Shearman & Sterling LLP > Paris, France > Firm Profile
Shearman & Sterling LLP Offices
7 RUE JACQUES BINGEN
75017 PARIS
France
Shearman & Sterling LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
France > Banking and finance: transactional work Tier 2
Shearman & Sterling LLP handles a wide range of financing matters for leading banks, alternative debt providers, sponsors and corporates, with a particular focus on real estate financing and LBO financing. Working in collaboration with the firm’s international network across Europe and the US, the team is particularly sought after to act on cross-border mandates. Pierre-Nicolas Ferrand, who leads the practice, is experienced in acquisition finance, real estate finance and debt restructuring. Maud Manon joined the group in January 2022 from DLA Piper.Practice head(s):
Pierre-Nicolas Ferrand
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Société Générale
King Street Capital Management
CACIB
Trail Capital
BECM
Natixis Securities Americas LLC
LBO France
Equistone
Silverfleet Capital
Siparex
BofA
HSBC
BNP Paribas
Marlin Equity
CWT
Work highlights
- Represented BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Natixis, Nordea Bank Abp and Société Générale as initial purchasers in connection with Consolis Group S.A.S.’s €300m offering of 5.750% senior secured notes due in 2026 by Compact Bidco B.V., and the arrangers in connection with the company’s super senior revolving credit facilities agreement and the inter-creditor agreement.
- Advised the banking pool on the signing of a new €345m five-year senior secured revolving credit facility for Loxam.
France > Capital markets: equity capital markets Tier 2
Shearman & Sterling LLP focuses on large cross-border transactions and is a known for its broad equity capital market practice and its contributions to legal reforms, for example regarding capital increases through private placements and the creation of rights plans. Matters range from initial public offerings, rights offerings and block trades to hybrid and equity-linked securities, including matters that involve simultaneous capital raisings in France and abroad. A stand-out feature is the employee and management equity plan practice, led by Sami Toutounji. Hervé Letréguilly directs the practice. Counsel Séverine de La Courtie is the second key contact.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Séverine de La Courtie; Sami Toutounji
Key clients
Constellium
Société Générale
ICE
Orange
L’Oréal
ALD
Schneider Electric
HalioDx
Nordea
Unifiedpost Group SA/NV (Unifiedpost)
Work highlights
France > Mergers and acquisitions Tier 2
Headquartered in New York, Shearman & Sterling LLP is geared to handle a broad array of corporate transactions including leveraged buy-outs, acquisitions, divestitures, tender offers, joint ventures, mergers, spin-offs and strategic alliances. Practice head Guillaume Isautier acts on deals involving both listed and non-listed companies and is especially well regarded within the banking, telecom, energy, retail and consumer goods sectors. The wider team is also experienced in TMT, healthcare and hospitality and has noted an uptick in its outbound M&A work of late. Jérémy Scemama, former practice head of DLA Piper, joined in October 2021 alongside Matthieu Lampel.Practice head(s):
Guillaume Isautier
Other key lawyers:
Nicolas Bombrun; Thomas Philippe; Jérémy Scemama; Matthieu Lampel
Testimonials
‘A client-friendly team, extremely involved in the service of its clients with an availability and an unfailing commitment of the M&A partner.’
‘Guillaume Isautier successfully manages to combine a remarkable work force, protection of the interests of his clients, a very appreciable relational mode in terms of interactions and availability, all at very competitive prices.’
Key clients
Société Générale
Florac
LBO France
ALD Automotive
Siparex
GL EVENTS
King Street Capital Management
Mubadala
JinJiang
Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited
Work highlights
- Represented Société Générale in connection with the sale of its Norwegian subsidiary, SG Finans AS, a leading equipment finance and factoring company in the Nordics, to Nordea Bank Abp, the largest financial services group in the Nordics listed on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange, Helsinki Stock Exchange and Stockholm Stock Exchange.
- Acted for ALD Automotive, one of the leading global providers of mobility solutions, in connection with the creation of a joint venture with Ford dedicated to provide new integrated fleet leasing and management solutions across Europe under the name of Ford Fleet Management.
- Represented LBO France in connection with the acquisition of a majority stake in Dutscher group, the leading independent distributor of R&D laboratory consumables and equipments in Europe.
France > Capital markets: debt capital markets Tier 3
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘The team has not only an unrivalled expertise with respect to the capital markets legal framework, but also a unique knowledge of the market practices and doctrine of the regulatory authorities due to its involvement in almost all the major transactions.’
‘Hervé Letréguilly and Séverine de La Courtie are very close to their clients, always trying to find pragmatic solutions with a very good understanding of their business issues.’
‘Hervé Letréguilly is creative and has a perfect mastery of market issues.’
Key clients
Tereos SCA
STMicroelectronics
Société Générale
BNP Paribas
Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank
Bank of America
Santander
Lloyds Bank
Credit Suisse
Deutsche Bank
Work highlights
- Advised STMicroelectronics on (i) a $1.5 billion dual-tranche offering of New Convertible Bonds and (ii) the early redemption of its 2022 Convertible Bonds.
- Acted for BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Coöperatieve Rabobank, Crédit Industriel et Commercial, Natixis, Société Générale, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, and Mediobanca – Banca di Credito Finanziario as initial purchasers in Elior Group’s €550m offering of 3.75 percent senior notes due 2026.
- Advised BNP Paribas, Crédit Industriel et Commercial S.A., Société Générale and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank as initial purchasers on Derichebourg SA’s $300m offering of 2.250% senior notes due 2028 as part of the financing of the proposed acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Groupe Ecore Holding S.A.S.
France > Project finance Tier 3
Shearman & Sterling LLPPractice head(s):
Lachlan Poustie
Testimonials
‘I was very happy with the responsiveness of the team and their technical skills.’
‘Lachlan Poustie is a partner with excellent contacts and very effective negotiation skills. He was able to involve the right people on our file and his expertise in project financing in Africa was extremely useful. He was able to carry out a particularly complex file and advise us on how to move forward.’
Key clients
IFC – International Finance Corporate
EIB – European Investment Bank
Proparco
OFID – Fund for International Development
Standard Bank
DBSA- Development Bank of Southern Africa
AfDB – African Development Bank
EAIF – Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund
DEG – Deutsche Investitions und Entwicklungsgesellschaft
Engie
Work highlights
- Advised African Development Bank, Deutsche Bank, European Investment Bank, International Finance Corporation, OPEC Fund for International Development, Société de Promotion et de Participation pour la Coopération Economique (Proparco) and Standard Bank on the restructuring of the TAV Airports group’s two concessions in Tunisia (at Monastir and Enfidha).
France > Tax Tier 3
Shearman & Sterling LLP’s tax team regularly assists the corporate and capital markets practice with many of its transactions. The practice is able to advise on complex M&A, debt and equity capital markets, financing and private equity transactions, acting for a wide range of clients, including leading banks, corporations as well as private equity funds, from mid- to larger deals. Practice head Niels Dejean is highly regarded. Counsel Anne-Sophie Maes
and associate Charles Filleux-Pommerol regularly lead on tax in key transactions.Practice head(s):
Niels Dejean
Other key lawyers:
Anne-Sophie Maes; Charles Filleux-Pommerol
Testimonials
‘Technically sound and proactive tax team.’
‘Niels Dejean is one of the best French tax lawyers. He understands business, has a great eye for detail and is very responsive and proactive.’
Key clients
ALD Automotive
Société Générale
Florac
LBO France
Constellium
Work highlights
- Advised HalioDx and its shareholders on the sale of HalioDx, an immuno-oncology diagnostics company pioneering the immunological diagnosis of cancers, to Veracyte.
- Advised Constellium SE in connection with the transfer of its head office from Amsterdam to Paris.
France > Dispute resolution: International arbitration Tier 5
Shearman & Sterling LLPPractice head(s):
Jennifer Younan
Other key lawyers:
Alexander Marcopoulos; Elise Edson
Testimonials
‘The investment arbitration team has a unique set of capabilities and market expertise in leading complex investment disputes connected with Eastern Europe and worldwide. The firm is resourceful and is capable of managing the entire process efficiently and proactively. The firm’s partners are well versed in international investment law and represent the clients throughout the entire arbitration, including pleadings at the hearings.’
‘Jennifer Younan has an exceptionally calm and professional demeanour that makes clients rest assured that they are in good hands. She is always precise and up-to-the-point with her advice, finding the best solutions for clients in the shortest terms.’
‘World-class firm in the industry.’
‘Jenifer Younan has multi-industry expertise; always available. always on top of the material, a first-class lawyer.’
‘Excellent knowledge of our files and practical approach to technical and sectoral aspects.’
‘Excellent availability, listening to the client and other service providers involved in their cases. Excellent quality of partners and associates.’
‘Jennifer Younan is one of the finest, most distinguished and refined arbitration lawyers I have met and had the pleasure of working with.’
Key clients
Energoatom
Ministry of Justice of Ukraine
Human Rights at Sea (HRAS)
Ukravtodor
Work highlights
- Representing Ukraine as respondent in an ICSID arbitration initiated by two affiliates of UC RUSAL in relation to an alleged investment in an aluminium and alumina production company.
- Representing Ukraine in an SCC arbitration in Stockholm brought by VEB.RF, Russia’s national economic development institution, in relation to sanctions and other measures allegedly targeting Russian banks in Ukraine after 2014.
Tunisia > Foreign firms
Shearman & Sterling LLP has a large footprint in North and Sub-Sahara Africa, where it is consistently engaged by international clients to advise on inbound investment transactions. It also advises local and international governments, development banks and multilaterals on matters throughout the region. Paris-based Lachlan Poustie is a key contact and recently advised the lenders on the €435m restructuring of TAV Airports group’s two concessions in Tunisia. London-based senior associate Jonathan Toffolo is also noted.Practice head(s):
Lachlan Poustie; Samuel Ogunlaja; Aliahmed Hassanali
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Lachlan Poustie and Jonathan Toffolo are extremely responsive and able to meet very tight timelines.’
Key clients
International Finance Corporate (IFC)
African Development Bank,
Deutsche Bank,
European Investment Bank
OPEC Fund for International Development
Société de Promotion et de Participation pour la Coopération Economique (Proparco)
Standard Bank
Work highlights
- Advised African Development Bank, Deutsche Bank, EIB, IFC, OPEC Fund for International Development, Proparco and Standard Bank on the restructuring of TAV Airports group’s two concessions in Tunisia (at Monastir and Enfidha).
Shearman & Sterling LLP > Firm Profile
The firm: Shearman & Sterling LLP is an international law firm composed of 24 offices worldwide and 850 lawyers. The firm has been advising many of the world’s leading corporations and financial institutions, governments and governmental organisations for more than 140 years. The firm’s lawyers are committed to providing legal advice that is insightful and valuable to clients. This has resulted in groundbreaking transactions in all major regions of the world.
Established in 1963, the Paris office is both the firm’s oldest non-US practice and its third-largest office. It is a principal part of the firm’s European network and distinguishes itself by a remarkable international reach, notably in Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The office advises on matters of French, US and international law.
The firm’s corporate practices, composed of approximately 40 lawyers, advise on equity and debt offerings, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, LBO transactions, and international joint ventures, acquisition finance, leveraged buyout financings, structured finance, management incentivisation, tax restructuring and transfer pricing. The firm handles both domestic transactions and cross-border transactions having a major French component, as well as international transactions.
The international arbitration team, which comprises over 50 lawyers, has represented companies, states and state-owned entities in arbitration proceedings under the rules of all major international arbitral institutions, subject to over 100 governing laws or international instruments. The team acts as counsel for investment, energy, construction, business combinations, financial, and general commercial disputes. The team is regarded as one of the world’s finest.
Areas of practice: Shearman & Sterling’s areas of practice include: international arbitration; public international law; capital markets; mergers and acquisitions; private equity; banking and finance; equity plans and management compensation; restructuring and insolvency; project development and finance; and tax.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| International arbitration | Emmanuel Gaillard | ||
| International arbitration | Yas Banifatemi | ||
| Public international law | Yas Banifatemi | ||
| Mergers and acquisitions | Guillaume Isautier | gisautier@shearman.com | +33 1 53 89 89 25 |
| Private equity | Guillaume Isautier | gisautier@shearman.com | +33 1 53 89 89 25 |
| Mergers and acquisitions | Nicolas Bombrun | nicolas.bombrun@shearman.com | +33 1 53 89 48 48 |
| Private equity | Nicolas Bombrun | nicolas.bombrun@shearman.com | +33 1 53 89 48 48 |
| International arbitration | Coralie Darrigade | ||
| Tax | Niels Dejean | ndejean@shearman.com | +33 1 53 89 71 20 |
| European Governance and Benefits | Françoise Even | feven@shearman.com | +33 1 53 89 71 81 |
| Finance | Pierre-Nicolas Ferrand | pferrand@shearman.com | +33 1 53 89 71 77 |
| Restructuring and insolvency | Pierre-Nicolas Ferrand | pferrand@shearman.com | +33 1 53 89 71 77 |
| Capital Markets | Séverine de La Courtie | sdelacourtie@shearman.com | +33 1 53 89 81 89 |
| International arbitration | Maude Lebois | ||
| Capital markets | Hervé Letréguilly | hletreguilly@shearman.com | +33 1 53 89 71 30 |
| Tax | Anne-Sophie Maes | annesophie.maes@shearman.com | +33 1 53 89 81 75 |
| Mergers and acquisitions | Cyrille Niedzielski | cniedzielski@shearman.com | +33 1 53 89 89 30 |
| Private Equity | Thomas Philippe | thomas.philippe@shearman.com | +33 1 53 89 81 70 |
| Project Development & Finance | Lachlan Poustie | lachlan.poustie@shearman.com | +33 1 53 89 70 80 |
| International arbitration | Mohamed Shelbaya | ||
| Equity plans and management compensation | Sami Toutounji | stoutounji@shearman.com | +33 1 53 89 70 62 |
| European Governance and Benefits | Sami Toutounji | stoutounji@shearman.com | +33 1 53 89 70 62 |
| International arbitration | Jennifer Younan |
Lawyer Profiles
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 850 at this office : 85Languages
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The UK financial restructuring market
The last two years have seen significant developments and unexpected turns in the financial restructuring market. The impact of the Covid pandemic precipitated an immediate and significant uptick in the level of corporates facing underperformance and distress, only to be followed in 2021 by an incredibly ‘hot’ financing market and significant drop-off in corporate default …