Arbitration

The international arbitration team is internationally recognised as a leading practice in this area. It has consistently been ranked as one of the top teams by many legal directories, including the Global Arbitration Review (GAR) and Chambers & Partners for numerous years.

Our international arbitration lawyers offer clients a comprehensive range of services in commercial and treaty arbitration, litigation-supporting arbitrations and alternative dispute resolution.

We have an outstanding track record in handling complex commercial and investment arbitration proceedings. We act in many of the largest and most important commercial disputes to go to arbitration and have advised both investors and states in over 100 investment treaty cases.

We also advise sovereign states, international organisations, corporations and non-governmental organisations on issues of public international law and represent states before the International Court of Justice.

Our team includes some of the most prominent arbitration practitioner, who hold high profile positions in the major arbitration institutions, governmental organisations and professional associations. We are therefore particularly well qualified to advise our clients on the optimal arbitration strategy for their cases.

The lawyers “have a really significant legal expertise which they combine with a very strategic and practical approach. They are always accessible, responsive and highly communicative.” – Chambers Europe 2020, International Arbitration

Corporate

Our corporate group is recognised as a leading team in on the French market. It advises clients on complex and strategic mandates that demand creative solutions, whether in France or abroad.
Our lawyers cover the full range of corporate transactions, including:

• private and public M&A
• private equity
• capital markets
• restructuring

The corporate team works closely with lawyers in our competition, litigation, public law, people and reward, finance and tax groups to solve multifaceted issues.

Over the years, the Paris team has developed close working relationships with the French Stock Market Authority (AMF) and the French Government Shareholdings Authority (APE) by regularly advising on transactions that involve public, para-public and/or listed companies.

“Combines excellent cross-border capabilities with strong domestic expertise.”
Chambers Europe 2019 (Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability)

Economic law
(antitrust, competition and trade)

Who’s Who Legal has named Freshfields ‘global competition law firm of the year’ every year since 2004.

Our team has a large and diverse practice in both EU and French competition law, including antitrust, merger control, state aid and restrictive practices.
With our public law team, they have developed specific expertise, building on the cooperation between various activities and regulated sectors.

If our clients encounter regulatory issues regarding cyber security, the digital economy, consumer protection or online payment in France, our regulatory lawyers have the knowledge to guide them. The Paris team has particularly strong expertise in the energy, natural resources, infrastructure, transport, consumer goods, healthcare, technology, media, telecoms and leisure sectors.

We have professional relationships with competition authorities, as well as with domestic and international courts, such as:

• the French Competition Authority
• the European Commission
• the French Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF)
• the French Data Protection Authority (CNIL)

“Active on significant merger control matters at a national, European and global level. Fine competition litigation practice, including cartel and abuse of dominance cases, often advising on follow-on damages actions before the French courts.”
Chambers Europe 2019 (Competition/European Law)

Finance

Our finance team advises on complex transactions and provides innovative solutions, calling on its significant experience on the financial investment market.

Our international reach enables us to advise a wide spectrum of clients in the framework of financing activities in France and abroad.

We work on different types of transactions, which revolve around the following market pillars:

• corporate treasury
• acquisition finance
• leveraged finance
• infrastructure financing, particularly in the energy sector
• the restructuring and financing of companies in distress

Financial issues arise in most transactions that we handle. As a result, our finance lawyers work closely with our corporate team on M&A deals, and with our litigation team on financial disputes and bankruptcy proceedings. They also work very closely with our tax and competition teams, benefiting from the latter’s technical expertise in the digital economy and the fintechs.

“Well-reputed team offering expertise on asset and acquisition financing and debt refinancing. Acts on crossborder mandates.”
Chambers Europe 2019 (Banking & Finance)

Litigation

Our industry-leading Paris litigation team has considerable experience in civil, commercial and financial litigation – from post-acquisition and shareholder disputes to civil procurement and product liability claims. Our lawyers have a thorough understanding of complex financial products and provide strategic advice on financial disputes.

They also have strong expertise in advising and representing financial institutions in legal proceedings before the AMF and the Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority (ACPR), and in complex financial and banking disputes.

Clients turn to us for help with international criminal investigations (internal and external), issues raised by the application of international sanctions regimes, matters involving white-collar crime and corruption, and risk-prevention measures.

“Well-regarded group active on a range of commercial and civil matters, including contract disputes, tort claims and shareholders disputes.”
Chambers Europe 2019 (Dispute Resolution: Litigation Elite)

People and Reward

Our people and reward practice solves the most complex labour law issues. Our capability is unique in the French market: as both a leader in a niche market in Paris and a strong member of an international team, we regularly work on complex crossborder projects.

From advisory to dispute resolution work, our lawyers cover a wide spectrum of activities, such as:

• employment issues arising from M&A deals, including post-acquisition integration
• issues in cross-border mergers
• corporate restructuring and redundancies
• relationships with employee representatives and unions
• social and governance issues arising from directors’ employment conditions
• whistle-blowing and internal investigations
• discrimination claims and other types of employment dispute

Public

We advise on all areas of public law, whether in the framework of advisory or contentious mandates. Our public law team has been involved in important infrastructure and public procurement deals within the French market, including PPP/PFI and concessions. They are experienced in working on both greenfield and brownfield projects. The team is also heavily involved in the public investment sector, and regularly advises on transactions involving public companies and/or privatisation issues.

Our public law practitioners work closely with our finance, corporate and competition lawyers to provide global solutions to issues in regulated sectors, such as energy, transport, healthcare and telecoms. We also support businesses on regulatory issues involving data protection, the governance of state-owned entities and foreign investment.

The Paris team has established solid working relationships with national and international sectoral regulatory authorities, such as:

• the French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE)
• the French Railway Regulatory Body (ARAFER)
• the French Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ARCEP)
• many telecom regulators in Africa.

“Popular choice for the management of public law issues arising from corporate transactions, including those requireing foreign investment authorisations. Advises on regulatory risk in support of investments into the energy, telecoms and gaming sectors. Assists public sector clients with privatisation mandates.”
Chambers Europe 2019 (Public Law)

Tax

Our lawyers have a reputation for finding innovative solutions to the tax matters our clients face, however complex these may be, whether domestic or international. We regularly advise both French and foreign clients, including large industrial groups, banks and other financial institutions, and investment funds.

We work on all tax-related aspects of M&A deals, corporate reorganisations, restructurings, structured finance, private equity, real estate tax and tax litigation.
Our lawyers also help our clients structure their investments in emerging countries and handle their transfer-pricing matters.

“France Tax Firm of the Year & Impact Deal of the Year”
International Tax Review 2019 (recognition received for the third time in six years)