Herbert Smith Freehills LLP ’s versatile practice shows particularly strength in the banking and insurance fields, where the firm regularly acts for banks and insurers in high-stakes disputes, including in complex cross-border ones. The firm’s strong involvement in the oil and gas African market also provides the litigation team with a regular flow of cases brought before French or African courts. Recently, the team has notably been assisting clients operating in Africa and in other emerging markets in dealing with sensitive environmental proceedings brought by NGOs. The team is finally also at ease managing commercial litigation. The practice is headed by Clément Dupoirier and notably includes banking and financial regulatory disputes expert Martin Le Touzé and of counsels Nicolas Pol and Vincent Bouvard .
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team is extremely responsive, available and proactive in resolving disputes.’
‘Clément Dupoirier and Vincent Bouvard stand out for through their legal qualities but also in terms of judicial and commercial strategy.’
‘A responsive, dynamic team with a strategic vision.'
‘Very professionals, skilled people with thorough expertise. They show efficiency, soft skills and abilities to communicate with clients. They give accurate feedbacks and analysis on cases always on time.'
‘Clément Dupoirier and his team are amazingly professionals. Clément Dupoirier and Vincent Bouvard are humble and have human qualities that are very rare on the market. They are also diligent, efficient and are skilled litigators.'
‘Clément Dupoirier (partner) and Nicolas Pol are always very responsive, very easy to deal with and don't let their egos get on the way. They are great listeners.'
Key clients
- Generali Vie
- Crédit Agricole Brie Picardie
- Caisse d'Epargne de Bourgogne Franche-Comté
Work highlights
- Advising Generali Vie regarding the execution of a life insurance contract took out by the plaintiff in 1992 (Civil High Court of Paris).
- Assisting Caisse d'Epargne Bourgogne Franche Comté (CEBFC) in its capacity of shareholder in a real estate company called Société Est Métropole (SEM), in a dispute against the majority shareholder (i.e LCDP).
- Assisting Afreximbank based in Cairo in a dispute pending before the Court of Appeal of Paris regarding the recovery of EUR 50 million lent to an Ivorian company.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Clément Dupoirier
Other key lawyers
Martin Le Touzé; Nicolas Pol; Vincent Bouvard