Dentons > Paris, France > Firm Profile

Dentons > The Legal 500 Rankings

France > Administrative and public law Tier 1

Dentons stands out for its public procurement expertise, alternatively advising leading sponsors, private operators or the French state on the awarding of the country's largest concessions or public infrastructure projects. The practice is advising on large stadium and motorway concessions and urban rail projects, as well as on new innovative projects such as truck tolls and the opening of regional train rail markets to competition. Its public contract execution and performance skillset is also well regarded and evident in its recent engagement in a high-profile train station development project dispute. The practice  also deals with regulatory and brownfield work in the energy sector, advising on hydrogen, energy trading certificate and renewable energy projects. Practice head  Marc Fornacciari is a respected name in the field. Dorothée Griveaux is another highly regarded practitioner and senior associate Inès Tantardini also contributes.

France > Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences Tier 1

Jointly led by the ‘attentive, extremely professional’ Jean-Marc Grosperrin, Julien Le Guyader, and Anne-Laure Marcerou, the team at Dentons handles the full gamut of issues in life sciences for its diverse client list, including Panasonic, Pfizer, and Laboratoires Servier. Grosperrin is particularly adept at advising global pharma corporations on domestic and cross-border M&A and private equity transactions, while Marcerou is noted for her deep knowledge of the structuring and negotiation of transactions involving biotech and medtech companies. Le Guyader regularly handles market access mandates and issues concerning international tax law. Having joined the team in February 2023 from Dechert LLP, Jessica Garestier exhibits vast regulatory expertise, particularly in relation to market access, promotion, and health product compliance. Pascale Poupelin is a key name of note within the practice, particularly for market access matters.

France > Banking and finance: transactional work Tier 2

Dentons is entrusted by leading French and international banks and borrowers alike, while also advising several debt funds. The firm has a solid corporate syndicated and bilateral loan practice and also advises on credit facilities refinancing. Acquisitions and asset finance also encompass good expertise. Jean-Marc Allix is a key name in those aformentioned areas. Through Philippe Max, the team also houses a high-level fund financing practice, assisting banks on the granting of large equity bridge facilities to leading funds. Of counsels Steeve Jaskierowicz and Meryll Aloro also contribute.

France > Industry focus: Luxury goods Tier 2

Dentons maintains a strong reputation on the French market and is ideally situated within its globally integrated network to assist international luxury goods clients with a range of legal services, from employment issues to private equity transactions and copyright infringement cases. The multidisciplinary group is led by Sandra Hazan, a tax specialist with over 25 years of experience who is renowned for her in-depth knowledge of transfer pricing and international taxation. She is supported by Katell Déniel-Allioux, who advises on employment law, particularly in relation to acquisitions and restructurings, and Loïc Lemercier, an expert in IP litigation. Isabelle Leroux is another key name in the practice.

France > Insurance Tier 2

Dentons‘ insurance offering ranges from regulatory and transactional matters (including W&I insurance) to disputes relating to reinsurance, insurance coverage and industrial risks. The team frequently advises on the review and drafting of insurance policies and the distribution of products, and has been increasingly active in assisting with contractor all risks, property and business interruption coverage issues. Europe insurance sector head Frédérique de La Chapelle is well versed in contentious and non-contentious matters, including international disputes, while Séverine Hotellier is well regarded for high-stakes litigation.

France > Intellectual property: Copyright Tier 2

Leveraging its global reach across all continents, the IP&T team at Dentons in Paris benefits from the expertise of more than 600 lawyers worldwide. It provides support for both domestic and multi-jurisdictional matters and are the preferred choice for numerous blue-chip clients in the pharmaceutical, luxury goods, gaming, and TMT industries seeking to safeguard their copyrights in France and the EU. The team, under the leadership of litigation and enforcement specialist Loïc Lemercier, shields clients from infringement actions and represents them in licensing disputes, injunctions, and seizures. Moreover, they excel in transactional work, guiding clients through contract negotiations and drafting. Isabelle Leroux, a key contact with experience in industrial property and literary and artistic property, has advised notable clients such as CNRS, RTLE, Casablanca, and Leroy Merlin.

France > Intellectual property: Patents Tier 2

Dentons' team is well known for handling high-profile patent matters for blue-chip clients in the IT, insurance, and pharmaceutical sectors. The practice has a solid track record in advising on domestic and cross-border mandates, and under the leadership of patent litigator Loïc Lemercier, the group often assists with invalidity claims, negotiating, drafting and licensing research agreements, and defending companies in patent infringement claims. Lemercier is ably supported by Tom Blanchet.

France > Intellectual property: Trade marks and designs Tier 2

The Paris-based Dentons team excels in handling both local and multi-jurisdictional matters. The team are entrusted with significant cases on behalf of esteemed clients like Apple Inc, Supreme, and Zama, offering comprehensive capabilities within both the French and European Union domains. Loïc Lemercier, an expert in trade mark-related litigation and advisory, leads the team. Its client portfolio extends across various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, luxury, internet, and technology. The practice actively engage in infringement litigation and provide crucial assistance in structuring licensing contracts. Noteworthy individuals within the practice include Isabelle Leroux, who possesses expertise in anti-counterfeiting and piracy matters, and Chen Gu, a qualified attorney in both French and Chinese law.

France > Employment Tier 3

With a strong focus on employment aspects of corporate transactions, Dentons supports companies with their operations, litigation and internal investigations. The team is led by a trio of specialists, Julie Caussade brings over 25 years of experience in employment contracts, termination and litigation and Katell Déniel-Allioux leverages her expertise in acquisition and restructuration. Lastly, Frédérique Meslay-Caloni has in-depth knowledge of the hospitality, finance and pharma sectors.

France > Industry focus: Energy Tier 3

France > Private equity: venture/growth capital Tier 3

France > EU, competition and distribution Tier 4

With experience in the automotive, retail, food and beverages, and life sciences sectors, among others, Dentons is frequently active in merger control cases, handling notifications to the FCA and the European Commission. Other strong suits of the firm include antitrust and consumer law investigations, competition compliance and audits, and the establishment of distribution networks and agreements. Emmanuelle van den Broucke is the key contact in the practice.

France > Insolvency Tier 4

Under the guidance of insolvency expert Audrey Molina, Dentons’ restructuring and insolvency department provides counsel to distressed companies on matters related to insolvency procedures, court-ordered reorganisations, and litigation, both domestically and internationally. The team’s primary strengths lie in debtor representation, cross-border restructuring, distressed M&A, and out-of-court workouts. With the added support of their cross-practice collaboration, the team advises individuals across a wide spectrum of industries, including banking, entertainment, food, and travel, enabling them to offer comprehensive and full-service capabilities.

France > Mergers and acquisitions Tier 4

France > Private equity: Fund formation Tier 4

The group at Dentons specialises in the creation and structuring of closed-ended funds such as growth, venture capital, debt, infrastructure, and mezzanine funds. In addition, the team assists LPs with acquiring interests in investment funds. Private equity and M&A specialist Olivier Genevois steers the practice and is lauded for his 'cordiality, expertise, and pragmatism'.

France > Private equity: LBO Tier 4

France > Project finance Tier 4

The team at Dentons regularly acts for a diverse range of clients, including  contractors, investment funds, and public authorities. The firm is noted for its expertise in renewable energy, infrastructure, and public transport projects. Practice co-head Marc Fornacciari specialises in PPP mandates, while Jean-Marc Allix's primary areas of expertise are domestic and cross-border financings for public facilities and energy projects.

France > Real estate Tier 4

‘Responsiveness, skill and tenacity’ are the calling cards of the team at Dentons, who are active on a range of real estate investment transactions including acquisitions, disposals, sales and leasebacks. Development work, property management and litigation are additional core skills. Property investment specialist Pascal Schmitz heads up the group, which is also home to key figures Véronique Lagarde and Maxime Simonnet. Audrey Arnaut-Lacombe and Charlotte Rossi support the partners across the gamut of matters and also garner client praise.

France > Tax Tier 4

The team at Dentons advises on matters related to transactional tax, real estate tax, transfer pricing, individual tax, charities and not-for-profit tax issues. The team is a popular choice for clients in the the luxury goods, cosmetics, W&I insurance, biotechnology and medical devices sectors. Practice head Gianluca Calisti is an experienced transactional tax lawyer, with specific expertise in the real estate sector. Sandra Hazan is a key name for restructuring and transfer pricing policy advice; Julien Le Guyader focuses on pharmaceutical tax disputes and transactions; and Jérôme Le Berre has strong knowledge of the life sciences sector.

France > Dispute resolution: International arbitration Tier 5

France > Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation

France > Dispute resolution: White-collar crime