Clifford Chance > Paris, France > Firm Profile

Clifford Chance > The Legal 500 Rankings

France > Administrative and public law Tier 1

Clifford Chance’s stellar workload and client base make the firm stand out. The practice is able to deal with the most complex work, spanning almost any industry and field of public law. It is retained by many leading players including the French state which also turns to the firm for its most challenging issues, especially in the transport sector. The team is praised for its high-level public procurement and PPP expertise which materializes by its involvement in many of the country’s largest projects in the motorway, rail, public housing and construction and broadband areas. It is also assisting sponsors and lenders on many of France’s ongoing landmark offshore wind projects. In parallel, the team is solicited to assist with complex regulatory situations and issues, notably in the energy sector. The practice is also trusted to resolve the most pressing issues pertaining to landmark projects and public procurement, including before administrative or arbitral courts. This is notably the case in the railway and airport sectors where the team is handling high-profile matters, such as damage compensation and indemnities claims. Co-heads of practice David Préat and Gauthier Martin rank among the best in their field. They are supported by counsel Jean-Baptiste Merigot de Treigny and associate Daphné Celet.

France > Banking and finance: Bank regulatory Tier 1

Clifford Chance‘s financial regulatory practice is led by Frédérick Lacroix and covers prudential supervision, dispute resolution, conduct of business questions as well as a wide range of licensing and regulatory perimeter issues. Lacroix is also involved in lobbying for the drafting of pieces of banking legislation. The team notably handled the ‘reverse merger’ of Bpifrance, involving the restructuring of the group and advisory services regarding the regulatory process and the prudential impact of the transaction.

France > Banking and finance: transactional work Tier 1

Working in close collaboration with the firm’s capital markets, securitisation, M&A and private equity teams, Clifford Chance‘s banking practice draws on its leading expertise in both French and English law to advise some of the most high-profile financial institutions, private equity sponsors, debt funds and corporate borrowers. The group generates a strong flow of work in relation to acquisition and leveraged finance, and particularly stands out in the market for infrastructure financing and refinancing. On the corporate lending side, the team is noted for advising Airbus on its €15bn revolving credit facility granted by JP Morgan, BNP Paribas, CACIB, HSBC and Société Générale. The practice is complemented by a team of derivatives lawyers, which is led by Jonathan Lewis, and a regulatory team led by Frédérick Lacroix. Thierry Arachtingi, Daniel Zerbid, Piere-Benoît Pabot Du Chatelard, Nikolaï Eatwell and Delphine Caramalli are other key contacts. Counsel Mary Serhal is noted for her work on acquisition finance transactions.

France > Capital markets: debt capital markets Tier 1

Clifford Chance acts in a wide range of vanilla and structured matters. The practice has recently been especially active in corporate hybrid bonds and continues to build its track record in advising on sustainable and sustainability-linked bonds, for example in the context of EMTN programmes. Other areas of strength are liability management matters and sovereign debt offerings in the Middle East and Africa. Acting for banks as well as for a range of issuers, including corporates, financial institutions and government entities, the group consistently attracts headline matters across the full gamut of debt capital market transactions. With the lead trio of Alex Bafi, who is admitted to the bar of New York, Cédric Burford, who is admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales, and Jonathan Lewis, US-qualified and a solicitor in England and Wales, the practice has a clear international positioning. Counsel Auriane Bijon is particularly experienced in green and acquisition financings while counsel Olivier Plessis is growing a profile in US securities work. Counsel Andrew McCann's practice includes sovereign debt issuances in francophone Africa.

France > Capital markets: equity capital markets Tier 1

Clifford Chance focuses on initial public offerings and US securities issues, but also handles a busy caseload in share capital increases, convertible and exchangeable bonds, block trades and public M&A matters. With Aline Cardin at the helm of the equity capital market practice and Alex Bafi as the head of the US securities practice, the group is well placed to handle major domestic and multijurisdictional matters. An area of particular growth are international employee share schemes and stock option schemes, a practice led by Anne Lemercier and counsel Ekaterina Zaboussova-Celsa.

France > Compliance Tier 1

Clifford Chance assists a prominent client base of French and international companies from a wide range of sectors, including the luxury goods, retail, aeronautics and defence sectors. The practice advises on the setting up of French anti-corruption programmes and risk assessment work, as well as on the design of anti-money laundering and whistle-blowing policies. The Paris practice, which can also rely on the firm’s large international capabilities, also acts for clients facing AFA-led controls and in assists with internal investigations, both in a national or international context. Key client Airbus has entrusted the practice with a groundbreaking multi-jurisdictional corruption case and with the negotiation of settlements with the French, US and UK authorities. The practice is co-headed by Thomas Baudesson and Charles-Henri Boeringer. Counsel Sophie Levy is also noted.

France > Derivatives and structured finance Tier 1

Clifford Chance‘s practice includes securitisation, structured finance and derivatives. Repackaging, factoring and alternative market financing products, for example through dis-intermediation, are included in the team’s track record. Increasingly, the group is acts on transactions involving ESG criteria. Auto ABS transactions and RMBS transactions are also growing lines of work.  The firm’s derivatives practice includes the full range of derivatives products, advising among others on clearing and margining, repurchase agreements, and pre-contentious and contentious matters. Acting for a wide range of clients, including supra-nationals, public institutions, insurers, corporates and private equity funds, the practice is among the most versatile in the market. With its team of French, US and English-qualified lawyers the practice is an excellent choice for complex multijurisdictional matters. Thanks to the firm’s regulatory, fund formation, capital market and finance specialists, the group is also very well placed for multi-disciplinary matters. Jonathan Lewis, Julien Rocherieux and regulatory expert Frédérick Lacroix direct the practice.

France > Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation Tier 1

Clifford Chance stands out through its ability to manage a wide range of cases and its high-profile French and international client base, made up of leading banks and corporations, including from the retail, sport, healthcare, telecoms and energy sectors. The team has particularly strong know-how in high-stakes commercial disputes, often handling cases opposing leading competitors in their field, for example in the telecoms sector. The practice also has a strong presence in the retail sector, acting in high-stakes disputes involving complex consumer rights and regulatory issues for several giant distributors. It is also the go-to-firm for high-profile commercial disputes in the sports industry; notably acting in a hard-fought headline case concerning the stakes of French football competition broadcasting rights after that business was severally impacted by the Covid-19 crisis. Product liability cases are another area of strength. Thomas Baudesson, Diego de Lammerville and Thibaud d’Alès form the lead trio.

France > EU, competition and distribution Tier 1

The antitrust team at Clifford Chance remains a market leader as its broad practice acting for major corporates involved in high-profile investigations, state aid procedures, damages claims and merger control cases at the EU and national levels attests. Headed by David Tayar, who leads on abuse of dominance and restrictive arrangement cases, and tech antitrust enforcement expert Katrin Schallenberg, the team’s client portfolio features an impressive list of household names, mainly from the sports, healthcare, tech, retail and energy sectors. Counsel and foreign investment specialist Emily Xueref-Poviac is another key name.

France > Industry focus: Energy Tier 1

Clifford Chance‘s full-service practice is experienced in advising any type of stakeholder on any energy-related matter in France or overseas. The team’s excellent public law, corporate, regulatory and finance expertise has earned it mandates on France’s largest ongoing  offshore projects as well as complex regulatory matters, especially in renewables. Public law experts David Préat and Gauthier Martin, banking and finance partner Daniel Zerbib and corporate partner Laurent Schoenstein are the key names here. In overseas matters, the team’s renowned project finance expertise stands out. Sponsors, development banks and lenders alike entrust their projects to the team. The practice has a strong presence in Africa, advising on numerous solar projects as well as on several landmark hydropower and other projects. The group’s geographical reach also extends to other regions, for example to central Asia. Several strategic oil and gas pipeline projects are highlights in the group’s overseas practice. The team of first-class international experts includes project and finance partners Anthony Giustini, Delphine Siino Courtin, Nikolaï Eatwell, Richard Tomlinson and Milica Zatezalo-Falatar, who made partner in 2021, Emmanuel Mimin, Pierre-Benoit Pabot Du Châtelard and counsels Corinne Duvnjak and Nadezhda Varbanova.

France > Media and entertainment: Sports Tier 1

Clifford Chance‘s cross-practice sports group advises international, regional, and national sporting bodies, as well as investors, clubs, banks, and other stakeholders on transactional and contentious matters. Involved in some of the largest transactions, the team advised the French Rugby Federation on the long-term strategic partnership between Six Nations Rugby and CVC. On the contentious side, it represented the Ligue de Football Professionnel in commercial litigation initiated by the Groupe Canal+ due to football game rescheduling. Yves Wehrli, member of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body since 2009, heads the practice.

France > Private equity: Fund formation Tier 1

Clifford Chance’s private funds team excels in structuring and fundraising in relation to a wide range of vehicles, such as LBO, mezzanine, infrastructure, real estate and venture capital. It also assists with secondary portfolio transactions on both the seller and buyer sides. Practice head Xavier Comaills has expertise in the formation of French, Luxembourgish and pan-European private equity investment funds. Eric Davoudet specialises in the tax aspects of property investments, REITs and OPCIs. Alexandre Lagarrigue is another key individual.

France > Project finance Tier 1

The Paris office serves as one of Clifford Chance’s main projects hubs worldwide. The firm has impressive capabilities in the field and can intervene anywhere on all sizes and types of project work. The Paris practice is particularly active in the renewables and power energy sector in Africa, acting for sponsors, development banks and lenders in many of the continent’s countries. It is notably involved in large hydropower and many renewables projects. The practice also shows high-level know-how in infrastructure and energy projects in Central Asia, including working on prominent power projects in Georgia and Uzbekistan. Highly strategic pipeline and other oil and gas work are also included in the team’s portfolio of expertise. Project finance partners Anthony Giustini, Nikolaï Eatwell, Delphine Siino Courtin, Richard Tomlinson, Daniel Zerbib and Milica Zatezalo-Falatar, who was promoted to partner in 2021, are world-class experts. Counsel Corinne Duvnjak is another key member. In addition to its strong international caseload, the firm is also a top reference for infrastructure and renewables projects in France and acts on several of the country’s landmark transport, public construction and housing and offshore wind ongoing projects. Public law experts David Préat and Gauthier Martin are the key contacts in that regard, with Zerbib contributing on the financing side.

France > Real estate Tier 1

One of the leading firms on the French real estate market, Clifford Chance is instructed to handle the legal aspects of most market-leading transactions. The firm notably advised Gecina on the build-to-rent residential development partnership with Nexity, an innovative new project to construct 4,000 new housing units across the greater Paris area. One of the largest single-asset deals in France this year, the firm also handled the sale of the newly redeveloped Altaïs office tower in Montreuil.  François Bonteil leads the firm’s global real estate practice from the Paris office. Alexandre Couturier is highly regarded for his ability to ‘manage teams across practices in complex transactions’.

France > Aviation Tier 2

Clifford Chance‘s aviation team provides an extensive offering in the aerospace and defence field. Dessislava Savova specialises in commercial alliances and strategic industrial contracts and joint ventures. As one of the Airbus/Airbus SE global relationship partners, she has played a key role in the negotiation of complex commercial projects for Airbus. The firm also takes on impressive white-collar crime work due to Thomas Baudesson‘s expertise. He played a key role in the resolution of the Airbus corruption case with the French enforcement authority and in the global resolution of the case with UK and US authorities. Fabrice Cohen handles aerospace-related domestic and cross-border M&A transactions and securities law.

France > Data privacy and data protection Tier 2

Clifford Chance‘s Paris office is a hub of expertise in data protection, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. The Paris team regularly assists other teams within the firm’s network on key multi-jurisdictional projects. Advising French television production company Canal Plus on its major digital transformation project to broadcast more content online demonstrated the team's ability to handle large complex multidisciplinary matters. The practice is also sought after for structuring and implementing international data transfer strategies. Partner and practice-head Dessislava Savova is a go-to individual at the firm and is supported by counsel Grégory Sroussi.

France > Dispute resolution: Stock market litigation Tier 2

Clifford Chance acts for rating agency Standard & Poor’s in several AMF-led investigations. The firm's expertise in stock market abuse is sought after by companies and, in recent work, by a former banker for several insider trading cases. The team has also acted for the banks in the high-profile Suez-Veolia takeover battle. Thomas Baudesson, Diego de Lammerville and Charles-Henri Boeringer co-head the practice.

France > Dispute resolution: White-collar crime Tier 2

Clifford Chance has high-level capabilities fit to handle complex, often multi-jurisdictional, cases. The team also has developed strong experience in negotiations of settlement agreements with French and foreign authorities in several landmark cases. It regularly handles international corruption cases acting for leading French or international corporations. The firm also shoulders a stellar caseload in the banking sector, acting for leading international banks or their CEOs, for example in high-profile French tax fraud cases. Other lines of work include industrial accidents and consumer fraud allegations. Thomas Baudesson and Charles-Henri Boeringer are in charge, with counsel Sophie Levy providing key support.

France > Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences Tier 2

Clifford Chance is especially well known for its expertise in product liability, receiving instructions from global pharmaceutical and medical device companies, for example successfully representing Pfizer in two multi-claimant product liability litigations with respect to two of its early-stage vaccines. Counsel Gaëlle Merlier is a go-to name in this area. The firm is also wellregarded for compliance, internal investigation, and defense work for major healthcare clients. Thomas Baudesson is an expert in enforcement proceedings and white-collar litigation in the healthcare sector.

France > Mergers and acquisitions Tier 2

At Clifford Chance, the Paris office leverages the firm’s international network, as well as its reputation as a Magic Circle firm, to act on a broad array of M&A and foreign investment matters. Managing partner Mathieu Rémy is particularly acclaimed for public and private M&A, joint ventures and private equity affairs and is especially active within the financial institution, TMT, energy, automotive, retail and consumer goods sectors. Rémy is supported by Fabrice Cohen, Gilles Lebreton , Marianne Pezant and Laurent Schoenstein who offer expertise in industries such as aerospace and defence, healthcare, industrials, real estate, energy and infrastructure.

France > Private equity: LBO Tier 2

Working closely with private equity teams across the firm’s European network, including UK and Germany, Clifford Chance's group in France is equipped to advise on both domestic and cross-border transactions. The practice handles M&A, leveraged financing and other related matters, including tax structuring and modelling, fund formation, employment benefits and management packages. It is highlighted for its strong focus on the infrastructure and telecommunications sectors. The department is jointly led by Fabrice Cohen and Marianne Pezant. Emmanuel Mimin, who focuses on the infrastructure and consumer food and retail sectors, is another name to note.

France > Tax Tier 2

Clifford Chance is home to a transactional tax practice. The team is able to handle the full range of transactions, with its excellent real estate tax practice regularly including matters for leading players on headline asset or portfolio investments, as well as on the setting up of funds and partnerships. The team also handles major M&A and private equity work, notably relating to the financial sector. The fund structuring expertise is also noteworthy. Eric Davoudet and Alexandre Lagarrigue are at the helm of a practice which benefits from a strong bench of counsels in Jitka Susankova, Omar El Arjoun and Pierre Goyat.

France > Dispute resolution: International arbitration Tier 4

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France > Employment Tier 4

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France > Industry focus: IT and internet  Tier 4

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France > Insolvency Tier 4

Clifford Chance’s Delphine Caramalli leads the restructuring and insolvency practice. The team acts for various debtors, lenders, shareholders and investors. It recently completed several prominent matters in the retail sector. The practice is able to draw on the firm's international capabilities, recently acting in a global restructuring case alongside the London office. It also worked on a high-profile matter involving French football TV rights. Counsel Marie Crumière is the second key contact.

Tunisia > Foreign firms

Clifford Chance is considered by many as 'one of the premier advisers in the international projects space' and its prowess is evidenced in Tunisia through its historical involvement in a string of energy and infrastructure matters. The firm's Africa expertise also spans large-scale M&A, finance transactions and private equity. Clients include public, private and state-owned corporates from across the region and beyond. Casablanca-based Mustapha Mourahib co-heads the Africa practice and recently advised Honoris on its partnership with Esprit Group in Tunisia. Paris-based Delphine Siino Courtin focuses on projects throughout Francophone Africa.