Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP > Paris, France > Firm Profile

‘The team is dynamic, dedicated, responsive and shows a great capacity for adaptation. Not only does it master the issues of aviation financing, but it also does not hesitate to capitalise on the other expertise of the Paris office.’

‘Alexander Prémont – a responsive, accessible, constructive partner, very involved in matters, both clear and relevant in negotiations. Alexandre Salem: a dedicated and accessible lawyer, with solid knowledge, in particular in security law. Guergana Zabounova: also a very good lawyer, with a constructive approach.’

‘Remarkable team. They stood by us in these complex times while offering constructive solutions to all parties. Great job!’

‘Alexander Premont, Alexandre Salem and Guergana Zabunova provided us with outstanding service. Besides, their interpersonal skills are great.’

‘The team has a commercial outlook and a ‘can do’ attitude. They are able to advise on the full spectrum of financial regulatory, commercial and banking matters. They are well aware of market practices and are able to advise on how market participants interpret and view the law and the how the regulators have reacted.’

‘Franck Dupret is a stand-out senior associate in the team. Our legal and business teams view him as a valuable partner who is extremely responsive and unafraid to give a view or recommendation.’

‘A very competent, responsive team who understands the operational constraints. Billing is fair and transparent.’

‘The people of the team are very pleasant, understand  the legal issues and the operational consequences very quickly. Franck Dupret is particularly responsive and solution-driven in addition to the fact that he demonstrates a real understanding of the business. Sébastien Gros ensures that the expectations of his clients are taken into account.’

‘Very good knowledge of capital markets and the different types of market operations carried out.’

‘Professionalism, responsiveness, rigour and efficiency, understanding of needs.’

‘The Hogan Lovells team is essential in the French securitisation market. We regularly call on their services and particularly appreciate their availability and their always very clear communication. The strength of the firm in other jurisdictions is also ideal for situations involving cross-border issues.’

‘The team sets itself apart from other firms by its great professionalism and expertise, without ever being arrogant. Easy contact, a resolutely client-oriented approach, the Hogan Lovells team is the very example of what we expect from a firm. Its numerous successes bear witness to the excellence of the firm: a clever blend of cutting-edge expertise and real proximity.’

‘Among the team, Laura Asbati should be mentioned for her excellent collaboration. We can underline her ability to summarise very clearly the ins and outs, the issues, and thus provide solid advice allowing a quick decision to be taken. And of course Sharon Lewis whose availability is particularly remarkable at this level!’

‘A very high responsiveness, a great knowledge of issues related to assets as well as market practices.’

‘I greatly appreciated working with Laura Asbati who knows how to demonstrate a great capacity for adaptation, synthesis and knows how to approach legal subjects with pragmatism. She also knows how to demonstrate a great sense of pedagogy towards interlocutors who are not always familiar with the problems encountered.’

‘Laura Asbati is very invested in her mission and particularly diligent. His responsiveness, the relevance and precision of her comments are greatly appreciated.’

‘Excellent workmanship with a high professional standard.’

‘The lawyer with whom we are in contact is always ready to help us even if it means going beyond the perimeter of the entrusted mission. She knows how to tell when the subject does not fully fall within her skills and does not seek to take missions at all costs. She has ‘deep’ reasoning and great technique.’

‘A strong team in dispute resolution, with an appreciated ability to be flexible and informative to clients in other jurisdictions.’

‘Both Christelle Coslin and Victor Fabré provide excellent service.’

‘Mastery of complex procedural issues which allows for elaborate and far-sighted strategic advice; efficient approach for serial and mass litigation, particularly relating to medical law and product defects.’

‘Christelle Coslin: brilliant and strategic lawyer who is totally up to the big challenges and has the habit of considering various solutions; she is practical and creative (‘thinking outside the box’). Charles-Henri Caron: very careful and scrupulous work.’

‘Excellent team; high-level writing skills and understanding of complex subjects.’

‘Practical sense; very good knowledge of the regulator; fine psychology transparency.’

‘Very strong availability; very good advice. Arthur Dethomas is remarkable.’

‘The Hogan Lovells competition team is particularly reliable and serious, with great rigour in handling cases.’

‘Eric Paroche is very involved in the files and provides a good operational knowledge of the sectors concerned.’

‘The professionalism and knowledge in European law, competition and distribution of the Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP teams are undeniable.’

‘The Hogan Lovells competition team is very professional and has significant experience in competition law. Eric Paroche and his team cover all areas of competition law (antitrust, mergers, state aid and litigation) with, in particular, extensive experience in antitrust and state aid. All lawyers are very responsive and very pragmatic. Eric Paroche and his associates have a great capacity of processing files and identifying concrete and adapted solutions. Eric and his team are part of a very comprehensive European network of competition lawyers throughout Europe and the United States which is very useful.’

‘Charlotte Damiano: expert in her field. She always responds quickly and knows how to be pragmatic and simple, particularly when exchanges are made with non-lawyers.’

‘Qualities: available, analyses taking into account the specificities of the pharmaceutical industry, deadlines met. Notable lawyers: Mikael Salmena, Joséphine Pour.’

‘The restructuring team stands out on the market through the combination of its experience and excellence. They are present on most of the most important files on the market, often complex files. Their expertise extends to a large number of business sectors, with particular expertise in financial institutions, transport, energy and retail. I find the team very accessible, complementary (with an appreciable male/female parity) and responsive.’

‘Astrid Zourli and Philippe Druon are two extremely experienced and seasoned practitioners. They are able to deal with the most sophisticated matters on the French market: they have an enormous capacity for work thanks, in particular, to a structured team. Philippe and Astrid offer a tailor-made service, delivering high-quality work to their clients. They are known as dealmakers, which contributes to their reputation. Philippe is essential on the market, he is a real star. Astrid has also made a name for herself, now recognised, and has demonstrated to the market all her professional qualities. It is a pleasure to work with them.’

‘The team is particularly remarkable. In my opinion, it is one, if not the best in the French market in restructuring with regard to the cases handled, their variety, and the importance of the clients who trust them. They are particularly to be distinguished by their expertise in complex restructuring, both amicable and insolvency proceedings. They know how to propose and carry out the operating mode most suited to the constraints and the timing of the case. In addition, because of their varied experience, they have in-depth knowledge of several sectors of activity. I would add that the team stands out for the ease of exchanges with all of its members (from partners/counsel to the youngest associates) which necessarily contributes to the success of a collaboration.’

‘From an individual point of view, Philippe Druon is a true reference in the market. He has in-depth knowledge, based on his experience, of the business factors and considerations to be had for troubled companies, insolvency proceedings and financial restructuring. He is a keen negotiator capable of successfully resolving the most complex and difficult issues, managing and disentangling difficult situations.’

‘Astrid Zourli stands out through her mastery of subjects, her ability to lead negotiations until consensus is reached, often within tight timing. Her collaborative and pragmatic attitude, solution-oriented approach, and exceptional commitment are particularly remarkable. Philippe and Astrid form a formidable duo that works in a complementary way.’

‘Cécile Dupoux is one of the finest lawyers I have ever worked with. She is very knowledgeable and responsive. She is the full package of what you might expect of a business attorney.’

‘Philippe Druon is very connected and able to get straight to the point in negotiations. Astrid Zourli is very professional, available, technical, business-oriented, pragmatic, a solution provider.’

‘Cécile Dupoux is very knowledgeable and has an excellent network of experts.’

‘The Hogan Lovells insurance team (partner Sébastien Gros) is one of the few to master insurance law in Paris.’

‘Professionalism, integration of business considerations and constraints in consulting and proposal of solutions. Real expertise in the field of insurance. Responsiveness and speed.’

‘Sébastien Gros and Ghina Farah’s team has exceptional expertise in the regulatory field and in particular in insurance law. In this particularly changing and multi-jurisdictional environment (local, European, international), the Hogan Lovells firm is able to meet both technical and logistical needs and ensure the project management of projects with an international dimension thanks to its particularly technological maturity.’

‘Sébastien Gros and Ghina Farah, in addition to their impressive expertise in insurance law and their proximity to the various regulators, have a remarkable work force and commitment.’

‘Stanislas Roux-Vaillard works with a lean team with clear responsibilities for the team members so hours of discussions or consultation within the team are avoided, keeping the billable time within reason and appropriate for the matter being handled by this office.’

‘The HL team, led by Stanislas Roux-Vaillard, has represented us in France with respect to patent related litigation efficiently and effectively, identifying and making arguments that have provided excellent results.‘

‘Stéphane Huten is brilliant and creative.’

‘Flexible, quality team covering a wide spectrum of legal skills. Unbeatable value for money.’

‘Stéphane Huten knows how to relay market practices so that his clients are in the best position to carry out the deal.’

‘Matthieu Grollemund has extensive experience in private equity matters, which we highly value, which allows him to provide first-rate legal support. We value his ability to intervene in complex matters and situations, on which his qualities are essential. We have also been working with Hélène Parent for several years and appreciate the excellence of her support. She is very reliable, precise, and creative when needed. We have built a very high-quality relationship, based on experience and trust, which contributes to the quality of the work carried out together: its adaptability to the environment and the constraints of the deals is particularly appreciable.’

‘The Hogan Lovells private equity team is distinguished by the excellence of the support it offers, particularly during complex transactions. In general, we retain Hogan Lovells for three main reasons: 1. Excellence in legal support, in-depth knowledge of the private equity sector and market practices, their ability, if necessary, to effectively manage complex and specific matters and situations. 2. High adaptability to the environment and the reality of the deal, in particular, the level of negotiation required and adapted to the circumstances (hard or low-touch). 3. Reliability, responsiveness and general quality of the work provided.’

‘Hélène Parent: great technical competence, business-minded, responsive, creative, very attentive to her clients, a force of proposal.’

‘Matthieu Grollemund is very knowledgeable; all the funds know him and respect him. He is also a truly international lawyer who helps to expand internationally.’

‘The practice in Paris is one of the most famous and experienced a big boost with the arrival of Alexander Premont a few years ago.’

‘The team does not hesitate to adapt its assistance proposals to our needs, both in terms of cost control (capped fees, etc.) as well as content and time.’

‘Hogan Lovells’ financing practice in Paris is one of the most renowned practices on the market. The team is dynamic, responsive and extremely competent. They have the technical arsenal and are attentive to offer solutions and guide us in our choices. In addition, Alexander Premont is receptive to our needs and formulates personalised proposals.’

‘I enjoy working with Alexander Premont for his in-depth technical knowledge of structured, asset and acquisition finance. Alexander makes a point of being involved in all of his files. He listens and is proactive in proposing pragmatic solutions. He is an excellent negotiator who streamlines exchanges between the parties.’

‘Alexander Premont is closely involved in all aspects of the transaction and has a good knowledge of the market. He works hard to give us the best result.’

‘Hogan Lovells has a practice that covers a wide range of financing (acquisition and assets (ships, aircraft and other significant assets)) on behalf of banks, investors, lessors, lessees and owners. They have excellent visibility of market conditions and a real knowledge of the sector. Our teams appreciate the involvement of team members, their availability and their enthusiasm despite the complexity of the files and the tight deadlines. Our team’s operational staff can count on a team that is committed to finding a solution to our transactional and legal issues.’

‘Alexander Premont balances the demands of sound legal documentation with the necessary business flexibility. He has a very good knowledge of the specifics of financing, particularly in the maritime sector.’

‘Good team cohesion and featuring brilliant of counsels.’

‘The team is extremely available. The consultations are quick, thorough and very solid.’

‘Bruno Cantier provides high-quality advice and is extremely available to his clients. He leads a quality team.’

‘Bruno Cantier ‘s team was very responsive and very educational to help us understand the real issues of an unusual contract for us. Their remarks and comments were clear and constructive.’

‘The work of Bruno Cantier, partner, and Perrine Limousin, counsel, was really appreciated. Responsive, clear and pragmatic, the team was able to give appropriate and useful advice.’

‘Knowledge of the African market, value for money, focus on what is important.’

‘I worked closely with Bruno Cantier and Perrine Limousin. Beyond legal knowledge, the team shows humility and persuasion in negotiations.’

‘Strong knowledge of the French market and the pragmatism of the team allow us to focus on the key points of a negotiation.’

‘I have been working with HL for several years. I appreciate their professionalism, their close relationship with their clients and the extent of their expertise in LBO financing. It is one of the largest teams representing sponsors and unitranche debt funds in the market.’

‘We work with Hogan Lovells on acquisition finance and structured finance in the real estate sector. The banking team has excellent knowledge of market practices and the position and sensitivities of the various stakeholders. The team’s expertise in both English and French law makes it one of the most versatile teams for international investment.’

‘Alexander Premont has notable expertise in LBO financing, representing sponsors and debt funds in the mid/large-cap market. He is always available and knows how to offer pragmatic solutions.’

‘We have been working with HL for several years, particularly on acquisition financing. They have an excellent combination of geographic coverage and technical expertise. We work with HL because it is also one of the best firms in the field of acquisition finance in Paris.’

‘We recently worked with Alexander Premont, who has in-depth knowledge and expertise in leveraged acquisition finance. He always gives us pragmatic advice. He represents both lenders and sponsors and therefore have an excellent view of the sensitivities of each party involved in the transaction.’

‘I have been working with Hogan Lovells, and in particular Alexander Premont, for several years because the firm and Alexander are one of the best firms and advisers on acquisition financing in Paris. I am always surprised by the involvement of the team. They are smart, commercial and always available.’

‘There is a flawless integration between the banking, corporate, restructuring and tax teams. They work in perfect symbiosis. It is one of the finest transactional practices in Paris at the moment. Alexander Premont in banking is particularly remarkable for his availability, involvement and pragmatism. He knows how to lead the negotiations to bring the parties together.’

‘The team is versatile, very responsive, and reconciles a pragmatic approach with a high level of technical expertise in litigation.’

‘Marion Guertault is smart, fast, efficient and organised. She is a privileged interlocutor for complex litigation and tense situations.’

‘Extensive experience in complex social restructuring cases and ability to quickly mobilise all of the firm’s key skills to provide a rapid and relevant response.’

‘The partners are very involved in the files, with an understanding of the social and operational issues allowing the deployment of pragmatic and effective solutions.’

‘Highly dedicated lawyer, high level of expertise and motivation on top; practical and imaginative – able to find clever solutions to complex situations.’

‘We receive precise and very clear invoices from the firm, we feel a very precise organisation. In the event of the absence of our lawyer, there is immediately a relay and a response given as soon as possible. I will strongly recommend this firm and especially Marion Guertault.’

‘Working with Marion Guertault is really a pleasure, she is very professional, very responsive and very clear in the answers given to each situation. In general, when you contact your lawyer, it is for a complicated and urgent case and Marion very quickly provides a solution; there is a real constructive exchange.’

‘High pragmatism, great listening skills, availability, rigour and competitiveness of fees.’

‘Extremely responsive team, available and able to propose innovative terms during negotiations over the term sheet, shareholder and investment agreement.’

‘I greatly appreciate the quality of the deliverables, the promptness and responsiveness and proximity to clients shown by the firm.’

‘Olivier Fille-Lambie is remarkable for his constant listening, his technical competence and his ability to coordinate. Always available, he instills a good dynamic to find innovative contractual and legal solutions adapted to the different scenarios that may arise.’

‘The arbitration practice is business-focused and identifies important legal and strategic aspects of a case. They have a broad understanding of the business, great resources to make thorough preparations, give good advice through the process and are very well prepared for arbitrations. Their arbitration skills are regarded to be in the high end.’

‘Laurent Gouiffes is a very experienced arbitrator with great strategic understanding who leads a very professional arbitration team that delivers on promise.’

‘They are very experienced with IP litigations and offer practical and professional advice. Also, they are very proactive and communication channels are very efficient.’

‘Xavier Doumen is recommended.’

‘Pragmatic and responsive.’

‘Xavier Doumen is client-friendly, calm, solutions-focussed and willing to go the extra mile to get the deal done.’

‘The M&A team benefits from a sound expertise. We trust them.’

‘I greatly appreciate the quality of the deliverables (in terms of legal documentation of financing, the promptness and responsiveness and proximity to the clientele shown by the  firm). The collaboration is very effective, thanks to the diversity of profiles and skills that the firm offers.’

‘Olivier Fille-Lambie shows remarkable listening skills, technical competence and ability to coordinate. Always available, he instills a good dynamic to find innovative contractual and legal solutions adapted to the different situations that may arise.’

‘A close-knit and pragmatic team that delivers sound advice in order to finalise deals on time without ever have to sacrifice on our main points.’

‘Olivier Fille-Lambie has great knowledge of the practice which allows him to have a pragmatic and efficient approach.’

‘Strong collaboration and involvement of teams. Their ability to search for solutions and their proactivity are appreciated.’

‘Great technical and interpersonal skills. We worked with Bruno Cantier and Olivier Fille-Labie who were very flexible and helpful.’

‘Sharp expertise and exceptional research capacity that guide us on the right legal path, and have enabled us to obtain a better-than-hoped result. Good internal communication within the team: when we talk to one we talk to all. Very competitive price for the quality of the work provided.’

‘Bruno Cantier shows good knowledge of legal, financial, technical and operational aspects, and great ability to adapt to take into account internal reversals of positions, while maintaining the limits of what it is legally doable.’

‘The dispute resolution team, headed by Thomas Kendra, is first of all particularly proactive and efficient. Thomas is also particularly nice and knows how to put himself at the level of all his interlocutors (legal professionals or not). He also knows how to make himself available and is attentive.’

‘I really enjoy working and interacting with Thomas Kendra. He is a recognised and seasoned professional, providing good advice. Gauthier Vannieuwenhuyse is very competent, outgoing, sympathetic and available. It is very pleasant to work with this kind of person, who does not hesitate to set the pace and take time to clarify certain subjects. Finally, Merlin Papadhopulli is a young associate with a very good macro and micro vision of matters, and already a lot of experience behind her. She is a significant asset for this team. This trio works very well and we are delighted with their work.’

‘I believe the strength and capabilities of this team stands out highly among its peers simply because of their attention to the matters they are dealing with. The collaboration and the care they have for the clients are unique.’

‘Laurent Gouiffes stands out amongst the arbitration partners and lawyers I have had worked over the years. His lawyer skills and management skills are the best I have seen so far.’

‘My experience was overall excellent. They have been very professional and dedicated all along and have been key to our success in resolving this dispute. I was impressed in particular by their capacity to grasp complex technical concepts quickly.’

‘The Paris arbitration team is very experienced and knowledgeable, always up to date with international arbitration trends – this offers certainty to clients that it will deliver.’

‘They are very responsive and ready to assist when urgently needed. Laurent Gouiffes is a top arbitration practitioner and arbitrator, able to identify business aspects and offer practical solutions to client’s needs, not mere legal analysis.’

‘The partners work as a most effective team in bringing a complex, international dispute to arbitration and presenting it effectively to the arbitral panel.’

‘Exceptional pragmatic team with very good legal knowledge.’

‘Arthur de Thomas is remarkable; he is very available, listens and provides good advice.’

‘Michael Levy and Alice Houdart are knowledgeable, available and friendly. They collaborate effectively.’

‘Michael Levy is pragmatic, creative, and efficient. He does not flaunt unnecessary jargon or gets stuck on complex issues, but strives to think outside of the box in order to come up with solutions for his clients. He has also mastered the art of managing the expectations of Anglo-Saxon clients. Alice Houdart asserts herself as a trusted, competent and responsive employee who strives to understand her clients’ businesses in-depth in order to provide tailor-made advice.’

‘It is a real pleasure to have Hogan Lovells as a legal partner. In addition to the quality and relevance of their work, their international dimension allows us to greatly facilitate our acquisitions in Europe.’

‘Michael Levy: always available and extremely rigorous on these deals, he leads the negotiations very well while listening to the opposing parties. He is accompanied by Alice Houdart whose work is remarkable.’

‘The Hogan Lovells team is very knowledgeable, pragmatic and friendly. They are very available and each time put themselves in their client’s shoes to better understand the needs and issues of the case in order to provide the most relevant solutions.’

‘Michaël Lévy is an excellent lawyer, fine in his analysis and pragmatic in the implementation of his advice. Having him next to you is a real asset, he’s a real dealmaker.’

‘Michael Levy’s team is like him – young, dynamic, rigorous, extremely professional and commercial. He provides clients with all the expertise they need on all aspects of real estate, whether construction, transactional or rental.’

‘Michael Levy, Alice Houdart and Margot Derumaux are excellent lawyers, as remarkable for their technical mastery as for their spirit of deal makers.’