Simmons & Simmons maintains a strong position in the real estate market, with the team’s varied case load including tax structuring, acquisitions and disposals, development projects and share deals. The team is jointly steered by sector head Elisa Bocianowski and Michaël Lévy. Bocianowski is reputed for the depth of her expertise in handling leases, developments and real estate disputes, while Lévy specialises in the structuring of real estate investment funds and joint ventures. Lévy, Laure Nguyen and Alice Houdart joined the team from Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP in July 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘We worked with the Simmons & Simmons team on our new Paris lease. They provided high quality, responsive advice, were very commercial and user-friendly and able to react quickly to changes in the terms. ’
- ‘Elisa Bocianowski is great to work with. She provides clear, commercial-minded advice.'
- 'Louis Delestrée is a really strong counsel and was a calm head when the project changed. ’
- ‘Alice Houdart is an exceptional real estate attorney in her subject knowledge and communication.’
- ‘Elisa Bocianowski has excellent knowledge of the files and great responsiveness, including on complex subjects.’
- ‘Excellent availability and accessibility, a serious team.’
Key clients
- BNP Paribas Real Estate Investment Management
- Groupama Immobilier
- Valor Real Estate Partners
- Colony Capital Asset Management
- Société Générale
- Savills Investment Management
- Caisse d’Epargne Bretagne Pays de Loire
- DWS
- DRC Savills
- Macquarie Bank Europe Branch
- Global Net Lease
- Société de Développement Axe Nord
Work highlights
Advised Starwood Capital on the refinancing of a €155m French logistics portfolio held by Lockall.
Advised on a large cross-border refinancing and restructuring of the Data 4 group’s senior facilities, involving entities in France, Luxembourg, the UK, and Greece.
Advised Supermarket Income REIT plc, and Atrato Capital Limited as investment adviser, on the acquisition of a portfolio of 9 Carrefour supermarkets in France in a sale & leaseback transaction, valued at €36.7m.
Practice head
Elisa Bocianowski; Michaël Lévy
Other key lawyers
Laure Nguyen; Louis Delestrée; Alice Houdart