DLA Piper > Paris, France > Firm Profile

DLA Piper > The Legal 500 Rankings

France > Aviation Tier 1

DLA Piper is a prominent name in the field of civil liability linked to the aviation industry through star Vonnick Le Guillou who is one of Airbus and its insurers’ key advisers. Under her supervision, the team acts in some of the market’s most prominent air disaster related cases and also represents insurers and other aviation suppliers in other damage claims and commercial proceedings. Additionally, the team also assists its aviation clients with the conclusion of strategic commercial projects thanks notably to  Gregory Tulquois. Senior associate Audrey Lemniaï  provides support.

France > Data privacy and data protection Tier 1

DLA Piper's clients include life sciences and pharmaceutical companies, banks, and data science companies. The team is adept at advising on compliance with data protection laws, particularly with regards to healthcare professionals, data processing, internet web sites, marketing campaigns and events, negotiation of data processing agreements, the data implications of AI, GDPR compliance and cross-border data transfers. Denise Lebeau-Marianna advises on cybersecurity programme incident response plans, e-discovery procedures and blocking statutes, data protection aspects of internal investigations and projects involving AI. Yaël Hirsch has significant expertise in CNIL contentious work.

France > Industry focus: IT and internet  Tier 1

DLA Piper handles a varied portfolio of work that includes regulatory, IT sourcing and digital management matters. The team is sought out by leading financial services companies and multinational corporations active in various sectors. Denise Lebeau-Marianna is a key name for cybersecurity matters. Stéphane Lemarchand is a go-to name for digital transformation projects as well as advisory and contentious IT matters. Jeanne Dauzier and Jonathan Rofé are other stand out names, as is Gregory Tulquois, who is the firm’s global co-chair of commercial contracts.

France > Insurance Tier 1

DLA Piper houses a comprehensive insurance offering, handling the full range of contentious, transactional and regulatory mandates for major French and international insurers (including cross-border cases). On the litigation front, the firm has robust expertise in industrial, cyber, W&I, product liability and Covid-19 business interruption claims, with significant strength in insurance disputes in the aviation sector, where practice co-head Vonnick Le Guillou is a leading reference. In addition, the team frequently advises on financial regulatory issues, the design of innovative insurance products, and M&A in the insurance field. Co-head Luc Bigel has notable experience in regulatory and cross-border corporate matters and financial lines litigation. Hamza Akli, an expert in regulatory issues, and Alexis André are also highlighted.

France > Intellectual property: Trade marks and designs Tier 1

The team at DLA Piper 'distinguishes itself by its high level of technicality and pugnacious nature in contentious matters' and the group is adept at handling disputes involving parallel proceedings in other countries. Practice head Frank Valentin has a strong focus on IP litigation for clients in the TMT and health sectors. Cédric Meiller stands out for his 'inventiveness and analysis' and Floriane Chartier-Chanot provides additional support in litigation and transactional matters.

France > Employment Tier 2

DLA Piper has an impressive roster of longstanding household name and high-value clients, acting in the full range of contentious and non-contentious employment matters, including complex class actions as well as internal investigations and compliance work. Philippe Danesi  leads the team, harnessing particular expertise in complex restructuring operations, mergers and acquisitions, and related complex litigation. Bijan Eghbal  is a labour law specialist with extensive experience in handling major collective dismissal transactions, whilst Jerôme Halphen  is noted for his contentious and non-contentious work, notably in the retail and hospitality sectors. Senior counsel Marine Gicquel  is also a key contact. The team was bolstered by the arrival of partner Nicolas Léger, who joined in February 2024.

France > Industry focus: Energy Tier 2

DLA Piper’s energy department possesses deep expertise on project development, transactional, and regulatory matters within the energy transition. Practice co-head Ruxandra Lazar is regularly entrusted by France- and Africa-based corporates, energy companies, industry associations, and state bodies on public law and regulatory matters in the natural resources space. Jérôme Pentecoste brings further experience in public law mandates and assists major domestic energy operators concerning the development and regulation of renewable energy assets. Eric Villateau acts for lenders and sponsors in high-value and complex project and bond financing mandates concerning domestic and cross-border renewable energy and battery projects.

France > Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences Tier 2

DLA Piper houses a ‘very cohesive and diligent’ practice known for its strength in carve-outs of businesses within the medical device industry, issues surrounding the financing of healthcare providers by private equity funds, and M&A. Sonia De Kondserovsky leads the group, utilising her vast experience to advise on R&D and clinical trials agreements, strategic collaborations, and acquisitions of manufacturing sites. Denise Lebeau-Marianna is an expert in data protection and processing, often advising international pharma and biotech clients. Frank Valentin has longstanding experience in patent litigation and trade mark issues, often advising North American clients, while Marion Abecassis has expansive expertise in the domestic and EU rules governing clinical trials, advertising, and the relationships between healthcare professionals and industry players.

France > Media and entertainment: Sports Tier 2

DLA Piper is well-equipped to handle significant sports transactions including acquisitions, tender offers, investments and strategic partnerships for notable clients, including Eagle Football Holdings Bidco and Qatar Sports. The team also has experience in IT litigation, securing blocking injunctions under new sports broadcasting legislation for BeIN Sports France. Frank Valentin acts on various high-profile cross-border transactions in the sports industry, and Alice Magnan stands out for her expertise in high-value tender offer and corporate structuring matters.

France > Project finance Tier 2

The practice group at DLA Piper is well-versed in advising sponsors, investors, corporations, financial institutions and regulatory bodies on the financing and development of renewables, oil-and-gas, waste-to-energy, social infrastructure and transport projects. Leadership is shared between infrastructure PPP specialist Eric Villateau; and Jérôme Pentecoste, who has particular experience in renewable financings. Recent months have seen the team advise on the financing of energy recovery facilities for waste management in the Toulouse metropolitan area; and the financing of a photovoltaic energy storage station in Nouvelle-Calédonie.

France > Real estate Tier 2

A key port of call for construction companies and property developers, DLA Piper is proficient in real estate finance. Antoine Mercier is often engaged in asset management matters, Myriam Mejdoubi is well regarded in the logistics sector, and Erwan Lacheteau is experienced in sale and leasebacks. Gabriel Dalarun is well versed in the creation of real estate funds and Charles Abitbol is skilled in advising on hotel developments. Romain Guénin is another key team member. Sarah Fleury arrived in October 2024 from Goodwin.

France > Administrative and public law Tier 3

DLA Piper is recognised for its strong expertise in the field of public procurement, routinely advising state entities, sponsors and lenders on the awarding and negotiation of contracts for major infrastructure projects and services. Demonstrating strength across the energy, transport, telecoms, utilities and healthcare sectors, the team is also skilled in regulatory issues, administrative litigation (including high-profile challenges to decisions by government and regulators) and the public law aspects of corporate transactions. Jérôme Pentecoste, who is well versed in public procurement and PPPs, as well as the financing of public projects, leads the team with Ruxandra Lazar, a key name for public contracts and litigation. Jean-Luc Heckenroth is also noted.

France > Banking and finance: transactional work Tier 3

DLA Piper offers a good market coverage advising banks and debt funds. The team has a strong mid to upper-mid cap corporate financing and LBO financing practice, including unitranche, bridge loans and RCF facilities. Additionally, the firm houses strong real estate expertise that covers various property assets as well as solid domestic and African project finance capabilities. The practice is headed by real estate finance expert Erwan Lacheteau  and includes the talented Sophie Lok and Romain Guénin, while Eric Villateau focuses on project financing work.

France > Compliance Tier 3

DLA Piper stands out for its experience in internal investigations, in addition to assisting clients with the risk prevention and implementation of compliance programmes, covering anti-corruption, anti-money laundering and duty of vigilance. Practice leader Fabien Ganivet counts companies across the life sciences, aviation and automotive sectors among his key roster of clients, and assists with the implementation and strengthening of compliance programmes, covering governance, code of conduct, risk mapping, whistleblowing and internal controls.

France > Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation Tier 3

DLA Piper offers a wide litigation offering, representing a diverse client base made up of investment funds, several large corporations as well as SMEs, notably active in the TMT and industrial sectors. Through Marine Lallemand, and new hire Guillaume-Denis Faure  (ex Simmons & Simmons  who joined in January 2024), the practice has a solid financial and corporate litigation expertise, regularly acting in shareholders conflicts. The firm also handles a steady amount of commercial disputes and is also proficient in managing product liability and industrial risk litigation, via senior counsel  Bruce Mee (senior counsel) and  Vonnick Le Guillou . Fabienne Panneau . has particular expertise in the IT sector but handles commercial litigation in various other areas, including. Counsel Joy Araman also provides support.

France > Dispute resolution: International arbitration Tier 3

DLA Piper has a large and experienced Paris-based team that regularly handles work in relation to Africa (Guinea, Congo, RDC, Algeria), Europe (Hungary) and the CIS (Georgia). The practice acts in investment and commercial arbitration, on behalf of major companies and occasionally for state entities, in large cases often dealing with mining, construction, telecoms and expropriation issues. The practice also acts in exequatur and set-aside proceedings. The team is co-headed by the excellent  Michael Ostrove and Alexander Brabant, with Théobald Naud and counsel Maxime Desplats being two other key members.

France > EU, competition and distribution Tier 3

DLA Piper has a strong skill set in sensitive antitrust cases, with extensive experience of assisting clients in dawn raids and in subsequent cartel and abuse of dominance investigations by the FCA and EC. The team is also well versed in assisting prominent clients in merger control cases, including transactions involving filings in multiple jurisdictions. The digital, automotive, life sciences and mobility sectors are all key areas of expertise. Edouard Sarrazin, who is particularly expert in antitrust litigation, leads the team. Céline Espesson and Julie Brousseau are also notable contributors.

France > Intellectual property: Copyright Tier 3

France > Private equity: LBO Tier 3

France > Tax Tier 3

DLA Piper focuses its practice on corporate, private equity infrastructure and real estate transactions, as well as on fund structuring for both institutions and management investors. Fanny Combourieu heads up the practice, which benefits from her expertise in private equity infrastructure and real estate transactions. Raphaël Béra and Antoine Faure are both key names in the team, with Béra specialising in tax structuring and Faure being active in transfer pricing matters and tax audits.

France > Dispute resolution: White-collar crime Tier 4

France > Insolvency Tier 4

France > Intellectual property: Patents Tier 4

Harnessing the firm’s extensive global network to advise its clients on patent issues, the team at DLA Piper regularly undertakes patent infringement litigation, cancellation action litigation, patent aspects of acquisitions, and trade secret matters on a cross-border stage. The firm advises clients that are active across a variety of industries, including life sciences, consumer goods, and technology. The firm is headed up by Frank Valentin, who is a TMT IP litigation specialist, and also acts as global co-chair for the firm’s media, sport and entertainment team.

France > Mergers and acquisitions Tier 4

France > Private equity: Fund formation

Belgium > Industry focus: Media and entertainment Tier 2

Representing local and multinational film, television, and sports players, the practice at DLA Piper often collaborates with the firm's corporate, employment, and tax teams. Public sector clients also regularly rely on the knowledge of the team led by Alexis Fierens. Fierens has a vast understanding of advisory and contentious IP matters. Bob Martens and Michaël Heene are integral to the team, while Heidi Waem is noted for her data protection expertise.