Compliance Tier 1

August Debouzy advises an impressive client base consisting of many of France’s leading companies as well as several major multinationals. The practice assists with anti-corruption risk mapping and the setting up of compliance programmes. Lately, it has been advising a high number of clients facing French Anti-Corruption Agency (AFA)’s audits. Clients also increasingly solicit the team to advise on emerging issues such as business ethics, corporate governance and corporate duty of vigilance. Finally, the practice also demonstrates strength in advising on US and UK anti-corruption and bribery compliance systems, including the management of cross-border investigations led by US and UK agencies. The powerful team is co-headed by former Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, Astrid Mignon Colombet and Benjamin van Gaver. Also highly recommended is counsel Olivier Attias.

Data privacy and data protection Tier 1

The practice at August Debouzy, which was launched in the early 2000s, advises clients on data privacy projects, including managing data protection, litigation, audits, and cyber security crisis management. In addition to working with clients' in-house legal team, the group also works closely with other key stakeholders, including IT and security experts and DPOs. A majority of the team's work for both French and international clients is cross-border and highly complex. Practice head Florence Chafiol is an expert litigator in complex data protection proceedings. In January 2020, senior associate Roxane Blanc-Dubois joined from Hogan Lovells International LLP.

Employment Tier 1

August Debouzy advises a prominent client base, made up of many CAC 40 corporations and major French and international companies, including insurance companies. The practice offers full-service support ranging from day-to-day assistance to the most challenging issues. Several large-scale downsizing and site closure projects, each involving several hundred up to a thousand employees, are included in the caseload. The team was also chosen to assist with challenging Covid-19 pandemic-related issues, such as safety conditions, working time and the renegotiation of paid leaves and bonuses. The practice also handles sensitive litigation, such as a high-stakes dispute involving a major digital platform concerning the contract status issues of self-employed workers or disputes involving dismissal procedures of top executives. Social security tax audits are another area of strength. Practice head Emmanuelle Barbara is highly regarded. Other key figures in the team include: Fabienne Haas, Marie-Hélène Bensadoun, Virginie Devos, Eric Manca, Catherine Le Manchec, Anaïs Qureshi , Philippe Durand, counsel Diane Reboursier and Isabelle Hadoux-Vallier and senior associate Boris Léone-Robin, the latter two specialising in remuneration, compensation and benefits issues.

Industry focus: IT and internet  Tier 1

The team at August Debouzy represents a range of leading IT providers, including Microsoft, and is active on significant TMT projects from launching digital commerce platforms to conducting data privacy audits. Other areas of expertise include working on regulatory compliance programs, cyber security issues and outsourcing matters. Litigation is handled in-house, with the team being instructed on several privacy disputes before both civil and criminal courts. New York and Paris-qualified IT specialist Mahasti Razavi, who is rated for providing 'workable solutions', leads the practice alongside Florence Chafiol and Alexandra Berg-Moussa. Up-and-coming counsel Anne-Sophie Lampe is a name to note for IP and IT litigation. Nicolas Quoy and Charles Bouffier are also highly regarded.

Intellectual property: Copyright Tier 1

The copyright practice at August Debouzy has a distinctly European outlook, with a focus on matters at the intersection of copyright and digitalisation. The team's technology expertise shows in its work on rights management in the context of an evolving technological framework, including assistance with issues regarding blockchain and data privacy issues. Its sector focus on the software and media segments therefore comes naturally, but the practice's scope also includes other areas, for example the arts. Additionally, the team is well versed in providing IP support in corporate transactions, both to the firm's own transactional experts and to other firms in need of IP expertise. The practice heads are Mahasti Razavi and Basile Ader, with counsel Amélie Tripet providing key support. Counsel Véronique Dahan joined Joffe & Associés in November 2020.

Intellectual property: Patents Tier 1

At August Debouzy, practice heads Grégoire Desrousseaux and François Pochart lead a deep bench of patent specialists, including both lawyers and patent attorneys, which allows for a particularly broad sector scope. Clients from the medical device, chemicals, energy, telecoms and agri-food sectors rely on the team with particular frequency, both for advisory work and disputes. The group is well versed in transactional work and licensing matters, including the transfer of technology and know-how, and holds its own in cross-border litigation, with particularly strong experience in coordinating multi-jurisdictional disputes in the pharmaceutical and telecom sectors. Leveraging its full-service positioning, the practice is able to draw on colleagues from other departments for optimal case staffing, with the competition teams a key asset for matters involving FRAND issues. Counsel Lionel Martin is dual-qualified as both a lawyer and a European patent attorney.

Media and entertainment: Newspapers Tier 1

With 'a perfect knowledge of press law', August Debouzy is retained by key players in the sector including Le Parisien, Radio France and RT France. Well-known for its strong contentious capabilities, the team is active in a wide range of press law proceedings covering defamation, image rights, libel and privacy cases. The firm also represents private individuals in these matters, both before criminal and civil courts. Litigator Basile Ader is the key contact; as well as being vice-president of the Paris bar, he is also the managing editor of Légipresse and Legicom. Ader is assisted by counsel Amélie Tripet who provides advisory and litigation services on press, libel and publishing matters.

Banking and finance: transactional work

Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences Tier 2

Representing leading pharmaceutical companies and clients specialised in medical devices, August Debouzy is highly regarded for its expertise in pharmaceutical patent litigation before the domestic and European courts. Joint practice head François Pochart, who is described as 'very knowledgeable, confident and experienced', leads on these matters alongside co-head Grégoire Desrousseaux. A further area of expertise for the team is assisting insurers of medical device manufacturers which are the subject of product liability proceedings. Co-head Alexandra Cohen-Jonathan is the key contact for these cases.

Industry focus: Luxury goods Tier 2

The 'pragmatic and reactive' luxury goods practice at August Debouzy assists several leading luxury fashion brands with a variety of IP and IT issues. The firm seamlessly combines different practice areas, for example when it pooled its distribution law, data and digital/IT law teams to advise a leading cosmetics company on the creation of a distribution network and digital commerce platform. The 'business-oriented' Alexandra Berg-Moussa is a key contact for IT-related matters. Managing partner Mahasti Razavi and Florence Chafiol are recommended in the tech space, and between them have a strong track record of advising luxury brands on digital transformation issues. Counsel Véronique Dahan joined Joffe & Associés in November 2020.

Insurance Tier 2

At August Debouzy, Alexandra Cohen-Jonathan and her team focus on high-stakes litigation, mass litigation, class action and serial dispute matters, as well as product liability disputes in addition to advisory work regarding insurance documentation and policies. The team's cross-practice strength comes particularly to the forefront when advising on matters at the intersection of insurance, IP, IT, employment and finance law as well as in the increasing number of instructions from the firm's corporate clients regarding their insurance products, especially their compliance with the insurance product distribution regulations. The independent firm's insurance practice consists primarily of multi-jurisdictional matters, with a strong domestic caseload completing the workload. Cohen-Jonathan's expertise is also sought after by French legal think tank Club des juristes, for example on the subject of self-driving cars or artificial intelligence in the healthcare sector. Flore Poloni joined Signature Litigation AARPI in September 2020.

Media and entertainment: Sports Tier 2

Uniting a 'variety of competences', August Debouzy is regularly retained on large sponsorship mandates for high-profile brands such as Nike. Its track record in sports financing includes significant acquisitions, contract negotiations and restructurings, with the team recently leading on Valenciennes FC's reorganisation following its relegation to the second division. Drawing on the firm's well-established IP and TMT groups, the department has a strong sports media offering, with highlights including bringing an image rights dispute for a leading French newspaper. Distribution and consumer law expert Alexandra Berg-Moussa and litigator Basile Ader jointly lead the practice.

Social security: compensation and benefits Tier 2

Administrative and public law Tier 3

August Debouzy's team covers a broad array of issues: regulatory matters, public contracts and procurement, public domain, urban law, and litigation are all dealt with. The firm assists a wide range of big corporations, notably several blue-chip and start-up IT companies, notably with complex French, EU and international data law issues. Recently, the team has been particularly solicited for strategic assistance in relation to Covid-19 restrictions in France. Vincent Brenot and Emmanuelle Mignon co-head the practice, which also includes counsel Hélène Billery.

Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation Tier 3

August Debouzy manages a substantial and varied caseload and acts primarily for leading French corporations, banks and financial institutions, often in unfair competition and breach of contract disputes against key competitors. The group increasingly receives instructions to manage high-stakes financial disputes, post-M&A disputes, shareholder conflicts and CEO revocation disputes, with a particularly strong caseload in the energy and investment fund sectors. Practice co-heads Marie Danis and Benjamin van Gaver and counsel Marie Valentini are the key practitioners. Former counsel Flore Poloni joined Signature Litigation AARPI as partner in the Summer 2020.

Dispute resolution: White-collar crime Tier 3

August Debouzy handles a consistently growing corruption and money laundering-related caseload. The firm is regularly involved in cross-border corruption cases involving French and foreign judicial authorities or regulators and offers first-hand experience in handling US OFAC requests and in assisting clients with French and US settlement agreements with various authorities. The firm also defends major companies or their top executives in a range of other criminal corporate and fraud investigations and trials. Lately, the firm has also been appointed to act on matters directly linked to the Covid-19 pandemic; such as assisting retirement homes and nursing homes with investigations on involuntary manslaughter grounds. Astrid Mignon Colombet, who arrived in December 2019 from Soulez Larivière Avocats, is particularly recommended, as is Benjamin van Gaver. They both co-head the practice alongside Basile Ader. Marie Danis and counsel Olivier Attias also contribute.

Industry focus: Energy Tier 3

Insolvency Tier 3

August Debouzy‘s Laurent Cotret is handling a growing prominent caseload, spanning various industries. He is mainly appointed by debtors to handle debt restructuring, insolvency and distressed M&A work. Recently, he has been playing a key role in several headline debt restructuring and safeguard proceedings cases, such as the XL Airways. He also handled a major case in the hospitality sector.

Intellectual property: Trade marks and designs Tier 3

August Debouzy offers a comprehensive trade mark and design practice, ranging from litigation, prosecution and portfolio management work though to transactional assistance such as audits and due diligence. Indeed, other firms frequently rely on the team for the IP aspects of major international transactions, while the group's experience in customs litigation is a strong complement to the practice offering. The team co-led by Grégoire Desrousseaux and counsel Véronique Dahan also includes several members with extensive in-house experience. With fashion, retail and IT particularly prominent in the caseload, the team is also active in areas including food and beverages, automotive manufacture, entertainment and consumer goods.

Mergers and acquisitions Tier 3

Able to pull together cross-disciplinary teams from the firm's employment, public law, competition and tax teams, French firm August Debouzy's corporate practice is a player in the mid-cap market segment. Recognised for its sectorial expertise across aeronautics, defence, telecoms and infrastructure, the team undertakes both domestic and cross-border transactions.. Valéry Denoix de Saint Marc is a key name for the latter kind of deals, having helped launch the German desk in 2019. Gilles August, Julien Aucomte, Julien Wagmann, Jérôme Brosset and Pierre Descheemaeker are all key contacts.

Tax Tier 4

August Debouzy‘s practice advises a loyal client base, made up of leading French companies, international companies, investment funds and start-ups. The team is able to handle a broad range of matters, spanning transactional issues and a substantial amount of stand-alone work, encompassing tax restructuring, transfer pricing, tax audits and regularisation matters. The practice is notably assisting a major corporation with challenging tax regularisation issues in the context of a landmark corruption case. Xavier Rohmer and Philippe Lorentz are in charge.

Dispute resolution: International arbitration Tier 5

EU, competition and distribution Tier 5