Norton Rose Fulbright > Paris, France > Firm Profile

Norton Rose Fulbright > The Legal 500 Rankings

France > Aviation finance Tier 1

The highly regarded aviation finance group at Norton Rose Fulbright remains a market leader, advising major financial institutions, export credit agencies and airlines, on a diverse spectrum of matters. Headed by practice area expert George Paterson, the team assists clients with lessor trading activity, retrenchment, new financing structures, regulatory compliance and day-to-day operations. Other key figures include Marc Hamilton, who handles aircraft sales and purchases, syndicated loans and pre-delivery financings; Alex Wass, an asset finance specialist; and counsel Sébastien Allain. Alexandra Somerset joined as special counsel from the firm’s London aviation team in 2022.

France > Compliance Tier 1

Norton Rose Fulbright’s range of expertise spans anti-corruption, human rights, ESG and international sanctions issues. The firm assists a prominent client base, including many of France’s leading companies as well as international multinationals, specialising in various areas such as retail, energy, car manufacturing and food. The team provides assistance with the implementation of compliance programmes and assists with various regulators’ (notably AFA) compliance audits. It also helps to conduct internal investigations following the emergence of suspicions of corruption, fraud, moral harassment and other sensitive issues, often concerning clients’ activities abroad. Recently, the team has been entrusted to provide guidance on Russia-related risk sanctions. The highly regarded Christian Dargham is the practice head.

France > Industry focus: Energy Tier 1

Global head of the energy practice Anne Lapierre, project development, construction, acquisition and financing expert Arnaud Bélisaire and Simon Cudennec, who is well versed in Francophone African work, are at the helm of Norton Rose Fulbright‘s ‘professional and specialist’ practice. The team is experienced in acting for such noteworthy clients as the African Development Bank and TotalEnergies in complex and high-value matters, involving the provision of advice on areas from development and financing to production-sharing contracts and interconnection projects between countries. The lattermost is an area in which the team particularly excels; an illustration of its work in this field was its advice on a €2bn project to connect electricity transmission cables between Gatica in Spain and Cubnezais in France to improve electricity supply.

France > Shipping finance Tier 1

The powerhouse Paris team of global firm Norton Rose Fulbright remains a leader in the shipping finance space, advising major financial institutions (such as insurers and expire credit agencies), as well as shipowners on high-value, cross-border transactions. Headed by structured finance expert Christine Ezcutari, the group assists with tax structures, debt holiday and report programs and export credit financing covering cruise ships, container vessels, LNG vessels and VLCCs (very large crude carriers). The team is supported by counsel and transaction negotiation specialist Paolo Pinna and senior associate Ayaka Millet, who brings expertise to asset finance by way of tax lease transactions.

France > Banking and finance: transactional work Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright offers considerable expertise across a wide variety of financings and acts for domestic and international banks, export credit agencies, funds and government agencies. The firm has particularly notable experience in energy, shipping and aviation deals where it is a popular choice for corporates. Led by global transport co-head Christine Ezcutari and supported by aviation finance expert George Paterson and structured finance specialist Alexandre Roth, the group's full service extends to acquisition finance, fund financings, syndicated debt financings and tax-based structures.

France > Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright's cross-practice healthcare and life sciences team provides an integrated commercial M&A, compliance, regulatory, antitrust, and data protection offering. Competition specialist Marta Giner Asins co-leads the team and is noted for litigating in complex cross-border matters. Joint practice head Marion Roquette-Pfister is a public law and regulatory expert, regularly advising on clinical trials, market access, and early access programmes. Nadège Martin leads on intellectual property disputes.

France > Industry focus: IT and internet  Tier 2

The practice at Norton Rose Fulbright has an impressive skillset advising noteworthy French bodies on the IT, IP and data privacy aspects of high-value and often cross-border acquisitions, recently acting for Elopak on its acquisition of Naturepak Beverage Packaging. Further, the team ably advises on licensing requirements and service agreements under French law. Further to its advisory work, the team often represents clients in disputes regarding such issues as the unsuccessful implementation of new apps, and the failure to implement strategic IT projects. Nadège Martin, who heads the team, and senior associate Geoffroy Coulouvrat are 'standout individuals'.

France > Administrative and public law Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright’s team is well-placed to handle a wide-range of high-profile work. The team has been retained by the state to assist with high-stakes contract execution and performance issues concerning French motorways, notably linked to Covid-19 disruptions. The practice also has impressive capabilities in the regulatory field, handling strategic work in the healthcare, telecoms and transport sectors. Leading private companies also feature in the client base. Marion Roquette-Pfister heads the team, supported by associate Benjamin Jothy.

France > Banking and finance: Bank regulatory Tier 3

The Paris office of global firm Norton Rose Fulbright utilises the bench strength of its team to provide a comprehensive service to major financial institutions and corporates across such sectors as environmental services, media, and oil and gas. The team was bolstered by the January 2022 arrival of derivative product specialist Sébastien  Praicheux, who joined from DLA Piper and adds experience in investment management and custody regulation. He co-leads the practice with Roberto Cristofolini. The group advises on matters ranging from approvals and authorisations, payment and e-money regulations and market infrastructure regulations to sanctions and investigations, asset and portfolio management and anti-money laundering and anti-corruption regulations.

France > Data privacy and data protection Tier 3

The dedicated technology and innovation practice at the Paris office of Norton Rose Fulbright utilises the expertise of its team to assist financial institutions, insurers (Allianz, AIG) and major multinationals in energy (TotalEnergies), pharmaceuticals (Pfizer) and packaging, on a comprehensive range of data protection and data privacy matters. Tech and IP expert Nadège Martin (who brings over 20 years of experience in the practice area) leads the team, which advises on compliance, the sharing of customer information, cookie policies, information and consent policies, as well as transfer and privacy impact assessments.

France > Insurance Tier 3

The insurance practice at the Paris office of Norton Rose Fulbright utilises the experience of its team to advise major banks, private equity firms, insurers and reinsurers on a wide spectrum of insurance issues, with a client base that includes BNP Paribas, Bridgepoint, Allianz and AIG. The group offers a full service, which extends to the structuring and setting-up of insurance entities (both insurance undertakings and mediation companies), regulatory permissions, outsourcing agreements and compliance reviews. Insurance sector expert Bénédicte Denis, who specialises in cross-border M&A, leads the team, with support from Christian Dargham, a specialist in alternative dispute resolution and arbitration.

France > Tax Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright's team is regularly entrusted by leading investment funds and financial institutions, as well as several large companies seeking high-level advice. The team works on complex issues, providing strategic advice to private equity funds and family offices on tax structuring, management incentives and carried interest matters. It also advises on corporate and complex asset transactions, notably in the energy and aviation sectors, and has particular expertise advising insurance companies on tax risks associated with transactions. Antoine Colonna d’Istria heads the team. Associate Mathieu Jung also contributes.

France > Capital markets: equity capital markets Tier 4

The Paris team at Norton Rose Fulbright utilises the wider firm's global network to advise domestic and multinational financial institutions, sovereigns and corporates on a broad range of equity-linked issues. Headed by corporate lawyer Roberto Cristofolini, who divides his time between Paris and Casablanca, and supported by senior associate Aurélie Pelisson, the group assists clients with IPOs, share capital increases and the subscription of various classes of warrants.

France > Insolvency Tier 4

Norton Rose Fulbright’s practice is headed by the highly experienced Philippe Hameau, who is often mandated by debtors, while also advising banks, commercial partners and investors. The team handles a wide range of work, spanning the manufacturing, aviation, real estate and IT sectors. Hameau also handles litigation and is increasingly dealing with international arbitration disputes.

France > Intellectual property: Trade marks and designs Tier 4

France > Project finance Tier 4

The multi-disciplinary practice at Norton Rose Fulbright is co-headed by global head of the firm’s energy practice Anne Lapierre  , project finance specialist Arnaud Bélisaire and Simon Cudennec . The team is heavily focused and has an impressive workload in the energy sector, particularly on the African content, and advises on numerous project and financing matters in this regard.

France > EU, competition and distribution Tier 5

Practice head Marta Giner Asins heads both the France and Morocco competition teams at Norton Rose Fulbright as well as the French life sciences practice, and is well-placed to advise major life sciences clients on the competition aspects of their partnerships with competitors. Giner Asins also has experience of joint ventures in the energy sector, with the practice advising Certas and Engie on gaining European Commission clearance for its joint venture. On the litigation side, the practice is active in cartel cases and, with the assistance of counsel Arnaud Sanz, takes on investigations by authorities such as the DIRECCTE and Competition Authority of New Caledonia. The firm also advises on foreign direct investment and compliance.

France > Mergers and acquisitions Tier 5

Tunisia > Foreign firms Tier 3

Morocco > Banking, finance and capital markets