Renowned magic circle firm Allen & Overy provides clients with full-service capabilities across a diverse range of sectors, and is one of the top performing firms in the French market with 24 listings spread across 15 different practice areas this year.

The firm illustrates the strength and depth of its life sciences offering, with three of its practitioners listed for their outstanding work advising clients on a variety of transactional, regulatory, product liability and patent litigation matters.

Corporate finance is another area in which the firm excels, with two listings respectively across the capital markets and project finance categories. In this way, the firm clearly demonstrates the excellence of its lawyers when it comes to capital markets transactions, joint ventures and PPPs.

Standout names at the firm include Denis Chemla for his exemplary skill in litigation, product liability defence and business crime defence matters. Laëtitia Bénard is another powerhouse at the firm, and secures Global Elite Leader awards in our international patents and life sciences publications. Claire Toumieux also receives praise for her labour and employment expertise, while Hervé Ekué is similarly applauded for his distinguished capital markets practice.

Bredin Prat

Bredin Prat illustrates its stellar reputation in our research this year with a total of 30 listings across 10 practice areas.

Dispute resolution is an area in which the firm stands out in the market, with seven listings across our arbitration and litigation chapters. The firm excels in both domestic and international arbitration, and acts in complex investment and commercial cases as well as commercial litigation, representing a host of corporate clients in contentious proceedings.

The firm is particularly strong in corporate finance, most notably when it comes to M&A, banking and tax law. The firm receives 13 listings this year across these three chapters for their excellence in related regulatory matters and high-value transactions.

Competition is a further area in which the firm performs well, with five lawyers commended for their outstanding work in merger control, abuse of dominance, state aid and cartel cases.

Standout individuals at the firm include Olivier Billard and Marie-Cecile Rameau who draw praise for their excellence in competition law. Pierre-Henri Durand and Yves Rutschmann are go-to names for corporate tax, and Eric Dezeuze is highly rated for his work in white-collar crime defence and corporate investigations. Alexander Blackburn is held in high esteem for his impressive banking practice.

Clifford Chance

International powerhouse Clifford Chance’s strong position in the French legal market is reflected in our research this year, with the Paris office achieving 23 listings across 15 practice area chapters.

The firm’s distinguished energy practice sees three impressive individuals listed for their knowledge and expertise in renewables, oil and gas, and nuclear matters. The firm also offers a strong dispute resolution practice, with practitioners achieving listings across our arbitration, commercial litigation and mediation chapters. Capital markets is another area in which the firm excels, with three lawyers highlighted for their in-depth expertise in transactional and regulatory matters. The firm’s stellar competition sees two lawyers recognised for their impressive track record handling abuse of dominance, cartels and merger control issues.

Notable individuals at the firm include Simon Greenberg and Jason Fry for their extensive arbitration expertise, as well as Thomas Baudesson who is acclaimed for his excellent handling of commercial litigation matters. Reinhard Dammann is a prominent player in the restructuring and insolvency arena, and Global Elite Thought Leader Anthony Giustini is recognised as a market-leading project finance lawyer. François Bonteil receives plaudits for his exceptional real estate practice and transactional advice.

CMS Francis Lefebvre Avocats

Renowned international giant CMS demonstrates its strength in France in this edition, receiving a total of 24 listings across eight practice areas.

Corporate tax is in area in which the firm distinguishes itself from the competition, with 13 listings in our corresponding chapter this year. The firm excels domestically and internationally for taxation of property, application of tax treaties, and financial and general corporate taxation.

The firm also thrives in private client work, and sees five lawyers credited with deep expertise in estate planning, family and inheritance, and taxation.

Standout individuals at the firm include Michel Collet and Stéphane Gelin, leading lights in corporate tax law. Bruno Gouthière, Luc Jaillais and Sylvie Lerond rank highly for their excellence in private client matters.

Gide Loyrette Nouel

Pre-eminent law firm Gide Loyrette Nouel continues to enjoy an impressive position in the French legal market. This is reflected in our research this year, which sees its lawyers achieve a grand total of 45 listings across 21 practice areas.

The firm excels in intellectual property, with seven practitioners listed in our patents and trademarks chapters for their expertise on copyright issues, transactions, IP rights and disputes. The firm also demonstrates its strong corporate finance offering with lawyers achieving listings across several chapters including banking, corporate tax, M&A and corporate governance, private funds, and restructuring and insolvency. The extensive expertise the firm offers is further exemplified in a variety of practice area chapters, such as arbitration, business crime defence and investigations, competition, real estate, and labour and employment.

Leading individuals at the firm include Carole Malinvaud, who is recognised as an excellent arbitrator and construction expert, and Thought Leader Christian Camboulive, who is renowned for his dispute resolution services. Bruno Quentin stands out for his business crime and investigations practice, while Frédéric Nouel maintains a stellar reputation for his work on real estate transactions. Nadège Nguyen is a celebrated Global Elite Thought Leader in M&A and corporate governance, and Thomas Courtel gains recognition for his expertise in administrative litigation and government contracts.

White & Case

Distinguished international player White & Case secures a place among France’s top performing corporate firms in our research this year, with a total of 26 listings for its lawyers across 15 different practice areas.

Dispute resolution is an area of excellence for the firm, with seven listings across our arbitration and commercial litigation chapters. Practitioners are accomplished when it comes to high-value domestic and international proceedings pertaining to a variety of sectors.

The firm is also a force to be reckoned with when it comes to construction and project finance, achieving seven listings across the two chapters. This makes the firm one of the market’s strongest offerings when it comes to contractual, financing and contentious proceedings for construction and infrastructure projects.

Key names at the firm include Charles Nairac, Christopher Seppälä, Andrew de Lotbinière McDougall QC and Michael Polkinghorne, who all demonstrate the pre-eminence of the firm’s arbitration offering by achieving Thought Leader status for their expertise. Franck Peter is singled out for his skill in real estate law, while Raphaël Richard earns acclaim for his finance practice.