Administrative and public law Tier 1

Clifford Chance is one of the market’s go-to firms for large PPP and public procurement projects. The ten-lawyer team handles an impressive workload for public and private sector entities, including many of the country’s most high-profile projects in the transport sector, such as its work as advisor of the Société du Grand Paris regarding the construction of new sections of the new Paris métro network 'Grand Paris Express'. The firm also takes on strategic matters in the aviation, road and train infrastructure sectors; including highly challenging contract performance disputes. In the energy sector, the firm advises on strategic regulatory issues and on several of France’s largest offshore wind projects. Finally, the team also assists clients with regulatory issues in relation to a number of other sectors, including the sports sector. Co-heads of the practice  David Préat and Gauthier Martin are excellent. Counsel Jean-Baptiste Merigot de Treigny is a very promising team member.

Banking and finance: Bank regulatory Tier 1

Clifford Chance's 'expertise across its international network' makes it a popular choice for global financial institutions including HSBC, Bank of China and Citibank. Active across banking, finance and insurance regulations, the department covers a wide range of licensing and perimeter issues, prudential supervision, FIG M&A, and fintech work. The practice continues to be a key figure on matters related to Brexit and has been kept busy by mandates arising out of the Covid-19 crisis. Frédérick Lacroix leads the financial regulations group, and was notably involved in the drafting of the Brexit emergency orders for the financial sector.

Banking and finance: transactional work Tier 1

Rated for its 'comprehensive understanding of the financial sector', Clifford Chance's banking practice is particularly active in large-cap and upper mid-cap mandates, governed by both English and French law. Representing borrowers, lenders and sponsors, the group has a strong track record in acquisition and leveraged finance, infrastructure finance and corporate lending. By way of borrower side highlights, the team notably advised Renault on the establishment of a credit facility agreement guaranteed by the French state. The department works closely with the firm's capital markets and securitisation groups, providing a seamless service for loan financings containing a high-yield element. Thierry Arachtingi, Daniel Zerbib and Nikolaï Eatwell are the key contacts.

Capital markets: debt capital markets Tier 1

Clifford Chance's debt capital market practice is an integral part of the firm's wide-ranging capital market offering. Alex Bafi, Cédric Burford and Jonathan Lewis form the lead trio, with Bafi and Burford the key debt capital market practitioners, while Lewis's core expertise lies in securitisation, structured finance and derivatives.  In addition to the three partners, the group also includes a strong roster of counsels and associates, including Auriane Bijon who specialises in capital markets and structured finance. The group assists with the full range of debt capital market instruments and has a demonstrable track record assisting financial institutions and issuers alike, making it one of the most versatile teams in the French market. Moreover, its ability to assist with English, US and French law is a key contributor to the group's exceedingly wide practice scope which includes EMTN programmes, green bonds, Rule 144A/Reg S. offerings, hybrid bond issuances and sovereign debt matters. The practice's experience advising supranational organisations, government agencies and local authorities is also particularly noteworthy.

Capital markets: equity capital markets Tier 1

Clifford Chance impresses with the breadth of its practice, which handles matters ranging from IPOs, share capital increases, convertible bonds and OCEANE transactions, to block trades, public M&A transactions and private placements. Aline Cardin and Alex Bafi (who is in charge of the US securities practice in Paris), co-direct a team that houses four specialists in US securities law, one of the deepest benches in the French market. The group's caseload is predominantly international, frequently involving collaboration with colleagues abroad - most often from the Dubai, Riyadh, Amsterdam and London offices. The equity derivatives practice under the leadership of Jonathan Lewis, along with the employee shareholding practice co-led by Julien Rocherieux and Anne Lemercier, complete the office's equity capital markets offering. Gilles Lebreton and of counsel Thierry Schoen are also noted. However, former counsel Olivier Jouffroy moved to Orrick Rambaud Martel in April 2020.

Compliance Tier 1

Clifford Chance assists a prominent client base with setting up and reviewing compliance programmes, especially on French anti-corruption and anti-bribery matters. The practice also assists with the conduct of internal investigations and acts for defendants in regulatory enforcement and criminal prosecutions led by one or multiple French and foreign authorities. Thomas Baudesson and Charles-Henri Boeringer are in charge.

Derivatives and structured finance Tier 1

Clifford Chance combines cross-jurisdictional expertise and a dedicated regulatory team with a broad portfolio of relevant skillsets. The deep bench consists of structured finance practice head Jonathan Lewis; securitisation, factoring and structured finance expert, Julien Rocherieux; regulatory specialist Frédérick Lacroix who is the head of the financial services and asset management practice; derivatives specialist Cédric Burford and securities experts Aline Cardin and Alex Bafi. With French, US and English law capabilities and the firm's own office network, the team is a popular choice for cross-border work. The team enjoys an outstanding reputation for its role in innovative market transactions and the scope of its expertise - which includes handling commercial paper receivables, RMBS transactions and alternative market funding for infrastructure, real estate and loans by use of debt funds, as well as hedging transactions, synthetic securitisation and clearing work. Another stand-out feature is a particularly diverse client list that includes banks and financial institutions, as well as asset managers, companies and funds, but also features a number of European and other supra-national institutions along with domestic public institutions.

EU, competition and distribution Tier 1

Clifford Chance frequently acts for international companies in the digital economy, pharmaceuticals, and energy sectors regarding competition law. The team is strong in state aid matters, EU public policy practice, and high-profile FCA and EU antitrust investigations. Notably, it recently launched its own digital dawn raid application to assist clients in regulatory investigations. David Tayar is highly experienced in antitrust litigation and investigations. He works alongside Katrin Schallenberg, who is involved in key cross-border merger control matters. Of counsel Michel Petite is an expert in all areas of EU regulations.

Industry focus: Energy Tier 1

Clifford Chance's offer is hard to beat when it comes to advising on strategic energy projects in France and overseas. The practice features very impressive resources with its large bench capable of providing high-end project, finance, public law and regulatory expertise. Matters in France include the structuring of a new nuclear regulated tariffs mechanism,  several of France’s landmark offshore wind energy projects, and strategic M&A and brownfield transactions in the renewables sector. Africa is another key region of intervention where the team is advising on a large variety of projects: renewables, biomass, power, hydropower as well as oil and gas. It is involved in several of the continent’s landmark hydroelectric projects and is also assisting with major LNG projects, pipeline and mining development projects. The practice is also mandated to undertake work in other regions, such as Europe and Central Asia, including a landmark project in Georgia. The practice is co-headed by highly regarded project and finance partners Anthony Giustini, Delphine Siino Courtin, Nikolaï Eatwell, Richard Tomlinson, Laurent Schoenstein and Daniel Zerbib together with public law experts David Préat and Gauthier Martin. Emmanuel Mimin and Piere-Benoît Pabot du Chatelard made partner in 2020. Counsel Nadezhda Varbanova is also recommended.

Media and entertainment: Sports Tier 1

The 'unique expertise' of Clifford Chance's sports group is valued by clients who take advantage of the cross-practice expertise the firm is able to provide. Representing leading professional federations including the FFF, the LFP and the FFT, the department is often involved in high-profile matters, recently handling summary proceedings related to the annulment of the 2019/20 League 1 club championship. Yves Wehrli is the key name, typically retained on the organisation of major sports events, the sale of television broadcasting rights and other related regulatory issues. On the contentious side, partner Thibaud d’Alés is active, having represented clients in major litigation related to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Private equity: Fund formation Tier 1

Clifford Chance remains one of France's finest addresses for fund formation matters. In addition to a very strong primary transaction caseload, the team of practice head Xavier Comaills is also a market-leader in secondary transactions, acting for both buyers and sellers. French, Luxembourgish and pan-European funds are the group's mainstay, with private equity funds, -including venture capital, real estate, infrastructure and debt funds- accounting for the majority of instructions. Impact funds are another particularly busy line of work. The team offers in-depth knowledge of a wide range of industries, with the healthcare and technology sectors providing a significant number of mandates; and is well versed in highly complex transactions, including matters requiring the navigation through changing legal frameworks - for example in the context of Brexit. Clients also benefit from the Paris office's overall strength, especially from the powerful regulatory, corporate and finance, real estate and tax practices; as well as from the firm's international presence with experienced fund formation teams in key hubs. Counsel Marie Préat specialises in private equity funds, funds of funds and debt funds.

Project finance Tier 1

Paris is one of Clifford Chance’s main worldwide projects hubs. The impressive practice offers a deep bench of experienced partners and counsels who are well versed in acting for all types of stakeholders; sponsors, developers, lenders and governmental and other public entities. In France, the firm is one of the-go-to-practices for large infrastructure projects and currently involved in major transport, airport, telecoms and energy projects, including many landmark offshore projects. On the international scene, the practice is particularly active in Africa and notably advising on port and airport projects as well as on many solar projects and a biomass power plant project in Côte d'Ivoire, the largest of its kind in Africa. Several landmark hydropower projects in Cameroon and Madagascar and strategic oil and gas projects are also included in the caseload. In addition to its strong focus on Africa, the team also handles work in other regions, including Europe and Asia. Anthony Giustini, Nikolaï Eatwell, Delphine Siino Courtin, Richard Tomlinson and Daniel Zerbib as well as public law experts David Préat and Gauthier Martin rank among the country's first-class practitioners. Also recommended are counsels Milica Zatezalo-Falatar and Corinne Duvnjak .

Real estate Tier 1

Clifford Chance’s enjoys an excellent reputation and continues to impress. The Paris team is retained by the largest French and international property funds to advise on the biggest French and pan-European transactions. Between 2019 and 2020, the firm has been involved in the majority of France’s most prominent deals, spanning office, tower, logistics, commercial and hotel assets. Alongside AEW, the practice advised on the sale of Towers W and PB6 both located in La Défense, and assisted Klépierre with its 10% equity investment is one of France’s largest shopping centres. The practice is also particularly well suited to handle large pan-European portfolio transactions, with a number of recent landmark deals under its belt. Finally, the team also assists clients with major financing and commercial leases transactions. Practice head François Bonteil, who also heads the firm’s global practice, and Alexandre Couturier are among the best in their field. They are supported by counsels Anne-Sophie Plé, Karen Bortolotti, Adeline Lefaucheur and David Gérard. Leading complementary tax expertise is also available.

Aviation Tier 2

Clifford Chance houses a multi-disciplinary aviation practice, whose offering spans acquisitions, joint ventures, procurement, service agreements and litigation. Notably, the team has a strong track record advising clients on PFI/PPP projects in the context of major commercial and industrial projects. The department is fully integrated within the firm's global aviation group, offering a seamless service for cross-border aviation leasing and financing work, and also works in close tandem with the projects, securitisation capital markets and tax teams to provide a holistic service for clients. Transaction specialists Fabrice Cohen, Dessislava Savova and Yves Wehrli jointly lead the practice.

Data privacy and data protection Tier 2

Clifford Chance is particularly noted for advising on the data and cybersecurity aspects of strategic M&A, as well as assisting with crisis management in response to data breaches, and AI regulation and ethics. The team is also experienced in matters including internal audits and investigations, as well as regulatory inquiries for clients in the automotive, insurance, energy, and aerospace industries. Practice head Dessislava Savova specialises in AI, data, and cybersecurity law.

Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation Tier 2

Clifford Chance's lawyer team is particularly active in commercial disputes, but is able to deal with a wide range of cases. The practice regularly acts for leading digital and traditional mass retailers involved in highly strategic disputes with suppliers and other brands. The practice also manages several commercial contract termination disputes, spanning a number of fields, including car leasing and hotel management. Finally, the team is also experienced in product liability cases, notably defending Pfizer in class-action type proceedings pertaining to one of its vaccines. Thomas Baudesson, Diego de Lammerville, Thibaud d’Alès and counsel Gaëlle Merlier co-head the practice.

Dispute resolution: Stock market litigation Tier 2

Clifford Chance regularly acts for Standard & Poor's in relation to AMF-led investigations. The firm is also experienced in cross-border insider trading cases, including assistance with AMF-led investigations conducted for insider trading. Thomas Baudesson, Diego de Lammerville and Charles-Henri Boeringer co-head the practice.

Dispute resolution: White-collar crime Tier 2

Clifford Chance defends leading French, Chinese, Swiss and other international banks in major tax fraud and money laundering cases. The practice recently assisted Bank of China with the signing of a settlement (CJIP) with the Paris Prosecutor office., and defended Airbus in landmark cross-border investigations involving the French, UK and US authorities on whose behalf it negotiated a €3.6bn settlement. The firm, which mainly handles financial and securities criminal cases, also acts in a high-profile drug product liability case for a leading pharmaceutical company. Thomas Baudesson and Charles-Henri Boeringer are in charge.

Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences Tier 2

With a client list featuring some of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, Clifford Chance continues to be involved in high-profile litigation in the life sciences sector; notably, Thomas Baudesson and 'sharp and convincing' counsel Gaëlle Merlier are representing Pfizer in a major class action suit relating to its former vaccine Meningitec. On the regulatory side, the department advises on the entire product life cycle and has developed niche expertise in the cannabis/hemp products industry. Other key names in the practice include compliance expert Olivier Gaillard and antitrust specialist David Tayar. Counsel Loïc Lemercier joined from August Debouzy in October 2019, bringing experience in a range of cross-border IP matters.

Mergers and acquisitions Tier 2

Clifford Chance's Paris-based practice notably led on L'Oréal's acquisition of Clarins, supported by teams in tax, antitrust, IP and employment. With 'excellent technical and practical knowledge of the market', the department is active across a number of sectors including infrastructure, TMT and financial services. Large-cap mandates make up the bulk of the caseload although the practice is also visible on several jumbo and small-cap deals. The leadership group is comprised of Fabrice Cohen, Gilles Lebreton, Marianne Pezant, Mathieu Rémy, Laurent Schoenstein, Thierry Schoen and Emmanuel Mimin, who was promoted to partner in May 2020. Counsel Olivier Jouffroy left to became partner at Orrick Rambaud Martel.

Private equity: LBO Tier 2

Clifford Chance strengthened its Paris presence with the partner promotions of private equity specialist Emmanuel Mimin and finance expert Pierre-Benoit Pabot du Châtelard, whose focus areas include leveraged financing. The private equity team under the lead of Fabrice Cohen and Marianne Pezant is primarily active for large- and mid-cap private equity houses as well as banks and shoulders a substantial caseload for infrastructure funds. With its broad area engagement, including the hospitality, energy, insurance aerospace, defence, healthcare and technology sectors, the practice is able to continuously remain among the most active players in France. Moreover, its international network -particularly the close ties with colleagues in its UK and German offices- make the team an excellent choice for clients seeking expertise in multi-jurisdictional transactions. Strong finance capabilities in France and abroad constitute another clear asset.

Tax Tier 2

Clifford Chance‘s team has high-level transactional and corporate tax expertise. The practice regularly advises leading corporations on the tax structuring of large, often cross-border transactions, with sector expertise among others in the healthcare and real estate sectors. The group advises high-profile French and international advisers on the structuring of major asset and portfolio transactions, including pan-European deals. Finally, the practice is also highly solicited to assist with the tax structuring of funds, such as property and debt funds. Eric Davoudet and Alexandre Lagarrigue direct the practice, which also includes counsel Jitka Susankova as a key member.

Dispute resolution: International arbitration Tier 4

Clifford Chance handles a high volume of ICC cases, a good portion of which involve representing a leading aeronautic company. Additionally, the practice manages both investment and commercial arbitration disputes pertaining to various sectors such as mining, finance and construction, and involving various parts of the world, including Asia, Africa and the Middle-East. Jason Fry co-heads the firm’s global international arbitration practice with London colleague Audley Sheppard QC. Simon Greenberg is another key name.

Employment Tier 4

Insolvency Tier 4

Clifford Chance’s restructuring or insolvency was entirely renewed in 2020 after Reinhard Dammann and counsel Gilles Podeur joined Dammann Avocat and Alerion respectively, while the highly regarded Delphine Caramalli took the lead of the practice, arriving from France’s now dissolved leading boutique firm Bremond & Associés. She has extensive experience in advising all types of stakeholders on large debt restructuring and insolvency cases.