Shearman & Sterling LLP > Paris, France > Firm Profile

Shearman & Sterling LLP Offices

Shearman & Sterling LLP
7 RUE JACQUES BINGEN
75017 PARIS
France
Visit website 33 1 53 89 70 00

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:

Maud Manon

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):

Hervé Letréguilly

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):

    Hervé Letréguilly

    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 LLP

    Practice 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 LLP

    Practice 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:

    Jonathan Toffolo

    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

    DepartmentNameEmailTelephone
    International arbitration Emmanuel Gaillard
    International arbitration Yas Banifatemi
    Public international law Yas Banifatemi
    Mergers and acquisitions Guillaume Isautiergisautier@shearman.com+33 1 53 89 89 25
    Private equity Guillaume Isautiergisautier@shearman.com+33 1 53 89 89 25
    Mergers and acquisitions Nicolas Bombrunnicolas.bombrun@shearman.com+33 1 53 89 48 48
    Private equity Nicolas Bombrunnicolas.bombrun@shearman.com+33 1 53 89 48 48
    International arbitration Coralie Darrigade
    Tax Niels Dejeanndejean@shearman.com+33 1 53 89 71 20
    European Governance and Benefits Françoise Evenfeven@shearman.com+33 1 53 89 71 81
    Finance Pierre-Nicolas Ferrandpferrand@shearman.com+33 1 53 89 71 77
    Restructuring and insolvency Pierre-Nicolas Ferrandpferrand@shearman.com+33 1 53 89 71 77
    Capital Markets Séverine de La Courtiesdelacourtie@shearman.com+33 1 53 89 81 89
    International arbitration Maude Lebois
    Capital markets Hervé Letréguillyhletreguilly@shearman.com+33 1 53 89 71 30
    Tax Anne-Sophie Maesannesophie.maes@shearman.com+33 1 53 89 81 75
    Mergers and acquisitions Cyrille Niedzielskicniedzielski@shearman.com+33 1 53 89 89 30
    Private Equity Thomas Philippethomas.philippe@shearman.com+33 1 53 89 81 70
    Project Development & Finance Lachlan Poustielachlan.poustie@shearman.com+33 1 53 89 70 80
    International arbitration Mohamed Shelbaya
    Equity plans and management compensation Sami Toutounjistoutounji@shearman.com+33 1 53 89 70 62
    European Governance and Benefits Sami Toutounjistoutounji@shearman.com+33 1 53 89 70 62
    International arbitration Jennifer Younan

    Staff Figures

    Number of lawyers : 850
    at this office : 85

    Languages

    Arabic
    Armenian
    Belarusian
    Bengali
    Bulgarian
    Dutch
    English
    Farsi
    Finnish
    French
    German
    Greek
    Hindi
    Italian
    Japanese
    Macedonian
    Portuguese
    Romanian
    Russian
    Serbo-Croatian
    Spanish
    Swedish
    Ukrainian

    Other

    Other offices : Abu Dhabi
    Other offices : Al-Khobar
    Other offices : Beijing
    Other offices : Brussels
    Other offices : Dubai
    Other offices : Frankfurt
    Other offices : Hong Kong
    Other offices : Jeddah
    Other offices : London
    Other offices : Menlo Park
    Other offices : Milan
    Other offices : New York
    Other offices : Riyadh
    Other offices : Rome
    Other offices : San Francisco
    Other offices : São Paulo
    Other offices : Shanghai
    Other offices : Singapore
    Other offices : Tokyo
    Other offices : Toronto
    Other offices : Washington DC