Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is highly sought-after among blue-chip corporate clients, international private equity funds, financial institutions and sovereigns. A core area of focus is the capital markets space, where Laurent Legein and Marijke Spooren demonstrate experience handling high-profile IPOs and equity-linked bond issuances. Christophe Wauters left the firm in October 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Client satisfaction: NPS ®
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘The team is among the most robust in the market, excelling in both legal expertise and strategic insight. It stands out for its deep understanding of the sector, key issues, and the unique characteristics of its clients. The team is highly attentive to client needs and offers reliable advice.’
- ‘Laurent Legein stands out for his exceptional legal and strategic acumen, as well as his strong interpersonal skills. His extensive expertise and experience across various domains are noteworthy.'
- 'Laurent Legein excels in communication and maintains transparency in his client relationships, prioritising long-term trust.
- ‘Deep expertise and efficient advisory services.’
Key clients
- OVH Groupe
- CMA CGM
- Axéréal
- Belron
- Infinite Electronics
- The Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
- The Republic of Benin
- The Republic of Togo
- Qair International SA
- Port Autonome de Cotonou
- Institut Pasteur Dakar
- The Republic of Senegal
Work highlights
Advised OVH Groupe in the financing of its public share buyback offer and the refinancing of its existing indebtedness, as well as in connection with its debut high-yield bond offering, as part of OVH’s diversification of its sources of funding.
Advised Axéréal in its €1.9bn secured refinancings, allowing the ringfencing of its malt and non-malt businesses.
Advised the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire on a €400m debt-for-development swap backed by the World Bank.
Other key lawyers
Laurent Legein; Marijke Spooren; Jean‑Sébastien Rombouts