Advising private equity and hedge funds as creditors is at the heart of Ashurst LLP’s practice, with the team’s areas of expertise including debt restructuring, loan-to-own strategies, preventive and insolvency proceedings as well as distress M&A. Noam Ankri heads the department and is lauded for his wealth of experience handling multijurisdictional transactions and litigation matters. Ankri is well supported by Elsa Decourt, who combines proficiency in restructuring and corporate topics and specialises in financial and industrial restructuring transactions.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Ashurst's restructuring team in Paris is distinguished by its technical excellence and pragmatic advice. Responsive, efficient, and highly attentive to client needs, it stands out as much for the quality of its service as for its availability. The team approaches complex restructuring situations with a commercial mindset and offers solutions that are both legally sound and operationally viable. It handles complex and innovative transactions, aligned with clients' strategic objectives.’
- ‘Within the team, Noam Ankri stands out for his business acumen, pragmatism, and efficiency in managing complex restructurings. Clients appreciate his responsiveness, the clarity of his advice, and his ability to conduct demanding negotiations while keeping the commercial stakes in mind. He embodies a remarkable balance between legal rigor and practical execution.’
- ‘Excellent team, recognised by its peers, readily available, and accustomed to working together. One of the best restructuring teams in Paris. Capable of handling large projects.’
- ‘Noam Ankri: excellent ability to listen to clients, understand their needs, and negotiate. Perfectly able to maintain a consistent position and present a compelling argument. Strong sense of teamwork. Ability to build the right tension in a case to prepare for negotiation.'
- 'Elsa Decourt is available, has strong work ethic, and meets deadlines.’
- ‘The team is responsive and attentive to the sometimes conflicting demands and evolving needs of the various stakeholders. They always seek a fair compromise while defending their clients' interests in order to close the deal.’
Key clients
- Anchorage Capital
- BlackRock
- Boussard & Gavaudan
- Carlyle
- De Shaw
- Econocom
- Goldman Sachs
- Santander
- Schelcher Prince Gestion
- Tresidor
Work highlights
Advised the steering committee of the Bondholders of Atos on the €5bn financial restructuring of Atos SE.
Advised a group of dissenting senior secured bondholders of Altice France on challenging the contemplated €24bn financial restructuring thereof.
Advised the group of RCF lenders of Solocal in connection with its financial restructuring and sale to Maurice Levy.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Noam Ankri
Other key lawyers
Elsa Decourt; Astrid Hubert-Benoist