Baker McKenzie > Paris, France > Firm Profile

Baker McKenzie > The Legal 500 Rankings

France > Data privacy and data protection Tier 1

Baker McKenzie is a well respected team in the field and acts for an exclusive list of clients which includes major banks, software conglomerates, and fashion houses. As part of its work, the firm advises clients on CNIL investigations, cyber crime, and data privacy litigation. Magalie Dansac Le Clerc has an outstanding wealth of experience and advises clients on GDPR compliance and related issues, including data transfer issues, processing of sensitive data, data breaches, information and consent, direct marketing, data privacy impact assessment, data subject access requests and data processing agreements. Rémy Bricard and Laurent Szuskin are other names to note.

France > Industry focus: IT and internet  Tier 1

The team at Baker McKenzie has broad coverage, handling transactions and digitisation, as well as being a key port of call for risk management. The team is jointly led by Rémy Bricard, who advises on matters concerning electronic commerce and the Internet, privacy law and IT litigation, and Laurent Szuskin, who focuses on IT compliance matters involving licensing, maintenance, integration, hosting, managed services and outsourcing. Magalie Dansac Le Clerc is also noted.

France > Industry focus: Telecoms  Tier 1

The team at Baker McKenzie is consistently engaged to advise on the negotiation of agreements, telecoms surveys, regulatory work, licensing matters and contractual issues. Additionally, Rémy Bricard focuses on complex IT and telecoms contracts, including development, licensing, integration and outsourcing  but is equally versed in M&A. Laurent Szuskin and Christian Blomet are sought after for their proficiency in mobile and fixed voice telecommunications and data.

France > Intellectual property: Copyright Tier 1

The IP team at Baker McKenzie leverages its status as an international law firm to handle both contentious and non-contentious matters for domestic and multi-jurisdictional clients. The firm’s clientele extends to a variety of industries, including hospitality, consumer and retail, software and technology, luxury goods, streaming media, and entertainment, as well as high-profile individuals. In addition to regularly handling litigation before French civil and criminal courts, as well as European IP offices, the firm handles contentious issues before US IP offices, a testament to the firm’s broad international capabilities. Leading the team is Nathalie Marchand, who, as a noted litigator, has handled IP litigation in first instance as well as in appeal. Noted by one client for her ‘mastery of subjects’ is Pauline Celeyron, who leverages her prior expertise as an in-house lawyer and is an expert in digital copyright matters. Former team head Virginie Ulmann  left the firm in July of 2024 for retirement.

France > Intellectual property: Trade marks and designs Tier 1

The team at Baker McKenzie is a first port of call for global clients active in sectors including luxury goods, high street fashion, technology and software, pharmaceuticals and tyre manufacturing. The team regularly advises on pre-contentious matters including mediation and negotiations as well as handling a steady pipeline of litigation before European and French courts, enforcement, depositions, anti-counterfeiting measures and cancellation matters. The team is led by Nathalie Marchand, who  is a key name for IP litigation. Pauline Celeyron was promoted to the partnership in 2024.

France > Tax Tier 1

Drawing on its global footprint, Baker McKenzie is at the forefront of tax policy discussions, as well as covering the full ambit of tax matters for its clients. Véronique Millischer heads the practice, while also leading on the group's corporate tax work. Its transfer pricing work is handled by Caroline Silberztein , who is also knowledgeable about international law. The contentious tax work, notably tax audits and litigation, is led by Eric Meier , Ariane Calloud , Régis Torlet and Mathieu Valeteau , who are all active in tax reassessments and tax refunds. Thierry Vialaneix steers the firm's VAT offering, while also focusing on indirect tax issues affecting domestic and multinational companies. Agnès Charpenet dedicates her practice to private wealth management, as well as employee benefits matters. Virginie Louvigné focuses her practice on the tax aspects of real estate deals.

France > Environment Tier 2

Baker McKenzie‘s environment practice group often advises clients on environmental risk management, waste management, and environmental audit matters. The firm particularly stands out for its expertise in environmental-related litigation work. Key contact Arnaud Cabanes heads the practice group and is regularly involved in transactions and litigation between public entities and private companies on matters relating to the environmental sector, such as waste issues. Michaël Perche and Pauline Abbouche left the firm.

France > EU, competition and distribution Tier 2

Baker McKenzie has an excellent reputation for representing prominent clients in dawn raids by the FCA and EC, and in many of the most complex and sensitive cartel investigations in France. The team is also well versed in complex merger control cases at both the national and European levels (often joining up with the firm’s international offices to obtain clearances for global deals), abuse of dominance investigations, follow-on damages claims, and compliance matters. Léna Sersiron, a highly sought-after advisor on high-stakes antitrust investigations and litigation, leads the practice. Olivia Chriqui-Guiot provides strong support, particularly in merger control and abuse of dominance cases.

France > Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences Tier 2

Baker McKenzie houses a ‘dedicated and committed’ team known for its broad experience spanning strategic collaborations, pricing and reimbursement work, and French transparency mandates. The group acts for a diverse and high-profile client base of global pharma and biotech corporates. The ‘excellent’ Julie Yeni heads the practice, utilising her vast knowledge of clinical trials and market access issues, with a strong focus on personal data processing. Yeni is also adept at advising on distribution and supply issues. Melodie Truong is another key figure within the team.

France > Industry focus: Luxury goods Tier 2

The team at Baker McKenzie has a solid footing within the luxury goods industry and is routinely instructed to advise on corporate acquisitions, refinancings, IP asset protection and supply chain distribution. Katia Boneva-Desmicht has particular experience advising on the reorganisation of exclusive and selective distribution networks at an EU level and also handles disputes related to luxury brands. M&A expert Hugo Sanchez De La Espada and Léna Sersiron, who brings competition expertise to the team, are other names to note.

France > Banking and finance: transactional work Tier 3

Baker McKenzie is a reference for leading French and international banks as well as international ECAs in the field of trade and export finance, ESG and corporate financing of companies operating in emerging markets, especially in Turkey and Africa. Domestically, the team also advises companies on the granting of facilities (ESG, RCF). The practice is led by the highly experienced Michael Foundethakis, who is supported by Gonzague Basso.  Thomas Lefebvre left the firm in December 2024.

France > Compliance Tier 3

Praised for its ‘expertise, responsiveness and innovation’, Baker McKenzie assists clients with the design and implementation of compliance programmes, spanning anti-corruption and anti-money laundering, in addition to international sanctions issues, whistleblowing policies and internal and cross-border investigations. Managing partner and practice leader Eric Lasry advises on matters concerning anti-bribery, anti-corruption and whistleblowing, with additional experience in assisting with audits launched by the French Anti-Corruption Agency and leading internal investigations.

France > Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation Tier 3

Baker McKenzie has a solid and very capable team able to handle a large spectrum of cases: commercial and financial disputes as well product liability and exequatur proceedings. The litigation team also has particular strength in the IT and real estate sectors. Large French and international corporations as well as banks are clients. The practice is headed by Katia Boneva-Desmicht, and also includes  Clotilde Guyot-Réchard  and Xavier Salvatore.

France > Employment Tier 3

The team at Baker McKenzie leverages a global network to act in a range of complex, multi-jurisdictional employment matters for an international client base, advising on areas including individual and collective relations, employment implications of strategic corporate decisions, and expatriation. The team is spearheaded by Olivier Vasset , a specialist in large-scale redundancies and employee benefit issues. Jérémie Paubel, Nadège Dallais and Eléonore d’Anthonay are other key contacts.

France > Mergers and acquisitions Tier 3

Baker McKenzie assists a prominent client base of leading French corporations, notably active in the IT, aviation and luxury goods sectors, while also advising many large foreign industrial groups. The firm is well known for its ability to manage large transactions of a global scale, including major spin-off conducted overs several continents, but also regularly handles large and strategic domestic deals such as recently in the IT sector. Private equity is also dealt with. The team is led by Stéphane Davin and includes key partners Alain Sauty de Chalon , Hugo Sanchez de la Espada, Guillaume Nataf and Aurélie Govillé.

France > Real estate Tier 3

Baker McKenzie’s broad caseload encompasses asset management, real estate funds structuring, and project development. Marc Mariani oversees the practice and is experienced in lease agreements, Hervé Jégou is knowledgeable of office transactions, and Eva Leygonie is well regarded in the hotel sector. Virginie Louvigné, Romain Marroux, and Meriem Ladhari provide the team with expertise in real estate tax matters. Maria Batlouni is also noted.

France > Administrative and public law Tier 4

Litigation is a key pillar of the public law practice at Baker McKenzie, which frequently handles disputes concerning the awarding and performance of public contracts, as well as issues of constitutional law. On the advisory side, the team assists with public procurement and concessions, regulatory issues, particularly in the telecoms and energy spaces, and compliance with sanctions. Arnaud Cabanes, whose client roster ranges from local governments and state-owned entities to prominent private companies, leads the team.

France > Dispute resolution: International arbitration Tier 5