Leading corporate and M&A firm Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier houses an equally impressive and complementary litigation practice that encompasses all the main areas of business litigation: corporate, commercial, civil and product liability. The team, which is large and very experienced, acts for prominent corporations, investment funds and family-led shareholders which entrust the firm with their most sensitive and high-stake cases. The litigation team is regularly involved in high-end post-M&A and shareholders’ conflicts, while its commercial litigation caseload is also prominent. The practice also acts in major civil and damages liability cases and class actions, spanning antitrust follow-on, industrial product liability and financial product liability. Matthieu Brochier and Nicolas Mennesson co-head the practice, with other key members including Cyril Bonan and Julie Pasternak. Senior statesman Jean-Michel Darrois and Wenceslas Le Chevalier and Stanislas Darrois also contribute.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘The team offers the highest standards and demonstrates exceptional availability and adaptability. The team is always results-oriented and adept at managing high-pressure situations.’
- ‘The team is arguably one of the best in its field in Paris. It excels in its responsiveness, its mastery of litigation and procedure and the impeccable quality of its written submissions.’
- ‘Darrois has one of the leading commercial litigation teams in Paris. They are a 'go to' team for complex, high value commercial disputes. They are excellent litigators with a commercial and strategic focus.’
- ‘Matthieu Brochier is excellent and inspires confidence. He is an exceptional lawyer, always available, with very insightful analysis.’
- ‘Nicolas Mennesson: composed, brilliant.’
- ‘Wenceslas Le Chevalier is extremely competent and demonstrates strong leadership. He is very proactive and available.’
Key clients
- Atos SE
- Baccarat
- BioMérieux
- Bouygues Télécom
- BPCE
- Bridgepoint
- Carrefour
- Crédit Agricole
- Comemi (Atlantic SFDT’s major shareholder)
- Comexposium
- Daimler
- Deloitte
Work highlights
Acting for Bouygues Telecom in its appeal against a ruling of the Paris Commercial Court awarding Free Mobile €308 million in damages.
Representing Natixis Investment Managers (NIM), Natixis and BPCE in a high-profile class action, with over 90,000 claimants and €800 million at stake.
Acting for Daimler before the French courts following the trucks cartel condemnation by the European Commission decision in July 2016.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners: Corporate and commercial litigation
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Cyril Bonan
Matthieu Brochier
Nicolas Mennesson
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Wenceslas Le Chevalier
Practice head
Matthieu Brochier; Nicolas Mennesson
Other key lawyers
Jean-Michel Darrois; Cyril Bonan; Julie Pasternak; Wenceslas Le Chevalier; Stanislas Darrois