Freshfields LLP is equipped to operate comfortably across a diverse range of transactions, spanning many industries such as financial services, infrastructures and automotive. The firm is retained by leading French and international corporations, as well as investment funds, to manage large transactions. Particularly present in the financial services industry, with other key names including Guy Benda, Guillemette Burgala, Olivier Rogivue , Sami Jebbour and Benoit Marpeau, who joined the firm in 2026 and further bolsters the team's capabilities in international transactions. Arnaud Mouton and Myriam Khetib-Khatiri are also names to note.
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 M&A team is one of the leading firms in the French market for handling strategic deals. Beyond the firm's ability to cover all aspects of a case with remarkably cohesive and complementary teams, the involvement of the senior partners is exceptional.'
- ‘The team demonstrated deep expertise in private equity transactions within the infrastructure space, providing clear, strategic guidance throughout the process. Their responsiveness, commercial acumen, and ability to navigate complex regulatory and structural issues were instrumental in driving the deal to a successful close. The team worked seamlessly across disciplines, showing strong coordination and a pragmatic approach that added significant value.’
- ‘Sami Jebbour provided exceptional support in negotiating the Master Services Agreement with the mobile network operator, demonstrating a strong grasp of commercial sensitivities and operational nuances critical to the tower sector. His pragmatic approach and ability to balance legal precision with business priorities were key to securing favourable terms.’
- ‘Olivier Rogivue: a very good negotiator, excellent judgment, and a deep understanding of market practices. A pleasure to work with.’
- ‘Guillemots Burgala - fully available, understands business needs.’
- ‘Benoit Marpeau stands out for his negotiation skills, his strength in negotiating, his business acumen, his excellent interpersonal skills, and his strategic vision. He is excellent!’
Key clients
- BNP Paribas
- FDJ United
- Sanofi
- Saint-Gobain
- CVC DIF
- Phoenix Tower International
- Groupe La Poste
- JD Sports plc
- EDF
- Bio-Rad
- One Equity Partners
- Global Communications Infrastructure
Work highlights
Advised BNP Paribas Group in relation to its acquisition of 100% of AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM).
Advised FDJ United on the filing of a public tender offer to acquire the entire share capital of Kindred Group Plc (Unibet).
Advised Sanofi on the transfer of a 50% controlling stake in Opella, its consumer healthcare business.
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
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Benoit Marpeau
Practice head
Hervé Pisani
Other key lawyers
Guy Benda; Guillemette Burgala; Olivier Rogivue; Sami Jebbour; Benoit Marpeau