenced by its ability to land key roles on many of the most high-profile debt capital markets deals to hit the market. In a headline example, Hubert Merveilleux du Vignaux (‘a key player in the French bond market’) was selected to advise SNCF Réseau on the takeover of €35bn worth of debt by the French government as part of the reform of France’s railway system. The comprehensive practice handles the full spread of matters, from standard capital markets deals through to heavily structured transactions, including hybrid deals, private placements, high-yield offerings and covered bonds. Merveilleux du Vignaux jointly heads the team together with Arnaud Duhamel and Melinda Stege-Arsouze. Highly rated counsel Laurent Vincent is an ‘excellent expert in his area’.

Derivatives and structured finance Tier 1

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.’s structured finance practice forms a key part of one of the largest banking and finance offerings in France. The team is best known for its experience in equity derivatives and risk management transactions, where it routinely represents French and multinational banks, financial sponsors and companies. Among its other strong suits, the firm also houses robust expertise in securitisation and covered bonds. Xavier Chassin de Kergommeaux is an ‘outstanding lawyer’ and is sought after by French building societies and public-sector loan companies for his specialist knowledge in asset-backed finance, securitisations, covered bonds and structured finance. Arnaud Duhamel jointly heads the practice alongside de Kergommeaux and has a focus on equity derivative transactions and equity financings. Laurent Vincent, who made partner in 2020, is held up for his ‘spectacular expertise on all derivative documentations’.

Employment Tier 1

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. houses a large employment team for a full-service business law firm, totalling 25 lawyers. The firm advises a longstanding prominent French and international client base, including leading luxury goods brands and energy and aviation companies. The practice has strong expertise in dealing with large-scale restructurings and mass litigation. The practice represents several insolvent companies in dealing with former employees' mass litigation disputes. In addition, the team is solicited to advise on sensitive criminal employment, harassment, discrimination and other working conditions-related issues, and assists clients during labour control inspections. Additionally, the team provides support to the firm's M&A practice. The team combines the expertise of the highly experienced Aurélien Boulanger, David Jonin, Baudouin de Moucheron, Guillaume Navarro, Foulques de Rostolan and François Vergne.

Environment Tier 1

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.’s five-lawyer team is retained by many of France’s leading industrial companies as well as international groups, including waste management, energy and oil-companies. Instructions often concern crisis management and litigation cases in relation to mining, pollution, remediation and environmental liability issues. The highly recognised Jean-Nicolas Clément also advises on highly sensitive matters in the nuclear sector. Finally, the practice also assists developers and companies on landmark public and private sector urban and property projects. Associate Alice Bouillié provides key support.

Banking and finance

IT, telecoms and the internet

Insolvency

Industry focus: Energy Tier 1

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. has the ability to cover the full range of energy-related matters thanks to the team's high-level project, contract, regulatory, finance and corporate expertise. With Michel Guénaire, who advises leading electricity producers, network providers and suppliers on strategic matters, including their representation in landmark litigation, the team counts one of the market's most experienced regulatory experts among its ranks. The practice recently advised on major domestic renewable energy brownfield transactions while its cross-border work saw the group act for financial institutions, state entities and sponsors on several of Africa’s largest renewable energy, hydropower and coal-fired projects. The team also advised on one of the world’s largest ongoing nuclear projects in India and took on major oil and gas instructions. Guénaire, Stéphane Vernay, John Crothers, Marie Bouvet-Guiramand, Nicolas Jean and Alexis Pailleret co-head the practice. Victor Grandguillaume made partner in February 2020.

Industry focus: Luxury goods Tier 1

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. has strong IP and trade mark expertise through Emmanuel Larere, who assists prominent French luxury fashion and perfume brands with their trade mark strategies and the management of infringement disputes. The firm also offers very strong distribution law expertise through Antoine Choffel and Franck Audran, both of whom assist prominent luxury fashion, perfume and cosmetic brands with the setting up and protection of selective distribution networks in France and in Europe.

Industry focus: Telecoms Tier 1

At Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I., Olivier Cousi, who became the new chairman of the Paris bar in January 2020, chairs the firm's telecoms practice. Cousi's extensive experience is notably sought after by blue-chip French, US and Chinese telecoms operators in relation to France's, Europe's and Africa's legal telecoms framework. With the support from associate Dane Rimsevica, Cousi's team has a strong involvement in Africa where it regularly assists telecoms operators, state entities and international organisations with strategic legal studies on the development of the telecoms regulatory and infrastructure market in various African countries.

Insurance Tier 1

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. houses a multi-disciplinary insurance, industry risk and transport group, which acts on a mix of regulatory and contentious issues. The practice draws on standalone offerings in insurance and reinsurance, insurance litigation, industrial risk and transport, and counts domestic and global insurers, reinsurers, brokers, equipment providers and transport operators among its key clients. Particularly prominent in litigation, the group routinely advises on an array of civil, commercial and criminal cases. Richard Ghueldre jointly leads the department and is recognised for his broad practice spanning contract law, regulatory issues and insurance disputes. Group co-head Capucine Bernier handles a wide range of insurance litigation but is mainly active in disputes concerning non-life insurance areas, including damages, civil and professional liability and unusual and industrial risks.

Intellectual property: Copyright Tier 1

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. assists notable clients from a wide spectrum of industries, with a particular focus on the fashion, technology and automotive sectors, among them household names including Renault. Arnaud Michel, Grégoire Triet and Emmanuel Larere are particularly strong in litigious matters, and are frequently instructed to represent clients in copyright infringement cases. Raphaëlle Dequiré-Portier frequently advises clients on the intellectual property implications of transactions. Other key names to note are Jean-Hyacinthe de Mitry, Olivier Cousi and counsel Julien Guinot-Deléry.

Intellectual property: Patents Tier 1

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. fields 'a responsive, thorough, creative, to-the-point and highly effective' team. The firm has strengthened its range by taking on noteworthy new clients from the technology sector, including Apple and Verasonics. Litigation is an important focus; Emmanuel Larere and Raphaëlle Dequiré-Portier are acting for Bristol-Myers Squibb and its licensor, Japanese laboratory Ono Pharmaceutical, which specialises in cancer treatment, with two appeals before the Paris court regarding the refusal, by the French patent office, of two SPCs related to two major immunotherapy treatments. Other key names to note are Jean-Hyacinthe de Mitry, Grégoire Triet and Arnaud Michel.

Intellectual property: Trade marks and designs Tier 1

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.'s large intellectual property team has a strong focus on contentious matters.  Raphaëlle Dequiré-Portier is representing Abercrombie & Fitch in litigation in which the opposite party has challenged the validity of numerous of its trade marks for non-use. Jean-Hyacinthe de Mitry is 'a remarkable lawyer in the field of intellectual property'. Grégoire Triet is defending Valentino Couture in trade mark and copyright infringement litigation. On the non-contentious side, Emmanuel Larere is assisting Celine with the implementation of its worldwide intellectual property strategy following the arrival of Hedi Slimane as its new artistic director. Arnaud Michel is another key name to note.

Private equity: venture/growth capital Tier 1

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. remains among the most active venture and growth capital practices in France. The group stands out through the combination of its well-rounded financing offering, including profit-sharing and incentive plans, and its experience in securities law and private investment in public equity. The team specialises in investments and fundraisings in the technology sector, but also demonstrates strength in other sectors, including the retail and hotel and leisure sector. Pierre Karpik and David-James Sebag, who splits his time between the New York and Paris offices, are the heads of the team.

Project finance Tier 1

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.

Real estate Tier 1

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. 's stellar 40-lawyer team allows the firm to handle a high volume of transactions for a wide base of clients, including many leading French and international investors, developers and banks. The practice was recently involved in several landmark transactions, notably advising on high-end retail and residential portfolio deals. The practice also helped with the negotiation of strategic partnerships and advised on many major office and retail property asset transactions, as well as on new significant urban development projects and major lease negotiations. The property finance expertise also ranks among the finest in France and is entrusted by banks and investors to advise on the structuring of their largest transactions. Finally, the firm also undertakes complex corporate and fund formation work. Frédéric Nouel heads a practice which combines many experienced partners including: Stanislas Dwernicki, Eric Martin-Impératori, Renaud Baguenault de Puchesse, Bertrand Oldra, Christopher Szostak, Hugues Moreau, Jean-François Levraud and Nicolas Planchot . Kamel Ben Salah, Rémi Tabbagh and Laetitia Lemercier all provide high-end real estate property expertise. Counsel Constantin Miliotis is also recommended.

Administrative and public law Tier 2

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. combines high-level expertise in several areas. Through Michel Guénaire, the practice has leading regulatory expertise, especially in the energy sector where its know-how is second to none. The public sector contract and project expertise is also very strong. In that field, the firm regularly earns top-level instructions from French governmental entities and sponsors alike thanks to Thomas Courtel and Bénédicte Mazel. Finally, the urban planning and public domain expertise is sought-after by leading property developers and companies to obtain and defend permit authorisations concerning landmark public and private-sector projects, such as train station renovation, commercial centres and office tower projects. Emmanuel Vital-Durand and Alexandre Gauthier are also highly recommended.

Capital markets: equity capital markets Tier 2

The ‘very dynamic’ team at Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. won a string of high-profile underwriter-side roles over the past year, for which it acted for major French and global financial institutions. The group also advises issuers on equity capital markets transactions, particularly corporates operating in the life sciences and technology sectors. Its extensive product expertise spans IPOs, convertible bonds, share capital increases, equity-linked transactions and private placements — it also has strong experience in US-related offerings. Arnaud Duhamel handles the full gamut of equity-related matters and sources highlight his ‘out-of-the-box thinking’. Melinda Stege-Arsouze, who is US- and French-qualified, jointly heads the department alongside Duhamel and is noted for her international focus. Impressive counsel Guilhem Richard is also recommended.

Compliance Tier 2

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. advises leading companies as well as leading banks and financial institutions on the setting up of anti-corruption, anti-bribery and anti-money laundering compliance programmes. The firm is also consulted on sensitive issues such as international sanctions and assists clients facing audits and investigations from France’s anti-corruption, competition, banking and financial markets regulators. Bruno Quentin, Jean-Philippe Pons-Henry and new experienced recruit Sophie Scemla who joined in 2019 from Eversheds Sutherland (France) LLP co-head the practice together. Also involved are competition partner Antoine Choffel, and banking and finance experts Jean-Guillaume de Tocqueville and Olivier Bernardi.

Data privacy and data protection Tier 2

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. is especially active for clients from the financial services, insurance and fintech sectors, but matters relating to the marketing, retail and tourism industries also form a significant part of its workload. Thierry Dor heads the team, which has strength in advisory work and contentious matters, including representation in procedures brought by the French data protection authority. The team's wide-ranging services include day-to-day advice as well as high-stakes project work. While the firm has strong French roots, its membership of TechLaw, the global network of law firms specialising in the TMT sector, adds strong international credentials.

Dispute resolution: Stock market litigation Tier 2

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. handles the full spectrum of issues pertaining to the financial services and securities sector, and is retained by leading banks and asset management funds to advise on AMF financial services regulatory and market abuse investigations. The team regularly defends bankers, CEOs and individuals; it successfully defended a UK-based banker who was sued by the AMF for alleged unlawful disclosure of inside information pertaining to the contemplated $15bn acquisition of T-mobile US by Iliad. The practice fields top experts in securities issues, financial services work and litigation with Jean-Guillaume de Tocqueville, Bruno Quentin, Stéphane Puel and Jean-Philippe Pons-Henry as key practitioners.

EU, competition and distribution Tier 2

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. has a large 23-lawyer Paris-based team in addition to further capabilities available at the firm's Brussels office. The group fields a solid domestic antitrust and merger control caseload, with a client base that includes leading French and international companies from various sectors, such as the food, media, pharmaceutical and industrial sector. The practice also assists several high-profile beauty brands, notably in dealing with sensitive distribution issues in France and in Europe. Finally, the team also handles several damage claim lawsuits following previous EU and domestic cartel condemnations. The team is co-headed by Antoine Choffel, Emmanuel Reille, Dimitri Dimitrov and Franck Audran.

Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences Tier 2

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. has strong pharmaceutical and life sciences patent litigation know-how. The practice acts for leading French and international laboratories in biosimilar, SPC, generics and medical device patent disputes, often against other top industry players. Representing Sanofi, the group is in charge of the French aspects of a multi-jurisdictional patent infringement case against Mylan regarding a biosimilar insulin pen. Raphaëlle Dequiré-Portier, Grégoire Triet, Jean-Hyacinthe de Mitry and Dimitri Dimitrov, who was active for medical device manufacturers in product liability cases, are the main practitioners. Finally, the practice also fields a busy venture capital caseload advising biotech and medtech companies and investors during fundraising transactions. Arnaud Duhamel, Anne Tolila, Pierre Karpik and David-James Sebag are the specialists in that area.

Industry focus: IT and internet Tier 2

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. regularly advises on major digital transformation projects and large-scale industrial projects involving major IT and data components in addition to taking on related litigation. Headed by Thierry Dor, the ten-lawyer team is entrusted by leading French banks, major industrial companies and internet companies, local public sector entities and several technology providers. The practice recently assisted a high-profile internet company with a major online marketplace platform project. Counsel Julien Guinot-Deléry provides key support.

Media and entertainment: Television/radio Tier 2

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. is adviser to several major public radio and TV broadcasters, including Radio France, France Télévisions and Arte. The firm is notably defending Radio France in libel lawsuits. The French Ministry of Culture also turns to the firm for media sector-related advice. TMT partner Olivier Cousi and counsel Julien Guinot-Deléry are the key contacts.

Mergers and acquisitions Tier 2

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. remains one of the most active teams in the market thanks to its strength in domestic and cross-border work and the depth of its bench. The group is active across all market segments, with a particularly busy caseload in the upper mid-cap and large-cap range. The French firm has a wide sectorial range and an international footprint, with offices in the Americas, the Middle East, Africa and Asia as well as in Central and Eastern Europe. Practice head Olivier Diaz, Charles de Reals, Didier Martin, Guillaume Rougier-Brierre, Nadège Nguyen, Jean-Gabriel Flandrois, Thomas Urlacher, Alexis Pailleret, Axelle Toulemonde, Christophe Eck and Antoine Lelong are key contacts. Jean-Francois Louit and Caroline Lan joined from Mayer Brown in September 2019.

Private equity: Fund formation Tier 2

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. covers a broad range of funds, spanning private equity and venture capital funds, real estate, infrastructure and debt funds as well as UCITS funds. The team acts for both sponsors and investors and frequently contributes to the development of new regulations in France and the European Union. With its strong domestic roots in addition to its extensive track record in advising on cross-border matters, the group has one of the most diverse client lists in the market and counts global and European asset managers as well as French private fund managers among its clients. Ann Baker and managing partner Stéphane Puel are the key names, with counsel Rima Maitrehenry involved in a number of high-profile mandates.

Tax Tier 2

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.'s large team has a strong focus on transactional tax. The team advises on the tax structuring of many of the firm's most significant M&A, private equity and property transactions and has 'deep knowledge of tax for real estate investment funds'. Highlights included advising Swiss Life Asset Managers on the acquisition of a €1.7bn Paris office portfolio from Terreïs. The team is highly proficient in the context of capital markets and finance-related transactions, while also handling standalone tax advice and tax controversy cases. Leading companies, private equity funds, property investors and banks are clients. Laurent Modave, Magali Buchert, Olivier Dauchez and Bertrand Jouanneau are the key contacts. London-based counsel Alexandre Bochu also contributes.

Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation Tier 3

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. is retained by banks and financial institutions to handle banking, insurance and other financially related cases, including insolvency related disputes. The firm also deals with commercial litigation. Bruno Quentin, Jean-Philippe Pons-Henry and Sophie Scemla , who joined from Eversheds Sutherland (France) LLP , co-head the practice.

Dispute resolution: International arbitration Tier 3

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.'s Paris and London offices often team up together to handle cases. The Paris team mainly acts in commercial arbitration cases, spanning oil and gas, construction, energy, corporate and commercial issues. The firm acts for French companies as well as international groups. It is handling several matters concerning Algerian, Middle Eastern and African corporations. The firm is also sought after to handle enforcement cases before French courts and is also regularly entrusted by the International Chamber of Commerce to help with its most strategic judicial cases. The firm's practice is jointly headed by Christian Camboulive, Carole Malinvaud, Alexandra Munoz and London-based Rupert Reece.

Dispute resolution: White-collar crime Tier 3

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. acts for banks, companies and high-level officers. The practice manages a broad range of cases, spanning sensitive corruption issues as well as matters relating to public tenders or involving the criminal liability of public officials, in France and overseas, notably in Africa. It is also dealing with tax fraud and abuse of companies’ assets cases, as well as matters linked to major industrial accidents. The practice is jointly headed by Bruno Quentin, Jean-Philippe Pons-Henry and new arrival Sophie Scemla, who joined from Eversheds Sutherland (France) LLP.