The ‘responsive and technically excellent’ team at Clifford Chance is well-versed in the structuring of private debt, infrastructure, real estate, venture capital, impact funds and secondary funds. The group is also equipped to handle secondary transactions and advise GPs on their continuation funds. Practice head Xavier Comaills, who is lauded for his ’expert and broad knowledge of the sector’, has notable experience of fund structuring and secondary portfolio transactions. Also noted are the ‘technically excellent’ Marie Préat, who advises portfolio managers on the management of their business activity and secondary portfolio transactions; and Elodie Cinconze, who was promoted to the partnership in 2024.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The Clifford Chance team is responsive and handles issues professionally and efficiently. They know the French market well and are able to leverage the broader network of the company where necessary.’
‘The partners and senior team members are responsive and invest in understanding the business of their clients.’
‘Xavier Comaills, Véronique de Hemmer Gudme and Marie Préat are all are involved in their case and accessible at all times.'
‘The team is responsive, technically excellent and each of the lawyers on the team is easy to work with. Many thanks to them.'
‘Marie Préat: technically excellent, knows how to question herself, listens, is efficient, demanding. She is the perfect lawyer with whom we want to work again on each new project and to whom we are never afraid to ask a question! Louis-Guillaume Cousin: responsive and measured.'
‘Remarkable technicity and expertise for fund structuring moreover in a very complex legal and regulatory context, thanks to a great professional team and its professional capabilities and qualities: deep sense of analyses, a rapid understanding of stakes.’
‘The team is very responsive, present, the partners are involved. Xavier Comails and Elodie Cinconze have an expert and broad knowledge of the sector and very good reflexes. Elodie is always available and engaged for any matter and able to dedicate appropriate resourcing and with efficiency in delivering the legal product.’
‘Very experienced team in private equity and also on regulatory aspects. Xavier Comaills: extensive private equity experience. Véronique de Hemmer Gudme: extensive knowledge and experience in private equity regulation.'
Key clients
- 21 Invest France
- Andera Partners
- Archimed
- Ardian
- AXA
- Blackstone
- Bpifrance Investissement
- Cathay Capital Private Equity
- Cathay Innovation
- Chenavari
Work highlights
Advised Kartesia on the closing of its second-generation senior debt strategy, Kartesia Senior Opportunities, at €1.8bn.
Advised Vauban Infrastructure Partners on the structuring and fundraising of a new generation infrastructure equity fund, Core Infrastructure Fund IV.
Advised Montefiore Investment on the structuring and fundraising of its new flagship fund, Montefiore Investment VI, together with a second investment fund dedicated to smaller investments, Montefiore Expansion.
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.
Marie Préat
Practice head
Xavier Comaills
Other key lawyers
Marie Préat; Elodie Cinconze; Véronique de Hemmer Gudme; Louis-Guillaume Cousin