Allen & Overy LLP has impressive credentials in the field of tax fraud evasion matters where the firm has played a role in many of the market’s highlight cases. With a strong presence among leading French and international banks, the team also regularly defends those clients in cases concerning money laundering, tax evasion, fraud and misleading commercial practices. The firm also represents a wide range of leading companies or their executives in a range of cases, including industrial accidents and international corruption offences. The practice is led by Denis Chemla, Hippolyte Marquetty and Dan Benguigui.

White-collar criminal law boutique Antonin Lévy & Associés A.A.R.P.I. manages a prominent caseload, spanning various legal issues and industrial sectors. The team acts for leading French and international companies and also regularly defends senior executives. The team is entrusted to deal with sensitive international corruption cases (sometimes also involving the US authorities), as well as domestic money laundering, bid rigging and tax evasion matters. The firm also regularly handles sensitive industrial accident cases, notably in the transport area. It also manages several high-profile cases concerning undeclared employment work issues, notably defending an internet platform in high-stakes proceedings. Several high-profile political figures are also clients including former Primer Minister François Fillon. Antonin Lévy co-heads the practice alongside Ophélia Claude and Joris Momin de Flaugergues.

Chemarin & Limbour's practice, led by Claudia Chemarin, manages a prominent caseload, spanning various sectors. The team is notably retained to handle high-profile industrial accident cases and is also involved in a landmark case where criminal and employment law issues intersect. It has recently been retained to represent a client in a tax fraud case. The group's caseload also includes international corruption and bribery cases. The team acts for executives and companies including top corporations in the telecoms, aviation and engineering sectors. Matthias Guillou is also active in this area.

Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier is a familiar fixture at the top of the market and manages a prestigious white-collar criminal law caseload. The firm’s range of involvement is impressive and it handles many high-profile cases relating to the political sphere, including defending the Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti who is facing criminal proceedings, and managing several other headline cases concerning the financing of past presidential campaigns. The firm has also been entrusted by top companies accused of major human rights violations in relation to their foreign activities. It is also acting in several of the country’s major tax fraud cases, and has recently been retained to defend a former key executive facing accusations on the ground of concealed employment breaches regarding the activity of a delivery platform. Christophe Ingrain heads the practice he is supported by associates Paul Mallet, Tristan Gautier and Xavier Philips. Remi Lorrain left the firm in 2022.

White-collar criminal boutique Delecroix Gublin Associés is a popular choice for highly sensitive matters. Practice head Alexis Gublin is particularly strong in dealing with complex cases involving multiple proceedings around the globe and is trusted by several leading companies, notably in the aviation sector, as well as senior executives of high-profile corporations. The team handles a wide range of cases but is often retained to act in international corruption cases, as well as matters relating to industrial accidents and criminal labour law.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton's criminal law team handles several landmark cases in diverse areas; it acts in several high-profile criminal tax cases and recently managed to obtain the annulment of a dawn raid carried out by the police and tax authorities. The practice has also been entrusted recently with the management of several sensitive matters on behalf of companies and financial institutions facing accusations of complicity in human rights violations in relation to activities carried out in countries where conflicts are ongoing. The firm is also regularly retained by French clients to assist with proceedings in the US, while advising financial institutions on regulatory enforcement and criminal investigations is another strength.  Jean-Yves Garaud, Delphine Michot, and counsel Guillaume de Rancourt co-head the practice, which also includes associate Nicolas Degardin.

Clifford Chance is frequently retained by leading corporations, has a strong presence among leading banks and also defends individuals. The practice manages a prominent caseload, regularly dealing with cases investigated by the PNF (the French financial prosecuting body), as well as handlinge tax evasion and money laundering cases where it frequently defends banks. It is also defending a major company facing bribery and corruption accusations regarding activities carried out in a foreign country. The firm has a strong ability to handle matters featuring strong international components and has been involved in several cases where investigations have been jointly coordinated by several European and US regulators or authorities. The practice also has a strong track record negotiating judicial settlements, including with the French CJIP. The team is jointly led by Thomas Baudesson and Charles-Henri Boeringer. Counsel Sophie Levy provides additional support.

White-collar criminal law boutique Dartevelle Dubest Bellanca is regularly entrusted by senior executives of CAC 40 companies and is currently defending individuals against allegations of fraud, anti-corruption and anti-bribery. The firm also stands out for its strong international profile and its ability to combine its white-collar criminal law expertise with its knowledge of the financial services sector, and it also acts for companies and financial institutions. The team also regularly handles matters dealing with labour criminal law (accidents, suicides and harassment). The practice is headed by white-collar criminal law expert Fabrice Dubest and Frédéric Bellanca, whose expertise lies in defending companies against allegations of corruption, money laundering and stock market abuse, particularly in the financial services space. Also recommended are Philippe Rossignol and Vincent Blondeau.

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP's team is highly prized for its 'innovative use of technology to ensure the confidentiality and security of client data'. The team regularly acts in high-stakes criminal proceedings concerning allegations of corruption and fraud, frequently with a cross-border nexus. It represents many leading domestic companies in a wide range of matters and is notably involved in France’s first criminal liability cartel case. Kami Haeri and former French prosecutor Eric Russo are the practice heads.

VIGO Cabinet d'Avocats has established itself as a key destination for cases concerning high-profile industrial scandals. The firm is currently defending leading companies or their executives in cases concerning fraud, doping and criminal employment law breaches, among others, concerning the retail, sport and automobile sectors. The team also stands out for its ability to handle cutting-edge criminal human rights issues, where it has experience representing NGOs as well as acting for defendants, and its work in this area extends to allegations regarding companies’ operations in China, Africa and the Middle East. Emmanuel Daoud is the practice head.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP combines strong compliance and white-collar criminal law expertise. The firm manages a diverse caseload concerning corruption, bribery and tax evasion allegations, as well as employees’ fraud and industrial accidents. The team is handling a number of PNF-led investigations and has signed several judiciary settlements (CJIP) recently. The practice also assists companies facing investigations from international development banks. Clients include French and international companies. Jonathan Mattout heads the team.

Jones Day’s Bénédicte Graulle heads a team that has strong expertise acting for banks and industrial companies. The practice notably defends several banks and executives facing allegations of fraud, and is also a key name for cybercrime cases. The team also stands out for its ability to manage highly sensitive industrial accidents and employment criminal law cases. The practice is experienced in handling cross-border cases involving investigations from the French or/and foreign authorities, where it can also offer complementary in-house discovery and internal investigations know-how. Major industrial companies, notably in the energy and pharmaceutical fields, as well as banks and financial services companies are clients.

King & Spalding LLP has recently been mandated to act in two new high-profile cases, defending executives in two distinct international corruption and tax fraud proceedings. The team is also part of Carlos Ghosn’s legal counsel in a landmark international case. The practice also assists companies and individuals in dealing with a range of matters including corporate and bankruptcy-related matters, and is supporting a large corporation which was the target of a major cyberattack. In addition, the practice also regularly assists NGOs and individuals with managing sensitive human rights and terrorism matters. Practice head Jean Tamalet works closely with US lawyer and counsel Amy Madigan and counsel Aurélie Chazottes.

Navacelle specialises in white-collar criminal law compliance and investigations and is retained by companies, their executives or employees to handle fraud, bribery, money laundering and international corruption cases. The practice is involved in several investigations led by French financial prosecutor (PNF). It is notably defending top employees in several high-profile corruption cases, notably in the aviation and energy sectors, involving the French, US and UK authorities. Stéphane De Navacelle and Julie Zorrilla are the practice heads.

Reinhart Marville Torre is able to deal with a wide range of matters thanks to a sizeable team of lawyers combining white-collar criminal law, commercial litigation and employment law expertise. The practice is retained by companies, executives and other individuals. It handles international corruption, tax fraud, bribery, money laundering, harassment, industrial accidents, as well as human rights-related issues including international terrorism cases. The team notably assists several key clients in the defence sector. The team is also involved in several high-profile corruption cases and has been retained recently by a company facing serious accusations in relation to residential care. Jean Reinhart, Olivier Bluche, Agathe Moreau and litigators Louis-Marie Absil and Marc Susini are the practice heads.

White-collar criminal law boutique Schapira Associés manages a busy caseload that includes matters concerning international corruption, corporate law breaches, sexual abuse, fraud, money laundering and bribery, among others. The firm has notably been retained by several leading French companies in relation to the French Duty Vigilance Act concerning their overseas operations (notably in Latin America). It is also defending senior executives in various cases, including in a high-profile matter concerning allegations of complicity in crimes against humanity. The practice regularly acts for French and international companies as well as executives, elected officials and individuals. Sebastien Schapira is highly regarded, and co-heads the practice alongside Dimitri Grémont and press and criminal family law specialist Lorraine Delva.

White-collar criminal law boutique Soulez Larivière Avocats manages a high-profile caseload and is entrusted by several leading companies or executives. It has a track record handling cases relating to industrial accidents, often linked to plant explosion or healthcare device products. The team is also highly knowledgeable in the field of labour criminal law, defending several companies facing concealed employment investigations and is also proficient in managing international corruption and bribery investigations. It has recently been retained to assist with a high-profile tax fraud case. Aurélia Grignon and Capucine Lanta de Bérard are the names to note.

White-collar criminal law and stock market litigation boutique Visconti & Grundler attracts prominent cases and frequently defends individuals including CEOs and executives of leading French and international companies facing criminal charges. It acts in several of the market’s most high-profile cases in relation to allegations of international corruption, tax fraud and money laundering. The practice also defended an executive of a prominent internet services platform in a high-stakes employment criminal law case. The practice is led by Benjamin Grundler and  Julien Visconti. Counsel Dorothée Hever also contributes.

White & Case LLP is able to combine strong white-collar criminal law and compliance capabilities with a global network. The Paris team has a strong presence acting for leading French banks, particularly in relation to fraud committed by employees or other parties or cyberattacks. The team also defends large French and international companies, corporate executives and individuals. It is acting in several high-profile ongoing tax fraud and money laundering investigations. The practice also handles corporate and commercial related criminal law cases and assists clients facing regulatory investigations, particularly by the French stock market authority. Jean-Pierre Picca and Jean-Lou Salha are the practice heads. Former practice head Ludovic Malgrain left the firm at the end of 2022.

Nério Avocats

Obadia Stasi & Avocats

Osborne Clarke

TALMA Dispute Resolution