Firm Profile > HFW > Paris , France

Insurance Tier 1

HFW is primarily active in the manufacturing, transport, construction, trade and energy sectors. The practice's wide-ranging portfolio of expertise spans industrial risks, product liability, professional liability and public liability. A recent cross-border highlight on the contentious side saw Pauline Arroyo defend XL Insurance and its insured, a manufacturer of specialised electrical components, against a claim brought forward against the insured's Japanese subsidiary regarding a gasket manufactured by the insured's Chinese subsidiary. Olivier Purcell heads the practice, which also counts Chubb, Helvetia and Generali among its clients.

Shipping Tier 1

HFW assists with wet shipping work, where it acts for P&I clubs, underwriters and shipowners; and dry shipping matters, where it represents charterers and cargo owners. The team includes practice head Guillaume Brajeux, Timothy Clemens-Jones, who is English qualified; Stanislas Lequette, who focuses on issues involving former French colonies in North and West Africa; and tourism and cruise expert Stéphanie Schweitzer. In recent work, the practice represented P&I club Skuld in casualty procedures arising from the running aground of a container ship on a coral reef near New Caledonia; the team worked with the firm's London and Singapore offices, leveraging its international footprint. CMA CGM, Helvetia and Corsica Linea are also clients.

Aviation Tier 2

HFW is especially active in the litigation and regulatory sectors, with particular expertise in competition and state aid cases. The team also increasingly advises on transactional matters, especially fleet transactions. Practice head Pierre Frühling, who divides his time between Paris and Brussels, recently advised Vietnam Airlines on its joint venture with Air France, with antitrust immunity one of the main concerns, and also acted for Aeromexico on compliance with French laws regarding inadmissible passengers. A recent insurance highlight saw Frühling represent Axa Corporate Solutions following the crash of an AW-139 Agusta helicopter in Benin. Other clients include KLM, Air Tahiti Nui and Waypoint Leasing.

Shipping finance Tier 2

HFW is particularly experienced in structured and tax-advantaged finance work, which is a specialism of practice head Jean-Marc Zampa. In recent work, Zampa advised Ingepar on the French tax lease financing and delivery of four new bulk carrier vessels for Sucden, and assisted Crédit Industriel et Commercial with the refinancing of two vessels for CMA CGM. Natixis is also a key client. Senior associate Serge Rastorgoueff joined Bignon Lebray in 2018.

Aviation finance Tier 3

HFW has a strong emphasis on instructions from airlines, with a large number of French airlines among its clients. However, the group expanded its portfolio with a mandate from HBG Mont Blanc Helicoptères, which it advised on its first operating lease transaction relating to a new helicopter leased to GECAS Milestone. Practice head Pierre Frühling splits his time between Paris and Brussels, and the group often cooperates with its Belgian colleagues, but with Richard Jadot the team also boasts an experienced partner operating exclusively from Paris. Cargolux Airlines International instructed the practice to advise on the purchase of a Boeing 747-400 ERF from Wells Fargo Bank Northwest, while French Blue turned to the firm for advice on the financing of an Airbus A330-300 aircraft in the context of the launch of the new French Blue airline. Aigle Azur, Aircalin and Waypoint Leasing also feature on the firm's client roster.

Industry focus: energy Tier 3

Banking and finance: transactional work Tier 4

Dispute resolution: commercial litigation Tier 4