The Orrick practice advises funders, industrial sponsors, financial investors and governmental bodies on energy and infrastructure projects. The group is led by Christophe Lefort, who has extensive experience guiding both public and private stakeholders through the construction and financing of cross-border projects. Yves Lepage brings additional strength with his focus on PPP structures and the financing of power generation assets. The team was further bolstered by the arrival of partner Hugues Martin-Sisteron, who joined from Clifford Chance in August 2025. The firm saw the departure of Foucaud Jaulin in May 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘This practice stands out for combining deep legal expertise with a pragmatic, business-oriented approach. The team is responsive, collaborative, and highly attuned to client needs, offering tailored solutions rather than one-size-fits-all advice. Their strengths lie in anticipating challenges and providing clear, practical guidance.'
- ‘The individuals I have worked with stand out for their professionalism, responsiveness, and ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, actionable advice. They are approachable, solution-driven, and consistently go the extra mile to understand the client’s business context.'
- ‘We have been working with Orrick for the past years and I find this team extraordinary. They are always there to support, up-to-date, responsive and super sharp. They not only possess the required legal knowledge and expertise but can share in strategic thinking which is rare on the legal market. ’
- ‘They are great colleagues in strategic thinking, seeing the bigger picture, and this makes them stand out from peers. I would specifically mention Yves Lepage and Christophe Lefort. They both are strategic thinkers, have a wide knowledge of the industry and also fun to work with. ’
- ‘Orrick's project finance team combines strong legal expertise with an effective operational approach. The partners' proven experience in project finance, particularly in infrastructure, is a valuable asset in handling cases.’
- ‘Orrick's Project Finance team is multidisciplinary and recognised for its rigour, meticulousness, and high-quality work. It distinguishes itself through its responsiveness and ability to effectively meet its clients' needs. With extensive experience in the energy and infrastructure sectors in France, it brings real added value to the projects it supports.'
Key clients
- Aéroport de Lyon
- Aéroport de Marseille
- Africa50
- Altitude Infrastructure
- Amarenco
- Ardian
- Bouygues Construction
- EDF
- EGIS
- ENEO
- Eramet
- Eranove Group
- Losange
- Gridworks
- Nachtigal Hydro Power Company
- Société Générale
- Total Eren
- Tunnel Euralpin Lyon Turin TELT-SAS
- Vinci Airports
- Vinci Constructions / Grand Projets
Work highlights
Advises the French government, Ministry in charge of energy, on the development of all offshore wind project in France, including a competitive procedure for four offshore wind projects.
Advised the consortium composed of Egis, Bouygues Construction, Serena Industrial Partners, Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur and TIIC on the new concession for Paris-Beauvais airport with a view to its modernisation.
Advised Losange on the refinancing of its existing debt. This €735m hybrid refinancing operation combines institutional and bank financing.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Christophe Lefort
Other key lawyers
Geoffroy Berthon; Paul Loisel; Hugues Martin-Sisteron; Ahmed Boulahcen; Yves Lepage