Stephenson Harwood > Paris, France > Firm Profile
Stephenson Harwood Offices
48 rue Cambon
75001 Paris
France
Stephenson Harwood > The Legal 500 Rankings
France > Shipping finance Tier 1
The shipping finance practice at Stephenson Harwood represents major French banks in significant vessel financings, restructurings, and transactions within the French market, as well as international transactions involving domestic banks, leveraging their global network of offices in key maritime jurisdictions such as China, London, Dubai, Singapore, and Seoul. Leading the team is Alain Gautron, a recognised expert in the field, known for his regular counsel to banks and financial institutions, covering French tax lease financings, export credits, securitisation, multi-lateral facilities, and banking support. The team also includes recently promoted partner (May 2023) Ezio Dal Maso, who heads the superyacht practice, specialising in non-contentious work related to financing, ownership structuring, and ship registration. Additionally, Hortense Atthenont-Duret, a managing associate, brings her expertise in asset finance, export finance, and transportation to the practice.Practice head(s):
Alain Gautron
Other key lawyers:
Ezio Dal Maso; Hortense Atthenot-Duret
Key clients
BNP Paribas
Compagnie du Ponant
Caisse d’Epargne Languedoc-Roussillon|Caisse d’Epargne Bretagne Pays de Loire
Accor
Rubis Energie
Fimar
Corsica Ferries
Crédit Industriel et Commercial (CIC)
Ingépar (Bred subsidiary)
CEPAC
Caisse d’Epargne Ile de France
Socatra
JP Morgan Asset Management
Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank (CACIB)
Work highlights
- Advising CIC as lease arrangers and tax investors on the legal and tax aspects of a leasing transaction for five $180m LNG carriers.
- Assisting Accor Hotel group with the creation of an UltraLuxury offering under the brand name Orient Express Cruise Lines.
- Assisting JP Morgan Asset Management, through its Global Transportation Group, with the establishment of a fully-fledged French ship operator.
France > Aviation finance Tier 3
Stephenson Harwood‘s aviation practice has recently undergone major changes, with Laurence Hanley leaving for Bird & Bird in December 2022 and Edward Campbell retiring in the same year, while Florent Rigaud joined the firm from Reed Smith in June 2023 and now acts as practice head; his portfolio includes secured debt financings, tax-based lease structures, and portfolio sales, amongst others.Practice head(s):
Florent Rigaud
Testimonials
‘Stephenson Harwood (Paris office) is responsive. Its service is good for value. ’
‘Florent Rigaud’s advice is succinct and to the point.’
Key clients
Transportation Partners
Sienna Private Credit
France > Banking and finance: transactional work Tier 3
Stephenson Harwood has solid credentials in the field of asset finance, particularly shipping where the highly experienced Alain Gautron advises lenders and borrowers on the market’s largest transactions. Through Yann Beckers, the firm also offers solid general banking and finance expertise that covers acquisition finance and complex fund financing deals on behalf of leading private equity funds. Other names to note are structured finance expert Jeremy Grant, who advises on emerging market financing, and new hire Florent Rigaud, who joined in June 2023 from Reed Smith and is a project finance specialist.Practice head(s):
Alain Gautron; Yann Beckers; Jeremy Grant; Florent Rigaud
Other key lawyers:
Hugo Le Ridou
Testimonials
‘Skilled, responsiveness, availability and good technique’.
‘Alain Gautron demonstrates a capacity for permanent adaptation and a remarkable availability at all times. ’
‘Exceptional service and a great firm to work with. Responses are always provided in a timely fashion and always broken down to make it possible to understand the legal aspects. Good guidance also on commercial matters.’
‘Hugo Le Ridou and Florent Rigaud: exceptional lawyers, extremely helpful, knowledgeable and extremely valuable.’
‘A very competent and very responsive team which has been able to perfectly integrate the specificities of its client’s sector of activity, its mode of operation as well as its needs and which knows how to have a proactive and protective attitude of its client’s interests. A performance well above the market.’
‘Florent Rigaud is an excellent lawyer both technically and relationally, who has been able to build real credibility and a solid and lasting relationship of trust with his client. Responsiveness and proactivity well above average. A real pleasure to work with him. I can’t recommend him enough.’
‘Responsive. Innovative. Ingenious. Reliable.’
‘Yann Beckers: client oriented, very personable and competent in financing documentation.’
Key clients
Five Arrows Managers
Sienna Private Credit (Ex-Acofi)
Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations
Bpifrance
Access Capital Partners
Arkéa Banque Entreprises & Institutionnels
BPCE
Natixis
Eurazeo
Touax
Société du Grand Paris
Crédit Industriel et Commercial (CIC)
Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC)
Accor
Compagnie du Ponant
Caisse d’Epargne Languedoc-Rousillon (CELR)
JP Morgan Asset Management
BNP Paribas
Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection
JSC Halyk Bank
Work highlights
- Advising major banks on a large-cap asset financing deal in the field of transport.
- Advising Olympique Lyonnais on the financing of the construction of the LDLC Arena.
France > Capital markets: debt capital markets Tier 3
Headed by French and UK qualified Jeremy Grant, Stephenson Harwood’s Paris practice handles a cross-border and international work, regularly working alongside colleagues from the firm’s international offices. The team assists issuers and several financial institutions with mid-cap and complex transactions, spanning sustainability-linked bonds, eurobonds, hybrid offerings, secured notes and liability management work.Practice head(s):
Jeremy Grant
Testimonials
‘Quality work. The firm seeks to adapt standards to the needs of their clients, even if it means having to explain and negotiate these changes for the rest of the transaction.’
‘Jeremy Grant demonstrates ingenuity, pragmatism and rigor.’
‘Jeremy Grant and his team are incredibly commercial. He provides good advice, works efficiently and is overall a pleasure to work with. His commercial attitude is excellent. He is able to boil down difficult issues.’
‘Very good technique, reasonable billing and adapted to mid-sized companies, high availability.’
‘Jeremy Grant: available, very technical ‘.
‘Team with excellent market knowledge. efficient and pleasant collaboration.’
‘Jeremy Grant is particularly available and proactive; the issues are clearly identified. Responses are also always given within deadlines. Clement Leung also has precise knowledge of his field of derivatives activities.’
Key clients
Touax SCA
SCOR SE
Grit Real Estate Income Group Limited
Halyk Bank
Louis Dreyfus Commodities
Fleetscape Capital Limited
Société du Grand Paris
Work highlights
- Advising GRIT Real Estate Income Group Ltd. (GRIT) on a US$306 million debt refinancing and syndication, with Standard Bank as the sole mandated lead arranger.
- Advising SCOR SE on its new contingent capital programme.
- Advising Louis Dreyfus Commodities on its five-year JPY 10 billion of 0.89% per cent sustainability-linked bonds.
France > Insurance Tier 3
The insurance practice at Stephenson Harwood draws on the wider firm's expertise in maritime law to act for international shipping companies, insurers, reinsurers and P&I clubs in claims relating to damages to vessels and port facilities, including cross-border disputes. The team also advises on professional and product liability cases outside the shipping sector. Paris managing partner Nicolas Demigneux leads the practice.Practice head(s):
Nicolas Demigneux
Testimonials
‘A very good team – attentive and efficient.’
Key clients
Lion Air Airline, Ciel Voyage and Transportation Partners
The Hartford (formerly Navigators), RSA, Talbot Underwriting
Hiscox MGA LTD
JDA – Joseph Dirand Architecture
Louis Dreyfus Armateurs SAS And LD Ports & Logistics PTE LTD
Maersk Line A/S
Qatar Museums Authority
RSA Insurance Group PLC, RSA France and RSA Luxembourg
SK Geo Centric CO. LTD
Suez Group/SAS Degrémont France
Work highlights
- Acting for Degrémont, the water subsidiary of Suez, in survey proceedings before the Paris Commercial Court against Sète Agglopole Méditerranée, the contracting authority for the construction and renovation of a water treatment plant in the south of France.
- Advising a group of companies on the insurance issues resulting from the European Union sanctions against Russia in response to the war in Ukraine.
France > Private equity: Fund formation Tier 3
The team at Stephenson Harwood is well-versed in advising domestic and foreign financial institutions on the structuring and creation of close-ended private investment funds. Working under the leadership of Julien Vandenbussche, who specialises in fund formation, the group is also home to the 'commercial, responsive and thoughtful' Ngowari Adikibi, who is dual-qualified in France and the UK and was promoted to the partnership in 2023.Practice head(s):
Julien Vandenbussche
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘They are experts in the PE fund formation practice and are very knowledgeable as to how the regulatory framework and industry operates. They are solution-driven and practical with due regard to the client’s needs and the regulatory and commercial background.’
‘Ngowari Adikibi knows her stuff and delivers timely and practical legal advice. She’s knowledgeable, excellent attention to detail and professional. She has proven to be a commercial, responsive and thoughtful adviser in our dealings with her over the years.’
‘Very good communication between fund and tax specialists. The service provided is top notch (availability, teaching, etc.)’
Key clients
Eurazeo Investment Management
Bpifrance Investissement
ODDO Private Equity
Swen Capital Partners
Albarest Partners
Access Capital Partners
SPE Capital
Mirova
Andera Partners
AXA France
Founders Future
Work highlights
- Advised AXA in its capacity as sponsor on its €100m investment in Regenerative Agri Fund, a PE fund managed by Tikehau IM seeking €300 million for its first closing.
- Advised SPE Capital on the creation and ongoing operation of SPE AIF I, L.P. (private equity fund).
- Advised Swen Capital Partners on the establishment of their last mezzanine debt fund, Swen Mezz Flex 3, FPCI, seeking €250m of commitments.
France > Shipping Tier 3
With over 20 years of experience in litigation and dispute resolution, Stephenson Harwood‘s shipping practice continues its steady growth, supported by a robust cross-disciplinary team with notable expertise in insurance and industrial risks. Managed by Nicolas Demigneux, the team has cultivated a specialised practice in maritime matters, providing assistance to shipowners, ship managers, charterers, shipyards, insurers, reinsurers, and P&I clubs. Their work this year has been particularly noteworthy in addressing international insurance issues.Practice head(s):
Nicolas Demigneux
Other key lawyers:
Alexandre Koenig; Viviane Tse; Deborah Attias; Guerin Loisel, Marion Jaeck; Marion Eichwald
Testimonials
‘Stephenson Harwood is one of the world-renowned law firms that can provide comprehensive services under different legal jurisdictions around the world.’
‘Stephenson Harwood provides extremely professional and meticulous legal services, including introduction and analysis of French litigation procedures.’
‘They are efficient, offering timely follow-ups of case processes and proactive risk analysis and reminders, so clients have a clear understanding of the involved disputes.’
Key clients
The Hartford (Formerly Navigators), RSA and Talbot Underwriting
Hiscox MGA LTD.
Louis Dreyfus Armateurs SAS and LD Ports & Logistics PTE LTD.
Columbia Shipmanagement
Maersk Line A/S
RSA Insurance Group PLC, RSA France and RSA Luxembourg
Work highlights
- Advising insurers of a European naval defense company on its coverage discussions with the lead underwriter, the broker and the insured following the fire that destroyed part of a nuclear attack submarine.
- Advising a ship manager and maritime service provider on criminal proceedings against crew members following the interception of a vessel and the discovery by French customs of 2 tons of cocaine on board.
- Advising and representing the owner of a multi-million megayacht, facing approximatively 10 proceedings.
France > Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation Tier 4
Practice head(s):
Nicolas Demigneux
Testimonials
‘Availability, good understanding of problems, excellent legal knowledge, creativity and responsiveness.’
‘Stephenson Harwood’s dispute resolution practice is pro-active, responsive and reliable. Most importantly, working with the team is uncomplicated and pleasant.’
‘Flexibility, collaboration, use of modern technologies, high level of performance.’
‘High level of negotiations, business approach, full understanding of the client’s position, not only legal expertise but also a technical expertise, wide range of contacts among other lawyers, experts and specialists worldwide’.
‘Excellent depth of knowledge; very responsive and part of a wider network of offices. ’
‘Nicolas Demigneux and his whole team are excellent, responsive, reliable, considered and very bright.’
‘This team is very professional.’
‘ Nicolas Demigneux listens, is available, and adapts to the issues and size of a company. He is imaginative, pro-active and provides good follow-up.’
Key clients
Maersk Line A/S
Suez Group
Sas Degrémont France
Transasia Commodities Investment LTD.
Lion Air Airline, Ciel Voyage and Transportation Partners
Qatar Museums Authority
Stefania LLC
Hiscox MGA LTD
Aviagen
Work highlights
- Representing two investment companies in a dispute against the court-appointed administrators of a company specialised in logistics and international transport, following the judicial sale and deprivation of assets of a leading company operating in the mining and civil engineering sectors in DRC.
- Assisting an investment company in a dispute against its shareholder related to their relationship as joint shareholders of a British Virgin Islands company, which holds a participation in a Congolese leader company operating in DRC and specialised in the cement production.
- Advising insurers of a European leader in naval defence on insurance coverage issues following a fire that destroyed part of a nuclear attack submarine.
France > Employment Tier 4
Practice head(s):
Soazig Préteseille-Taillardat
Testimonials
‘The work produced by the team is of very good quality and 100% “tailor-made”. The legal and economic risks are fully appreciated. ’
‘Soazig Préteseille-Taillardat is very competent and she fights for the interests of her clients. She knows the pitfalls of restructuring plans by heart.’
‘For me, Soazig Préteseille-Taillardat is the best lawyer for French social law. Her international experience allows her to adapt to the cultural particularities of her clients.’
Key clients
LVMH Group
Scania France
General Electric Healthcare
AEG Power Solutions
Siemens Energy/ Siemens SAS
Alcaltel Submarine
Edf/Sizewell
TK Elevator
Ifeelsmart
Aecom
Auxitrol
China Construction Bank
ZTE
Hoche Eight – Sofitel
Saint-Gobain
OpinionWay
JP Morgan Asset Management
Circet
Work highlights
- Advising companies, such as Auxitrol (Group Transdigm) and Siemens Energy, on the implementation and negotiation of an employment protection plan.
- Assisting several companies including Scania France, TK Elevator and Auxitrol on the establishment and negotiation of working time agreements or associated litigations.
France > Insolvency Tier 4
Under the leadership of Alexandre Koenig, who was promoted to partner in May 2023, the restructuring and insolvency practice at Stephenson Harwood closely collaborates with all departments in the Paris office. It brings together specialists in distressed company law and is backed by experts in financing, corporate law, litigation, and employment law. This multidisciplinary approach ensures smooth handling of complex cases, helping clients prevent and resolve disputes related to corporate challenges and insolvency proceedings. The practice’s versatility allows them to tackle both high-stakes, large-scale mandates and mid-cap cases, both domestically and internationally, with support from the firm’s global practice.Practice head(s):
Alexandre Koenig
Testimonials
‘The team is very competent and responsive. Alexandre Koenig uses creativity to achieve client goals. He is also flexible and knows how to adapt to the client’s budget and constraints.’
‘The team led by Alexandre Koenig is of very high quality. They were efficient, proactive, very available and gave us very good advice throughout the process of responding to our offer to buy out a company in collective proceedings. They have done remarkable work in building a relationship of trust with all the stakeholders in the file.’
‘We worked directly with Alexandre Koenig and his team. Alexandre managed our file and our response with great intelligence and personal investment. He is diplomatic, knows how to find the key success factors and highlight them.’
‘A team that knows how to work in a network and has great expertise and experience.’
‘Extremely responsive and creative team, able to work alongside French or foreign clients and effective in presenting the French particularities of takeovers of companies in difficulty in France.’
‘Alexandre Koenig is a stand-out expert who adds value beyond legal advice. He is able to achieve results through this detailed knowledge of the intricacies of the law and his network together with his charming, disarming manner and ability to engineer innovative solutions. ’
‘The team is distinguished by its in-depth expertise in specific areas of law, which allows it to provide high quality legal advice in these areas. The lawyers on the team work closely with each other, which promotes a continuous exchange of ideas and knowledge, beneficial to clients.’
‘Alexandre Koenig’s remarkable performance in terms of legal advice, the quality of his drafting of documents, as well as his ability to represent our interests in an exemplary manner are aspects which deserve to be praised.’
Key clients
Circet
Transportation Partners
iWire
Teak Capital
Foliateam
Scopelec Energies Services
ILCI Business School
Work highlights
- Advising Circet as part of its takeover of most of the activities of the Scopelec Group, the largest cooperative group in France, out of French receivership proceedings, in one of the largest judicial restructuring deals of 2022/2023 in France.
- Advising Transportation Partners in connection with the restructuring of the Indonesian airline group Lion Air, which involved 200 aircraft and 50 lessor groups in the context of the insolvency proceedings of multiple French SPVs dedicated to the management of the Lion Air Group’s aircraft fleet.
- Advising Teak Capital, a privately held industrial investment portfolio in the Asia Pacific and LATAM regions, in the context of the development of its European and French development strategies, notably through its bid to take over the business of French industrial company CHAINES ET ROUES DENTEES RAFER out of French receivership proceedings.
France > Intellectual property: Trade marks and designs Tier 4
Practice head(s):
Boriana Guimberteau
Other key lawyers:
Magali Courroye
Testimonials
‘The Stephenson Harwood intellectual property team in France is a good team. It is knowledgeable, responsive and client-oriented.’
‘Boriana Guimberteau has longstanding experience and has profound legal knowledge. She is quick, accurate and to the point.’
‘Boriana Guimberteau is able to tailor services along the lines of the client’s needs. She is practical and business-oriented.’
Work highlights
- Representing an American multinational e-commerce company in legal proceedings before the French Supreme Court and the Paris commercial court against Beauté Prestige International.
- Advising a consumer health company in its strategy to protect its trade mark and design rights in France and to defend its rights against competitors in relation to well-known toothpaste products.
- Advising a player in France and Europe in the field of telecom infrastructure services, as part of its takeover of most of the activities of a major cooperative group in France.
France > Private equity: LBO Tier 4
Practice head(s):
Clotilde Billat; Guillaume Briant
Key clients
EasyVista and its shareholders Eurazeo and Cathay Capital
Joint Partner
Creadev International
Andera Partners
Trocadero Capital Partners
Access Capital Partners
Renaissance Fusion
Mirova
Altitude
Bienprevoir.fr – Primaliance
Arkéa Banque Entreprises & Institutionnels
Groupe Pegase
DMS GROUP
Work highlights
- Advised Andera Croissance and Trocadero Capital Partners, as well as the Pégase Group, in the context of its first external growth operation to acquire Aléo Group.
- Advised Renaissance Fusion in the context of its €15m fundraising.
- Advised Mirova in the context of a fundraising of €32m carried out by Naïo Technologies.
France > Tax Tier 5
Practice head(s):
Olivier Couraud; Omar El Arjoun
Testimonials
‘Excellent, high-performance team.’
‘Olivier Couraud: very efficient and precise.’
‘Omar El Arjoun has a good knowledge of the functioning of private equity funds and market practice.’
France > Mergers and acquisitions Tier 6
Practice head(s):
Guillaume Briant; Clotilde Billat
Testimonials
‘Guillaume Briant is very competent, pleasant, constructive and a deal maker. He defends his clients while creating a pleasant atmosphere.’
Key clients
Orange
OpinionWay
Neoxia
Diagnostic Medical Systems Group (DMS Group)
Bd-Capital
Creadev International
Andera Partners
Renaissance Fusion
GE Healthcare
Groupe TF1
Saint-Gobain
Eurazeo
LVMH / Groupe Les Echos – Le Parisien
Netiwan
Altitude
Africinvest
NMN Cap (Formely Educas)
Mirova
Ahmed Mhiri
Oryx Energies
CDER Investissement
Work highlights
- Advised Neoxia, an expert in Cloud Technologies, on exclusive negotiations for the takeover of the Neoxia and Skale 5 companies by Deloitte Conseil.
- Advised Orange on the creation of Hexadone, a joint venture dedicated to big data with La Banque des Territoires (Groupe Caisse des Dépôts).
- Advised Groupe Altitude on the acquisition of Conseil Réseau Télé-Informatique (CRT Informatique) through its subsidiary Linkt.
France > EU, competition and distribution
Stephenson Harwood > Firm Profile
Stephenson Harwood is an international law firm with more than partners and eight offices across Europe (London, Paris, Piraeus), the Middle East (Dubai) and Asia (Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Seoul).
We combine our teams’ expertise with the firm’s sector knowledge to advise on the best strategy and deliver the best possible outcomes for clients.
The firm has put in place five strategic areas of focus (Decarbonistaion, Life sciences, Private capital & Funds, Technology, Trade & Transportation). By focusing on five specific areas, we combine cutting-edge legal, commercial and financial advice with an unparalleled understanding of the sectors to deliver results that fuel your success.
In Paris, we have a full-service offering with over 45 lawyers across 10 areas of expertise ( M&A and Private Equity, Banking & Asset financing, Competition, Restructuring & Insolvency, Litigation, Funds structuring, Ethics, investigations, defence, Intellectual Property, Tax, Employment).
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Managing Partner | Nicolas Demigneux | nicolas.demigneux@shlegal.com | +33 1 44 15 80 00 |
Business Development Manager | Nailah Eddoo | nailah.eddoo@shlegal.com |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Ngowari Adikibi | Ngowari Adikibi acts for management companies and GPs, as well as institutional… | View Profile | |
Evelyne Bagdassarian | Evelyne Bagdassarian is a partner and head of the tax practice of… | View Profile | |
Mr Yann Beckers | A banking and finance partner with a focus on acquisition, real estate… | View Profile | |
Clotilde Billat | Clotilde is a partner in the corporate team. She specialises in private… | View Profile | |
Mr Guillaume Briant | Focusing his practice on M&A and Private Equity transactions, Guillaume has more… | View Profile | |
Ezio Dal Maso | Partner | View Profile | |
Nicolas Demigneux | A litigation expert, Nicolas specialises in general commercial and insurance litigation, arbitration… | View Profile | |
Alain Gautron | Alain is a highly established figure in France’s banking and finance sector,… | View Profile | |
Raphaël Gauvain | Partner | View Profile | |
Jeremy Grant | Jeremy’s practice covers capital markets, structured finance and banking. He has over… | View Profile | |
Boriana Guimberteau | Boriana is an IP partner specialising in both contentious and non-contentious issues.… | View Profile | |
Alexandre Koenig | Partner | View Profile | |
Jean-Julien Lemonnier | Partner | View Profile | |
Soazig Preteseille-Taillardat | As the partner in charge of the employment law team in Paris,… | View Profile | |
Florent Rigaud | Partner | View Profile | |
Julien Vandenbussche | Partner | View Profile |
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- Shipping finance
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Aviation finance
- Banking and finance: transactional work
- Capital markets: debt capital markets
- Insurance
- Private equity: Fund formation
- Shipping