Firm Profile > Simmons & Simmons > Paris, France

Healthcare and life sciences

Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences Tier 1

Simmons & Simmons is second to none in product liability law. The practice has an impressive track record of defending leading industry players facing high-stake drug and medical device liability proceedings, with recent work including the headline Levothyrox and Mediator cases. Co-head of practice Jacques-Antoine Robert is a star in this field. International head Alexandre Regniault, who also co-heads the Paris practice, advises on regulatory matters. Other key members include Ombline Ancelin, who assists leading healthcare companies with strategic antitrust and distribution issues, corporate partner Simonetta Giordano, and Sarah Bailey, who provides IP and data advice. Charlotte Damiano joined Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP in 2019.

Intellectual property: Copyright Tier 1

The copyright offering at Simmons & Simmons is jointly headed by Marina Cousté and Sarah Bailey and handles advisory and litigious matters. The firm has particular experience of working with clients from the pharmaceutical and spirits industries. Contentious matters handled by the practice include representing clients in copyright infringement litigation before French courts. On the non-contentious side, Ultimate Software Group instructed the team to advise on its $300m acquisition of PeopleDoc. The team also assists clients with the negotiation and drafting of licensing and maintenance agreements. Another key name to note is of counsel Frédérique Potin. Of counsel Romain Viret  joined LPA-CGR avocats.

Dispute resolution: Stock market litigation Tier 2

Simmons & Simmons is recognised for its leading AMF regulatory expertise thanks to group head Thierry Gontard, who represents leading French and international banks, financial institutions and individuals. Gontard is regularly instructed to act in AMF enforcement investigations and stock-market litigation. UBS Limited London and France, Société Générale and Crédit du Nord are clients. Eric Boillot departed to Rossi Bordes AARPI in 2019.

Industry focus: Energy Tier 2

Simmons & Simmons is traditionally heavily involved in Africa, but the gorup has recently been developing its domestic presence on large renewables projects. The firm is notably assisting German banks and developers, while also developing its client base among US and international investment funds, especially in collaboration with the firm's London office. Africa mining work represents a significant portion of the team’s activity. In that area, the practice advises leading mining corporations and African state entities on some of the world’s largest mining projects, notably in Mauritania and Guinea. The firm is also involved in African power projects and handles major work in Djibouti, for example for the Djibouti Ports & Free Zone Authority. Yves Baratte directs the  very compact and growing practice.

Intellectual property: Patents Tier 2

The 'excellent mix of professional talent' at Simmons & Simmons allows the team to assist clients from a variety of sectors, focusing especially on pharmaceutical and life sciences, in which industries it has gained new clients including Merck KGaA. It handles the gamut of contentious and non-contentious matters. 'Swift, accurate, patient' Marina Cousté is leading a team with François Jonquères, which is defending telecoms company Sigos in a patent infringement action in which the European patent is claiming priority over the French patent at stake, initiated by Araxxe, and worth €5m. The other key name to note at the practice is that of 'outstanding negotiator' Sarah Bailey.

Intellectual property: Trade marks and designs Tier 2

The large team at Simmons & Simmons handles litigation and advisory matters, and has notable strength assisting with intellectual property aspects during and post-mergers. Demonstrating the firm's specialism in the life sciences sector, a team led by Sarah Bailey assisted Laboratoire Cooper with its acquisition of both the Dacryum and Dacryoserum, including assigning the related trade marks, reviewing the assignor’s trade marks portfolio, and reviewing the agreement, in a cross-border deal worth €1.3m. Marina Cousté is representing Château Lafite Rothschild, one of the most prestigious vineyards in the world, in trade mark infringement litigation against Ibizvin. Also recommended are Romain Viret and Frédérique Potin, both of counsel, and associate Sarah Madi.

Private equity: Fund formation Tier 2

Simmons & Simmons stands out for its exclusive focus on work for general partners, which the practice assists with a large variety of funds, ranging from private equity and venture capital funds to infrastructure funds, real estate funds and debt funds, among others. The team has become a key name for the largest fundraisings in the market, including a string of fundraisings for first-time funds. Part of a global fund formation team, the group benefits from the firm's strong international network, with a particular focus on Europe and Asia, especially Hong Kong. Practice head Agnès Rossi is the key contact. With the arrival of Jérôme Patenotte and his team from Gowling WLG in June 2019, the firm now also has a transactional private equity offering.

Banking and finance: transactional work Tier 3

Clients praise the 'deep market knowledge and strong negotiation skills' of Simmons & Simmons, which is 'a reference point for small to mid-cap deals in Paris'. It has a well-established real estate finance practice and prominent position in acquisition finance and corporate lending. It also handles equity bridge financing and fund financing transactions. Financial institutions, major corporates and fund managers call on the English and French law expertise in the Paris office, largely for international matters. Colin Millar, who focuses mainly on LBO transactions, and Céline Larmet are the key partners.

Data privacy and data protection Tier 3

Simmons & Simmons is a popular choice for financial institutions, investment funds and asset management companies, and is also active in the TMT and healthcare and life sciences sectors. Matters regularly involve cross-practice elements, where it is able to leverage the firm's wider expertise and it frequently works with the employment and dispute resolution groups. The team counts major French and international companies among its clients. The development and implementation of data protection strategies; data protection compliance checks, undertaken through the group's data protection health check; and assistance with the development of digital projects, for example in marketing, are key areas of strength. Sarah Bailey, who also specialises in intellectual property, is the head of the practice. Christophe Fichet, former co-head of the practice, joined Dentons in December 2019.

Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation Tier 3

Simmons & Simmons has state-of-the-art product liability litigation expertise, particularly in the healthcare sector, where the firm is handling some of the market's largest high-profile disputes defending well-known pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. The practice is notably acting in the headline Levothyrox and Mediator cases. Practice head Jacques-Antoine Robert is a star in this field. In addition, the firm is also growing its shareholder conflicts and private equity disputes practice, through Guillaume-Denis Faure. Finally, the firm also acts for banks and financial institutions through Thierry Gontard, who also handles commercial litigation, while Etinenne Kowalski notably tackles criminal law issues.

Mergers and acquisitions Tier 3

Simmons & Simmons' team is 'very diligent and able to handle complicated situations'. Best known for its work in four key sectors - asset management and investment funds, financial institutions, life sciences and healthcare, and TMT - the firm is also increasingly strong in the private equity space with the arrival of Jérôme Patenotte and his team from Gowling WLG. Christian Taylor now leads a four-partner practice, in which Simonetta Giordano focuses on deals in the healthcare, life sciences, energy and consumer goods sectors. Moody's and BlackRock are among the firm's key clients.

Project finance Tier 3

Simmons & Simmons

Employment Tier 4

Simmons & Simmons

EU, competition and distribution Tier 4

Simmons & Simmons has a large client base consisting of many leading healthcare companies whom the practice assists with their strategic antitrust and distribution law issues. The five-lawyer team also advised a leading food corporation on an abuse of dominant position case and was active in merger control work. Ombline Ancelin is in charge. Supervising associate Florent Barbu is the other key member.

Tax Tier 4

Simmons & Simmons is redeveloping its tax practice following major changes in the last few years. Practice head Chloë Nessim is noted for her versatile expertise: she is particularly strong in property tax, while also having experience in private equity fund structuring. The team provides support to the firm’s other departments, especially in the fund structuring area; it recently advised on the structuring and fundraising of a major property fund, as well as assisting BlackRock with its proposed acquisition of eFront. The team is also increasingly active providing standalone tax advice.

Dispute resolution: International arbitration Tier 5

Simmons & Simmons

Morocco > Foreign firms Tier 1

Yves Baratte leads the energy, natural resources and infrastructure practice in the Paris office of Simmons & Simmons, which plays a pivotal role in large power, water, mining and infrastructure projects. The firm's recent work for corporates and European development finance institutions includes solar projects backed by Masen, notably the Nour IV project. It also handles M&A, disputes, IP and telecoms matters in Morocco.