Firm Profile > Shearman & Sterling LLP > Paris , France
Shearman & Sterling LLP Offices
7 RUE JACQUES BINGEN
75017 PARIS
France
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Shearman & Sterling LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Dispute resolution: International arbitration Tier 1
Shearman & Sterling LLP was recently instructed to act in a series of investment and commercial arbitrations for both new and long-established clients, including states and French and international corporations. The 50-lawyer practice remains highly active in high-profile oil and gas, construction and energy matters in relation with North Africa. It is also increasingly visible in cases involving Sub-Saharan Africa, notably on concession issues, and is representing Eastern European states in several matters. Finally, the practice is also dealing with disputes involving the European renewables market and is advising on several matters involving Chinese and Asian parties. Recent highlights include representing Egypt in two long‐term investment arbitrations relating to gas supply agreements dealing with the export of Egyptian gas to Israel, and Sonatrach in an ICC arbitration brought by Saipem regarding the construction of gas liquefaction facilities. The firm also successfully acted for Croatia in an ICSID arbitration with an Austrian party regarding a food products enterprise, and Lithuania in an ICSID arbitration initiated by Veolia Environnement relating to district heating and power generation. Algeria, Ukraine and Areva are clients. The practice is headed at the global level by the very highly regarded Emmanuel Gaillard. Yas Banifatemi is global head of the firm’s public international law practice. Coralie Darrigade, Maude Lebois, Mohamed Shelbaya and Jennifer Younan are all up-and-coming members of the team. The Paris hub recently welcomed Jeremy Sharpe from the London office, while newly promoted partner Daniel Reich joined the New York office. Counsel Benjamin Siino also deserves a mention for his expertise in award enforcement procedures.
Capital markets: equity capital markets Tier 2
Shearman & Sterling LLP is noted for its strong expertise in management and employee incentive schemes, in addition to its strong track record in IPOs, rights offerings, block trades and securities, both hybrid and equity-linked. Jointly with the corporate team it advised Vivendi on its simplified public tender offer for the remaining Havas Group shares after Vivendi's acquisition of Bolloré's 60% stake in Havas Group. Another emblematic matter for the co-operation between the corporate and capital market teams was assisting Japan Nuclear Fuel with its investment in Orano, including a €3bn capital increase conducted in two stages through reserved capital increases. Practice head Hervé Letréguilly and governance, compensation and employee shareholding specialist Sami Toutounji are the key practitioners, alongside counsel Séverine de la Courtie. Altice USA, Crédit Industriel et Commercial and Saint-Gobain also count among the clients.
Banking and finance: transactional work Tier 3
Shearman & Sterling LLP concentrates on acquisition, asset and energy finance as well as refinancings. Real estate finance and debt restructuring are other key specialisms. A recent highlight saw practice head Pierre-Nicolas Ferrand cooperate with London partner Peter Hayes to advise Nomura as lead arranger on a €1bn-equivalent financing to back Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec's acquisition of a minority stake in Sebia from Astorg and Montagu. Another standout instruction came from Deutsche Pfandbriefbank, which the firm assisted with the financing of the acquisition of a Parisian office and retail building by GH Group. BNP Paribas, Nokia and Barclays Capital are also clients. Philippe Wolanski left for Watson Farley & Williams LLP, while counsel Lachlan Poustie joined from Allen & Overy LLP.
Mergers and acquisitions Tier 3
Shearman & Sterling LLP's expertise spans a wide range of sectors but the team has a marked focus on the financial services, healthcare and pharmaceutical, TMT and energy sectors. Practice head Guillaume Isautier and Nicolas Bombrun shoulder the majority of the work, with key support coming from of counsel Cyrille Niedzielski and counsels Barbara Le Chapellier and Marie Pouget. Recent highlights include advising Novartis on its $3.9bn acquisition of Advanced Accelerator Applications and assisting Japan Nuclear Fuel with its investment in Orano as part of Areva's €4.5bn global restructuring. Amundi, Jin Jiang and Société Générale also count among the team's clients.
Tax Tier 3
Shearman & Sterling LLP is a top choice for tax advice on complex private and public M&A as well as private equity transactions. Large French, US and Asian companies as well as private equity funds are clients. Practice head Niels Dejean is highly regarded.
Insolvency Tier 4
Shearman & Sterling LLP recently advised on debt restructuring and refinancing transactions for banks, investors and debtors. The firm notably assisted Japan Nuclear Fuel with the restructuring of Areva’s debt including a capital increase. Banque Themis is also a client. Finance practice head Pierre-Nicolas Ferrand also leads the restructuring and insolvency group. Philippe Wolanski, formerly a counsel with the firm, joined Watson Farley & Williams LLP.
Shearman & Sterling LLP > Firm Profile
The firm
Shearman & Sterling LLP is an international law firm composed of 20 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 30 lawyers, advise on equity and debt offerings, mergers and acquisitions, 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; and tax.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital markets | Hervé Letréguilly | ||
| Equity plans and management compensation | Sami Toutounji | ||
| Finance | Pierre-Nicolas Ferrand | ||
| International arbitration | Emmanuel Gaillard | ||
| International arbitration | Yas Banifatemi | ||
| International arbitration | Coralie Darrigade | ||
| International arbitration | Jennifer Younan | ||
| International arbitration | Maude Lebois | ||
| International arbitration | Mohamed Shelbaya | ||
| Mergers and acquisitions | Nicolas Bombrun | ||
| Mergers and acquisitions | Guillaume Isautier | ||
| Mergers and acquisitions | Cyrille Niedzielski | ||
| Private equity | Nicolas Bombrun | ||
| Private equity | Guillaume Isautier | ||
| Public international law | Yas Banifatemi | ||
| Restructuring and insolvency | Pierre-Nicolas Ferrand | ||
| Tax | Niels Dejean |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
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Dr Yas Banifatemi | View Profile | |
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Coralie Darrigade | View Profile | |
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Prof Emmanuel Gaillard | View Profile | |
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Maude Lebois | View Profile | |
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Mohamed Shelbaya | View Profile | |
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Jennifer Younan | View Profile |