White & Case LLP > Paris, France > Firm Profile

White & Case LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

France > Administrative and public law Tier 1

Led by the excellent Jean-Luc Champy, White & Case LLP‘s practice is retained by leading engineering and sponsor companies to assist with high-profile projects. The team, which also advises some public sector entities, is notably involved in many of France’s largest energy and transport projects or concessions, in relation to hydrogen, offshore wind farms, pipeline and grid networks as well motorways and airports. The team also handles related litigation and its range of works encompasses various industry areas including telecoms. It also provides strategic advice on regulatory issues in the energy sector. Counsel Quirec de Kersauson is also noted.

France > Banking and finance: transactional work Tier 1

White & Case LLP's solid resources allow it to tackle a high-volume of transactions on behalf of a whole range of clients from leading banks and alternative financial providers to private equity sponsors as well as some corporates. The practice is particularly recognised in the LBO acquisition finance arena, regularly advising on large transactions, while also advising on general lending. It recently completed the first sustainability-linked financing set up on the French unicorn market. The team, which includes experts in high-level internal corporate and restructuring capabilities, is also well positioned to advise on complex refinancing and debt restructuring deals, often featuring major cross-border dimensions. Practice head Raphaël Richard is a key name in his field. Denise Diallo, who is dual qualified in New York and Paris, is also highly experienced. Samir Berlat and  Neeloferr Roy are also highly regarded.

France > Capital markets: equity capital markets Tier 1

Housing one of the market’s largest capital markets teams, White & Case LLP  is a powerhouse in the field and is retained by leading banks as well as corporations to assist with large strategic transactions including IPOs, share capital increases as well as cash tender offers and the issuances of convertibles and warrants. The highly experienced team is headed by Séverin Robillard and includes Philippe Herbelin, as well as the highly regarded Thomas Le Vert and Max Turner.

France > Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation Tier 1

White & Case LLP fields a strong team expert at managing cases mixing high-stakes commercial and distribution law issues. Several leading retail groups regularly instruct the firm when facing accusations concerning imbalanced or unfair commercial practices often raised by the French state or consumer associations; competition and distribution partner Yann Utzschneider has a strong know-how in this area. Through the highly regarded Diane Lamarche, the firm also has excellent corporate and financial dispute capabilities and acts on behalf of leading investment funds in highly complex cases involving multiple proceedings. The team also regularly manages disputes linked to high-profile debt restructuring procedures, while its caseload also encompasses a number of shareholders’ conflicts and M&A related disputes. The arrival of a leading team in early 2024 led by the highly regarded Kami Haeri and including  Alexandre Kiabski from Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP further bolsters the team's reputation in this area.

France > Dispute resolution: International arbitration Tier 1

White & Case LLP has outstanding credentials in the international arbitration field and houses a sizeable team of arbitration specialists. The firm's expertise is pre-eminent in the construction field where it acts for companies and state entities in some of the world’s largest disputes (including the Panama Canal case). The team also manages high-profile commercial and investment disputes relating to a range of industries and geographical regions. It is particularly active in Africa and the Middle East where it notably advises on high-stake telecoms and energy matters (including price review cases). State entities and leading corporations are clients. Among its recent developments, the team notably won a remarkable $1bn sentence in an Iraqi telecoms case and has been mandated to handle sensitive matters dealing with fraud allegations, Russian sanctions and new cryptocurrencies industry cases. The practice also handles strategic exequatur cases before French and foreign judicial courts. Arbitration specialists Michael Polkinghorne and Christophe von Krause are key names. Charles Nairac, Andrew de Lotbinière McDougall, John Willems, Nicolas Bouchardie, Kirsten Odynski, Elizabeth Oger-Gross, Noor Davies, Lucas De Ferrari and  Samy Markbaoui are also highly regarded.

France > Insolvency Tier 1

Leveraging the expansive global network of its offices, White & Case LLP’s restructuring and insolvency division maintains its prestigious standing as a preeminent force in the industry, handling a variety of high-profile cases in domestic and international markets, including notable matters like ORPEA, Technicolor, and Europcar Mobility Group. Under the leadership of Saam Golshani, the team represents creditors, debtors, investors, and potential buyers across a wide range of issues stemming from corporate reorganisations and insolvency proceedings. Alexis Hojabr brings expertise in advising on complex multi-creditor and financial restructurings, often involving alternative investors, hedge funds, and distressed companies. Other key contacts include Alicia Bali and Hugues Racovski, both skilled in navigating domestic and cross-border restructurings for multinational clients.

France > Project finance Tier 1

The ‘expert’, ‘multidisciplinary’ team at White & Case LLP regularly assists clients with the financing of renewable and conventional energy, mining, transport, and social infrastructure projects. The team is known for its broad experience in the financing of major telecoms infrastructure projects and rolling stock. The practice is jointly led by public law and energy specialist Jean-Luc Champy and Amaury de Feydeau, who is noted for providing ‘quality advice’, and his ‘excellent knowledge’ of digital infrastructure players. Quirec de Kersauson is a key name within the practice.

France > Banking and finance: Bank regulatory Tier 2

Led by Emilie Rogey, White & Case LLP's acts for a prominent client base and is retained by leading French and international banks, asset management firms and a high number of fintech companies. It handles a high amount of work assisting with the setup of services in France and advised on the first euro stablecoin launched by a regulated player on a public blockchain. The team also provides strategic support in the context of M&A deals concerning financial institutions, while many banks and financial institutions also seek advice on a wide range of compliance and regulatory issues from banking and anti-money laundering to crowdfunding and other fintech-related projects. The team also assists its clients in dealing with regulators’ compliance audits and investigations.

France > Capital markets: debt capital markets Tier 2

White & Case LLP's has the scale to handle a diverse portfolio of work. The team is notably retained by leading banks as well as issuers to assist with large transactions, including the issuance of green and charitable sustainable bonds. The Paris team, alongside its London counterparts, also advised the Ukrainian finance minister on a strategic liability management deal. Séverin Robillard directs the practice, which also includes Grégoire Karila and Olga Fedosova.

France > Compliance Tier 2

White & Case LLP stands out for its experience in representing multinational financial institutions in domestic and cross-border investigations, in addition to assisting listed companies in administrative proceedings instigated by the AFA. Praised as ‘responsive, dynamic and solutions-focused’, the team also advises on matters concerning fraud risk prevention, anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing. Jean-Pierre Picca and Jean-Lou Salha left the practice in January 2024, while Kami Haeri, who has extensive experience in white-collar crime cases, investigations and compliance, joined from Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP in the same month.

France > Construction Tier 2

The group at White & Case LLP guides clients through the entire construction process, from tender to completion. Its expertise covers both advisory and contentious work, with particular areas of strength being financing, contract management, and construction arbitration and litigation. Construction companies and consortiums, energy companies and government clients routinely look to the group for support. The practice is led by Charles Nairac, who specialises in international arbitration.

France > Data privacy and data protection Tier 2

White & Case LLP pulls together a strong data protection and privacy offering, with data security breach preparedness and response, compliance with the APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules System and the handling of privacy-related disputes all areas in which the firm excels. Due diligence for M&A work is another area of strength for the team. Bertrand Liard co-leads the unit and is praised for his ‘very strong expertise in the field of new technologies’. He is also known for his in-depth knowledge of contentious cross-border data work. Clara Hainsdorf often assists her clients with their interactions with the CNIL and other data protection authorities, and is noted for her ‘impeccable expertise‘.

France > Dispute resolution: Stock market litigation Tier 2

Led by Diane Lamarche, who also chairs the firm's commercial and corporate litigation practice, White & Case LLP is retained by leading banks and investment funds, as well as companies to assist with high-stakes matters, spanning governance of major listed companies, stock-market battles and stock-market breach cases. The team has been active in the high-profile EDF litigation and has been retained to assist with a highly sensitive ESG-related case.

France > EU, competition and distribution Tier 2

White & Case LLP impresses with the breadth of its EU and competition offering, with strong recent experience in high-profile merger control cases and antitrust investigations and litigation at both French and European level. The team has significant expertise in the digital sector, where it counts several major multinationals among its clients, and is also widely recognised for its distribution law practice, which is the first port of call for many key players in the retail sphere. Yann Utzschneider has a particularly strong record in antitrust litigation and follow-on damages claims. Jérémie Marthan and Mickaël Rivollier are also well-regarded members of the sizeable team, which was further bolstered at senior level with the promotions of Anouk Clamens and Alexandre Martin (to partner and counsel, respectively) in January 2024.

France > Industry focus: Energy Tier 2

The ‘high-quality team’ at White & Case LLP  has an established practice advising clients in France, Europe and Africa on a range of green and brownfield projects,  encompassing renewable, conventional and nuclear energy. Four partners head up the practice. Jean-Luc Champy is regularly sought out by public companies in the energy sector. Amaury de Feydeau has a strong track record in energy infrastructure financing mandates. Marc Petitier and Michael Polkinghorne complete the leadership team.

France > Private equity: LBO Tier 2

White & Case LLP routinely advises private equity houses, alternative capital providers, credit and sovereign wealth funds on primary and secondary LBOs, venture capital and growth investments, fundraising, and debt restructuring. The team collaborates closely with colleagues in the firm's M&A, finance, capital markets, tax, and employment groups. Saam Golshani steers the practice and has particular experience advising clients on private equity transactions involving the tech segment. Nathalie Nègre-Eveillard and Xavier Petet are additional key contacts.

France > Private equity: venture/growth capital Tier 2

White & Case LLP is well-known for assisting investors, founders, and their companies with venture capital-related transactions. The group is qualified to advise on the gamut of matters, namely pre-investment due diligence, seed capital, and growth stage financings. The practice is co-led by Saam Golshani, who majors on private equity and M&A transactions involving the technology sector; and Guillaume Vitrich, whose practice has a focus on complex cross-border mandates.

France > Derivatives and structured finance Tier 3

White & Case LLP has a large offering in the finance field, which in addition to its prominent DCM and banking expertise also includes some derivatives and securitisation expertise. The firm often assists leading banks and recently advised on a jumbo securitisation of home loans. Grégoire Karila and counsel Emmanuel Lebaube are the key contacts.

France > Industry focus: IT and internet  Tier 3

White & Case LLP‘s practice is co-managed by Bertrand Liard and Clara Hainsdorf, and takes an inter-disciplinary approach to advise clients on a range of matters, from data protection, to cloud service and digital distribution.

France > Mergers and acquisitions Tier 3

White & Case LLP is regularly retained by some of France’s most high-profile companies to assist with large strategic transactions and also acts for international clients. The practice recently completed a number of deals in the renewable energy and infrastructure sectors. The team, which advises on both public and private M&A deals, also handles restructuring, spin-off and merger transactions. Marc Petitier impresses with his involvement in many key deals. Hugues Mathez and Guillaume Vallat are other names to note.

France > Real estate Tier 3

The group at White & Case LLP handles the acquisition, development, financing and sale of real estate, and has additional expertise in commercial leasing. Global investment and insurance funds, as well as asset managers and corporations, routinely feature on the practice’s client roster. The team is jointly led by transactional specialist Franck Peter and Brice Engel, who has experience overseeing the sale and acquisition of portfolio properties in France and elsewhere in Europe.

France > Tax Tier 3

The tax practice at White & Case LLP is well equipped to advise clients on the tax aspects of financing and corporate and capital markets deals, as well as real estate and private equity operations. The group is well placed to assist with the firm's wider transactions work, handling contentious and non-contentious mandates, as well as acting for HNWIs. Alexandre Ippolito, who specialises in acquisitions structures and group restructurings,  jointly leads the practice alongside Estelle Philippi, who has significant expertise in matters related to management investment packages.

France > Dispute resolution: White-collar crime Tier 4

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France > Employment Tier 4

Morocco > Foreign firms Tier 1

White & Case LLP‘s presence in the Morocco comes through the firm’s London office. The firm is active across several sectors, including construction, energy, and finance. Paule Biensan represents various lenders in financing desalination, irrigation, and mining projects. Mukund Dhar chairs the firm’s Africa practice group.

Algeria > Foreign firms Tier 2

White & Case LLP has established a strong reputation among both domestic and foreign companies doing business in Algeria, utilising the firm’s extensive international network to advise on complex cross-border transactions. Mukund Dhar is a leading figure in London, while in Paris, Christophe von Krause is a leading international arbitration practitioner and is particularly active in disputes arising in the construction, oil and gas, hotels and leisure, and pharmaceuticals sectors.

Latin America: International firms > International arbitration

Highlighted for its ‘very deep bench and industry knowledge’ White & Case LLP has a very sizeable Latin America-focused international arbitration team (totalling some 100 professionals) that handes an impressive mix of commercial, construction and investment arbitration engagements. The team is also noted for its expertise in enforcement proceedings, while its catalogue of recent cases includes appointments in the energy, resources, financial services, technology and transportation sectors. Indeed, the energy sector – particularly renewables – has been a notably active area for the practice, while in sovereign matters, it has acted for clients in a series of  investment arbitrations against Colombia, Guatemala, Ecuador, and Peru (among other jurisdictions). The team maintains members across it Washington DC, New York, Miami, Houston Mexico City, London and Madrid offices. Rafael Llano Oddone leads the international arbitration group in Mexico City, while Ecuadorian Francisco Jijón has impressed in a series of ICSID and UNCITRAL arbitrations involving Latin American parties. Houston and Miami-based Silvia Marchili is building a name for herself in investor-state arbitrations; and New York’s Jorge Mattamouros has a focus on Portuguese-speaking markets, especially Brazil’s oil and gas sector. Miami’s Estefanía San Juan was elected to the partnership in January 2023, with Ignacio Madalena becoming a local partner in Madrid the same month. Michelle Grando impresses at counsel level, as does Mexico City’s Marièle Coulet-Diaz. All named individuals are based in Washington DC unless stated otherwise. Since publication, former practice co-head Jonathan Hamilton has left the firm – effective as of March 2024 – as has Alejandro Martínez de Hoz, as of April 2024.

Spain > Dispute resolution