The employment law practice at Orrick provides comprehensive counsel to financial institutions and corporations on the full spectrum of employment matters, spanning both contentious and advisory work. The team is particularly recognised for its expertise in complex transactions, sensitive litigation, internal investigations and large-scale restructurings. The practice is co-led by Emmanuel Bénard, a specialist in collective litigation and criminal employment law, and Nadège Owen, who focuses on global restructurings and cross-border corporate transactions.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- Emmanuel Bernard: An excellent, experienced partner with tremendous knowledge. Focuses on clients' demands and needs. Helene Boukez: Great labor law knowledge, focuses on all relevant legal issues, and is very supportive in all aspects.
- Excellent labor knowledge and expertise, high business acumen, very service- and client-oriented approach, and very pleasant teamwork.
- ‘I have always had very high-quality interactions with the team. Strong skills, pragmatism and excellent listening skills, especially during difficult times of internal social tension within my company.’
- ‘Multidisciplinary expertise in employment law. High-quality services are provided both in drafting and in handling the substance of cases. Success in complex litigation. Diverse profiles with regional presence, seeking compromise, listening to remarks and observations.’
- ‘Responsive, collaborative and work well together. Nadège Owen is a very knowledgeable and helpful in all French employment issues.'
- ‘Emmanuel Bénard was able to build trust and a strong rapport throughout our collaboration, while maintaining a human touch in his approach. Helene Boukez provided all the necessary technical expertise for the project.’
- ‘We had the pleasure of working with Emmanuel Bénard, who assisted us with the implementation and deployment of a point-of-sale system. He was always available and highly responsive, providing perfectly tailored solutions to all our requests. The firm's strengths lie in its availability, responsiveness and professionalism.’
Key clients
- Alba Infrastructure Partners
- Aledia
- Amundi Energy Transition
- Antin Infrastructure Partners
- AXA France
- AXA GO
- AXA IM
- Bouygues Construction
- Clubmed
- Crédit Agricole Immobilier
- Crédit Agricole SA
- Crédit Agricole Assurances
- Crossbeam
- Demeter
- Dior
- EGIS
- Groupe Air France (Air France / Hop !)
- Idia
- Jasper
- La Banque Postale
Work highlights
Represented AXA France before the tribunal in a dispute against the FO union concerning the interpretation of a provision in the insurance branch collective bargaining agreement.
Advised the consortium comprising Egis, Bouygues Construction, Serena Industrial Partners, Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur and TIIC on securing the new concession for the Paris-Beauvais airport, aimed at its modernisation.
Advised SGS&Co on the creation of a joint venture combining its businesses with that of SGK Brand Solutions.
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.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Emmanuel Bénard; Nadège Owen
Other key lawyers
Hélène Boukez