Leading Individuals: Foreign Tax Expert

Leading Individuals: Transfer Pricing And International Tax

Next Generation Partners: Private Clients

Next Generation Partners: Property Tax

Tax in France

Baker McKenzie

Baker McKenzie‘s large team is able to offer high-level expertise in the full spectrum of tax matters, spanning corporate tax, transfer pricing, tax audit and litigation, VAT, wealth tax and property tax. The litigation expertise is among the very best in France thanks to superstar Eric Meier, with Ariane Calloud and senior counsel Régis Torlet providing key support. The team excels at challenging French tax legislation in courts and has obtained landmark results in the past years, including a December 2020 decision from the French Supreme Court establishing the jurisprudence concerning companies’ permanent establishment status. The team is also retained by leading French and international companies, including blue-chip names in the digital industry, to assist with high-stakes tax readjustment cases. Practice head Veronique Millischer and Guillaume Le Camus offer outstanding corporate tax expertise, assisting leading companies with strategic tax reorganisation matters and transactions. Caroline Silberztein‘s transfer-pricing expertise is recognised as one of the finest in France. Senior counsel Thierry Vialaneix is an expert in VAT issues, while Virginie Louvigné focuses on real estate tax matters. Agnès Charpenet  specialises in wealth management matters. Also recommended is Stéphane Taïeb who focuses on corporate taxation.

Responsables de la pratique:

Véronique Millischer

Autres avocats clés:

Guillaume Le Camus; Eric Meier; Caroline Silberztein; Ariane Calloud; Régis Torlet; Thierry Vialaneix; Agnès Charpenet; Stéphane Taïeb

Les références

‘Ariane Calloud and her team have been a very valuable support, demonstrating unfailing professionalism. Availability, rigour and pragmatism are their great strengths.’

‘Ariane Calloud: exceptional professionalism and excellence of her technical expertise, in particular in matters of tax control and litigation, but also on new and specialised subjects. Caroline Silberztein stands out through her expertise in transfer pricing and the quality of her relations with the competent departments of the tax administration.’

‘The people we work with are technically excellent, but above all they are involved and passionate as if our business was theirs.’

‘The teams were, apart from displaying enormous technical and pragmatic skill, very attentive to our specific situation and were able to perfectly modulate their advice proactively to our situation.’

‘Guillaume Le Camus demonstrates competence and proactivity, creativity. Caroline Silberztein: a good sense of negotiation with the administration and a very results-oriented approach.’

Principaux clients

Accenture

Accor

Air France KLM

Auchan

Bio-Rad

Bristol Myers Squibb

Carrefour

Casino

Catella

Club Med

Cora/Match

Darty/Fnac

Decathlon

Etoile Properties/South Korean Investors

FEDEX

Google

Jardins d’Arcadie / Sandaya

Johnson Controls

Keys Asset Management

Leroy Merlin

LVMH

M6

Mediawan Group and ZAG

Monoprix

Pierre et Vacances – Center Parcs

Société Générale

Swiss Life

TF1

Truffaut

Vacancesselect

WP Carey

Principaux dossiers

  • Advising PVCP on all legal and tax aspects of the implementation of its restructuring plan.
  • Advising PVCP on all the tax aspects related to its refinancing within the current difficult economic context of the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Advised the Sandaya Group regarding the sale by Apax Partners of its majority stake in the Sandaya group to Infravia (Tertiary LBO).

Bredin Prat

Bredin Prat’s stellar tax team has first-class expertise in transactional tax. The tax practice frequently works hand in hand with the equally high-profile corporate team and advises on the structuring of the market’s largest public and private transactions. Its client base includes numerous CAC 40 and leading international corporations, as well as leading banks and investment funds. Family offices and private clients also use the firm. The team regularly acts on the market’s most complex and strategic transactions, often of global scale such as assisting PSA (now Stellantis) with its merger with Fiat Chrysler. High-stakes litigation, including disputes challenging tax legislation before courts, is another area of strength. Several tax reassessment cases regarding managers’ incentives or raising key issues such as abuse of law also feature in the caseload. The top-level criminal tax expertise completes the offering. Practice head Yves Rutschmann,  Sébastien de MonèsPierre-Henri Durand and Julien Gayral are all top names on the market. The younger guard led by Anne Robert and Jean-Florent Mandelbaum  is also impressive. Counsels Marion Méresse and Franck Morhain  and Victor Camatta, who made counsel in January 2022, are also recommended.

Responsables de la pratique:

Yves Rutschmann

Autres avocats clés:

Sébastien de Monès, Pierre-Henri Durand; Julien Gayral; Anne Robert; Jean-Florent Mandelbaum; Victor Camatta

Les références

‘The team, and in particular Yves Rutschmann and Julien Gayral, have demonstrated great technical expertise, including in new areas such as the tax on digital services. Their analyses, combining rigour, clarity and pragmatism, are invaluable decision-making tools.’

‘Recommended are: Yves Rutschmann, for the ease with which he assesses the challenges of changes in tax law and knows how to translate them into concrete recommendations for his clients; Julien Gayral, for the finesse of his analyses in matters of complex restructuring.’

‘Excellent experience, extremely competent and sharp on the specific and technical aspects of a LBO.’

‘Jean-Florent Mandelbaum is one of the best practitioners of taxation applied to LBOs, with excellent theoretical and practical knowledge, having worked on many very technical files.’

‘Jean-Florent Mandelbaum in particular is to be distinguished by an exceptional mixture of rigour and creativity, and an ability to treat subjects in the smallest details.’

‘Very strong tax technicians who are business-oriented and who therefore deliver great service to their clients.’

‘Sébastien de Mones is one of the best tax lawyers of his generation. Besides being a great technician, his dynamic and business-oriented thinking are a real asset on a deal.’

‘Jean-Florent Mandelbaum is the best tax lawyer of his generation, technical in a field where it is necessary and commercial where others are not, precise both on the texts but also on their spirit.’

Principaux clients

Apax Partners

April Group

Areva

Atos

Axa

BPCE

Casino

China Jianyin Investment (JIC)

Coca-Cola European Partners

Crédit Agricole

Crédit Mutuel

Danone

Dassault Systèmes

Dentressangle Initiatives

ENGIE

Essilor

Eurazeo

Iliad

INEOS

KKR

LVMH

Microsoft

Natixis

Nexity

Promontoria (My Money Bank)

PSP Investments

Saint-Gobain

Sanofi

Silver Lake

SNCF

Société Générale

Stellantis (formerly Groupe PSA)

Tarkett/Deconinck family

Téthys Invest

Vivendi

Wendel

Principaux dossiers

  • Advising Natixis on the tax aspects of its majority shareholder BPCE’s project to acquire the c. 29.3% of Natixis’s capital BPCE does not already own through a proposed public tender offer (€3.7bn).
  • Advising Tarkett and the Deconinck Family, as controlling shareholder of Tarkett, on the tax aspects of its simplified tender offer on Tarkett shares.
  • Advising China Jianyin Investment (JIC) on the tax aspects of the ongoing sale of SGD Pharma to PAI Partners.

CMS

CMS‘ expertise covers the full range of tax issues. The firm offers an extremely deep bench, mainly based in Paris, but with a solid team in the firm’s Lyon office. The practice is retained by many of France’s largest companies, including many CAC 40 corporations, as well as investment funds and international companies. Adept at acting on French and international tax issues, the group regularly advises on corporate, transactional and real estate tax issues. Its litigation expertise ranks among the top in the country, with matters including major tax audit reassessment cases and disputes challenging the validity of French tax law before the highest French and European Union courts. The team regularly acts on headline cases and recently obtained outstanding results, including the refund of circa €2bn of undue tax to its client in a landmark tax reassessment case. Key names include the highly regarded: Stéphane Austry, who coordinates the firm’s tax litigation and controversy group; Bruno Gibert, who specializes in international taxation and transfer pricing; and Edouard Milhac, whose main focus in on transactional tax issues. Also recommended are Agnès de l’Estoile CampiMichel Collet and Xavier Daluzeau  for international tax; Patrick Danis, who provides strong VAT advice; as well as Frédéric GernerAnne-Sophie Rostaing and Jean-Charles Benois for corporate tax. Counsel Sarah Dardour-Attali is also recommended. Armelle Abadie, Jean-Hugues de la Berge and Philippe Gosset made partner in 2022.

Autres avocats clés:

Stéphane Austry; Bruno Gibert; Edouard Milhac; Anne-Sophie Rostaing; Michel Collet; Patrick Danis; Agnès De l’Estoile Campi; Jean-Charles Benois; Frédéric Gerner; Xavier Daluzeau

Les références

‘Michel Collet’s team is recognised by the market in France and abroad as one of the best and most efficient for international taxation. Like Michel, the team is very responsive and very technical. They are very valuable, efficient, and friendly.’

‘Apart from Michel Collet’s tax expertise, which appears flawless even in a cross-border context, Michel stands out for a perfect understanding of the ‘business’ and legal constraints. Michel often delivers recommendations that are comprehensive and always very concrete. For all of these reasons, Michel quickly knows how to gain the trust of the client, the operators, and even his opponents. He knows how to adapt his mode of expression according to the interlocutors which always remains clear and convincing. Michel is a real advisor who knows how to support the decision of his clients without restricting himself to the status of tax expert and always involving other advisers.’

‘Frédéric Gerner is technically excellent and very responsive.’

‘Sarah Dardour has a perfect mastery of litigation procedures in the tax field, which is completely reassuring, particularly on high-stakes issues. In addition Sarah has an excellent technical tax knowledge.’

‘I have worked with Anne-Sophie Rostaing for many years. I appreciate her professionalism, her responsiveness, her ability to direct me to the right interlocutors if the subject does not fall within her area of expertise. Anne-Sophie has succeeded in establishing a relationship of trust which allows me to solicit her regularly on matters of a confidential nature without any hesitation. I recommend Anne-Sophie for the quality of her work and her interpersonal skills without any hesitation.’

‘I really enjoy working with Jean-Charles Benois. I particularly appreciate his expertise, his pragmatism, his availability and his ability to fully understand the realities of the business world. He is a real business partner.’

‘We mainly work with Anne-Sophie Rostaing who is an outstanding tax professional. She has the capacity to grasp very quickly all the business issues we are facing, she is extremely responsive and has this very rare capacity to explain tax issues to non-tax persons’.

‘Special mention for Jean-Charles Benois; human, adaptable and technically very solid. He also jas a very good knowledge of the specificities of the company.’

Principaux clients

Axa

Biogroup

BNP Paribas

Engie

Nordex

Orange

Provalliance

Rubis

Schenider Electric

Vivendi

Principaux dossiers

  • Representing Orange in a high-profile tax case in terms of reassessment.
  • Advising Nordex on the sale of the group’s European wind and photovoltaic development pipeline to group RWE.
  • Advising Biogroup on the acquisitions of Laborizon group, and Medina group.

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

Few firms can match Sullivan & Cromwell LLP’s impressive track record, especially given the compact size of the team. The tax team leads a strong stand-alone practice with the workload about equally divided between transactional M&A tax and litigation. On the transactional front, the practice regularly acts alongside the corporate team to structure some of the market’s landmark deals, often also among the largest in the world, regularly involving France’s CAC 40 companies such as the recent Suez-Veolia and Tiffany’s-LVMH deals. The team also regularly advises on strategic tax reorganisations and large capital markets offerings. On the litigation front, the team’s high-profile matters often come from France’s leading companies as well as the large global banks and corporations. The team is well versed in disputes challenging French and EU law before the highest courts. A groundbreaking tax fraud case features in the recent caseload. Practice head Gauthier Blanluet is one of France’s finest tax experts. Nicolas de Boynes is also highly regarded.

Responsables de la pratique:

Gauthier Blanluet

Autres avocats clés:

Nicolas de Boynes

Allen & Overy LLP

Allen & Overy LLP‘s tax team core areas of expertise are financial, private equity, fund formation and real estate tax matters for which the group often works with the firm’s specialists from those practices. The sizeable tax team advises leading investment funds on some of the largest French, European and international private equity transactions. Major banks frequently choose the firm for strategic M&A transactions and financing matters. In the real estate sector, the team acts for investors or lenders on prominent transactions. Finally, the practice advises asset managers on compliance work and on the setting up of investment funds. A recent stand-out matter saw the team assist leading French investment banks with the structuring of an €11bn investment platform to provide loans (prêts participatifs) to French companies to stimulate the growth of the French economy as part of France’s recovery plan (Plan France Relance). Mathieu Vignon and Guillaume Valois co-head the practice, with counsel Charles del Valle providing key support.

Responsables de la pratique:

Mathieu Vignon; Guillaume Valois

Autres avocats clés:

Charles del Valle

Les références

‘Specialised team among the best, called upon for complex and rapid mid-cap transactions.’

‘Guillaume Valois and Charles del Valle show efficiency, availability and proactivity.’

‘Very professional and high-quality team. Good availability.’

‘Guillaume Vallois is a good professional, educator and investment specialist.’

‘High technique, in particular Charles del Valle and Guillaume Valois. A lot of availability and a great sense of the client.’

‘Charles del Valle is extremely knowledgeable and available. He explains things with great clarity and great simplicity, which is rare and precious. He has a very pleasant personality.’

‘Unique combination of knowledge in international tax law and local law, specifically in an LBO and inheritance context. Quality international network that allows to act efficiently on complex international transactions. Mature and experienced team that we trust in front of the other party. Great flexibility, great follow-up and intensity of work delivered in accordance with the phase of the transaction (not a disproportionate number of hours).’

‘Clear, calm, mature and effective communication. Availability and flexibility. Pragmatic and flexible in its way of solving challenges. Proficient in English. Technical knowledge.’

Principaux clients

Advent

Apax

Apollo Global Management

Ardian

AXA IM

Bank of Nova Scoria

Barclay

BNPP AM

BNP REIM

BRIDGEPOINT

DTZ Investors

Engie

Eurazeo

General Electric

Goldman Sachs

Groupe Arnaud

HOOPP

Kingstreet

L’Oréal

Naxicap

Oman Investment Authority

Société Générale

Thalès

Waterland

Weinberg

Wren House

Principaux dossiers

  • Assisting Advent with the contemplated sale of Circet to ICG.
  • Advised the SG group in connection on the disposal of the Lyxor assets (through a combination of various shares purchase transactions and asset sale).
  • Advised the leading global investment group Eurazeo on an agreement with Advent International for the sale of its stake in integrated payments leader, Planet.

Arsene

Arsene is a high-profile tax boutique with a deep bench and comprehensive range of expertise. The firm has high-level expertise in various areas, with its private equity tax practice of advising leading international and French investment funds on tax due diligence and structuring of large LBO transactions as a core line of work. Recently, the firm was also retained to advise on one of France’s most significant M&A transactions in 2021. The group’s transfer pricing capabilities are also highly impressive. The excellent property tax practice is sought after by several US investment funds which turn to the practice for high-stakes litigation pertaining to withholding tax. Managing partner Denis Andres is highly recommended. Also recommended are Mirouna Verban  and Alexandre Rocchi for corporate tax advice; Roland Schneider  for tax litigation; François Lugand for real estate tax, as well as Vincent Desoubries  and Benoit Bec  for international tax and transfer pricing.

Responsables de la pratique:

Denis Andres

Autres avocats clés:

Mirouna Verban; Alexandre Rocchi; Roland Schneider; François Lugand; Vincent Desoubries; Benoît Bec

Les références

‘Beyond technical skills, the firm offers very qualitative support and has a real entrepreneurial vision.’

‘Great ability to follow all tax issues and anticipate all portfolio topics. The team is very involved, knows how to build a real relationship with its clients and find ideas to create value for all parties.’

‘François Lugand is a person of exceptional analytical skills, who knows how to position himself clearly on subjects while always protecting the interests of his clients. He knows how to be ‘straight to the point’ and does not hesitate to follow up on subjects. His team is also very talented, in particular Pierre Lucas (counsel), who follows in François’ footsteps and knows how to be hyper- efficient and deep in his analyses.’

‘Proactive, pragmatic and serious firm.’

‘A French specialist in LBO companies. Close proximity, great listening and real business partner on simple, but also complex subjects.’

‘What is very appreciable is Mirouna Verban’s availability, the quality of our discussions, openness and the search for a solution. She always respects the timing, with quality solutions, even when the deadlines are short. The long-term support, stability of the team, is very appreciable.’

‘This is a team of tax experts. In addition, the firm knows, through its in-depth knowledge of its clients, to create a special relationship allowing him to be as close as possible to their needs.’

‘An innovative firm, knowing very well the sector of activity of our organisation. It is a responsive, creative structure with which I work with complete confidence. Advice given is pragmatic, secure and always taking into consideration the constraints, culture and environment of our organisation.’

Principaux clients

ACCENTURE

ACCOR

ALDI

APAX

ARDIAN

BRIDGEPOINT

CASINO

CHOPARD

CMA-CGM

EDF

FRAMATOME

HLD

HOROMETRIE (Richard Mille)

IK PARNTERS

KERING

L’OREAL

LVMH GROUPE ARNAULT

M6

PERNOD RICARD

SAP FRANCE

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised M6 on the merger with TF1 (leading French Media groups), one of the largest transaction of the year (market capitalisation of ca. $5bn).
  • Advising PERNOD RICARD on a tax and transfer pricing analysis of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the worldwide allocation of the profit and losses generated.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton's superstar Anne-Sophie Coustel leads a highly prominent transactional tax practice. While compact, the tax team is one of the market’s go-to-practices for high-profile M&A transactions as an essential component of the firm’s thriving M&A practice. The group regularly advises on the market’s largest public and private transactions, such as assisting Veolia with its landmark acquisition of Suez. The practice also assists with strategic tax reorganisation of corporate structures, assisting both corporations and investment funds. The tax team also complements the firm’s capital markets and financing practices well, advising on ECM and DCM work, including IPOs and rights offerings. Finally, the practice also represents individuals in tax audit and litigation cases.

Responsables de la pratique:

Anne-Sophie Coustel

Les références

‘Anne Sophie Coustel is also a driving force in M&A cases, and not only in the tax law aspect, but also on SPAs. This close collaboration with the corporate practice results in perfect, efficient, fast, constructive and intelligent work.’

‘Anne-Sophie Coustel is certainly one, if not the best, lawyer in transactions. She masters all aspects of tax, legal and financial law. She is available, fast, constructive and committed.’

Principaux clients

Accor Acquisition Company

Believe

OVH

Vallourec

Veolia

Alstom

Vale

Novasep

Edenred

Natixis

Latour Capital

Neoen

Principaux dossiers

  • Advising Veolia Environnement on its €12.9bn acquisition of Suez and its reorganization, leading to the creation of the ‘New Suez’.
  • Advised Alstom in the completion of its €4.4bn acquisition of Bombardier Transportation and its $2bn rights offering.
  • Advised Latour Capital on the acquisition of Group Santiane.

Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance is home to a transactional tax practice. The team is able to handle the full range of transactions, with its excellent real estate tax practice regularly including matters for leading players on headline asset or portfolio investments, as well as on the setting up of funds and partnerships. The team also handles major M&A and private equity work, notably relating to the financial sector. The fund structuring expertise is also noteworthy. Eric Davoudet and Alexandre Lagarrigue are at the helm of a practice which benefits from a strong bench of counsels in Jitka Susankova, Omar El Arjoun and Pierre Goyat.

Responsables de la pratique:

Eric Davoudet; Alexandre Lagarrigue

Autres avocats clés:

Jitka Susankova; Omar El Arjoun; Pierre Goyat

Les références

‘Alexandre Lagarrigue is an excellent negotiator, a facilitator with a very appreciated risk management approach.’

‘The team, beyond its great technical competence, is to be characterised by a total commitment to clients which is reflected in particular by a great availability and a responsiveness very appreciated in a context of tight schedule. Very comprehensive support. The team tax team’s experience, interactivity and good coordination with the legal teams are qualities which reinforce the security and the reliability of the tax recommendations.’

‘Great listening and very precise, clear answers adapted to the client’s profile.’

Principaux clients

AEW

Wendel

Rexel

Carlyle European Real Estate

AXA

Orion

QIA

EDF

Amundi

Accor

Schroders

Ipsen

Primonial

L’Oréal

Engie

Amundi

Spie

Oreima

Axel Springer

DWS

IREIT Global

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised Amundi (Crédit Agricole Group) on the acquisition of Lyxor from Société Générale for a price in cash of €825m and on the subsequent reorganisation of the Lyxor group.
  • Advised Swiss Life Asset Managers France on the tax structuring of the acquisition of ENGIE’s future headquarters.
  • Advised AXA IM-Alts on the setting-up of AXA Partners in Infrastructure Equity (AXA PIE), an infrastructure investment fund raising €2bn of investor commitments.

Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier

Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier's tax team is a reference for high-profile M&A and real estate transactions. The tax practice works alongside the corporate team to handle some of the market’s largest M&A deals, including large private and public M&A transactions. For instance, the firm recently worked on France’s 2021 highlight transactions in the media sector. It is especially visible in strategic M&A deals and corporate tax work involving French leading companies. The team is also retained by leading international investors to assist with large property asset and portfolio transactions. The excellent Vincent Agulhon and Loïc Védie co-head the practice alongside Alain Maillot. Associate Sophie Pagès is also to be acknowledged.

Responsables de la pratique:

Vincent Agulhon; Loïc Vedie; Alain Maillot

Autres avocats clés:

Sophie Pagès

Les références

‘Strong collaboration with technical skills, responsiveness and commercially aware.’

‘Loïc Védie provides commercially useful tax advice.’

‘Great mastery of technical subjects, constant availability, excellent ability to synthesise a subject to facilitate client decision-making.’

‘Perfect communication between each member of the team, from the partner to the associates, a rather unique ability to filter the subjects to focus on the real key points so that the client can synthetically analyse the possible options and the associated risks. Vincent Agulhon and Loic Vedie are clearly two references in the profession.’

‘The team is very responsive on urgent matters, knows how to take the lead on purely fiscal questions. The team does not hesitate to be proactive in resolving the tax problems we encounter.’

‘Very analytic, with high capacity to analyse different scenarios and options, very accurate and professional, creativity and innovation.’

‘Vincent Agulhon and Sophie Pagès are very hard workers, with a lot of creativity and skills of providing the best advice. A lot of sincerity, and with high level of conviction power and capacities to defend the position in front of the tax administration. Very serious approach.’

Principaux clients

Accor

Banijay Group

Banques des Territoires (Caisse des dépôts et consignations)

Batipart

Blackstone

Bouygues

BPCE

British Steel

Brookfield

Carlyle

CCI de Nice

Devoteam

Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques (Sciences Po)

Inmobiliare Colonial

Kering

KKR

La Redoute

Les Petits Chaperons Rouges LPCR

LOV Group

Malakoff Mederic

Northwood Investors

Pfizer

Roquette Frères

TF1

CNIM Groupe

CIAT

Société Générale

Sodiaal

Lagardère SCA

Saint Gobain

France Rail Industry

Westbrook

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised Bouygues and TF1 on the merger project between TF1 and Metropole Television (M6).
  • Advised Inmobiliaria Colonial on the capital restructuring and asset exchange of Société Foncière Lyonnais, involving a public offering.
  • Advised Groupe BPCE on its successful public tender offer on Natixis’ shares followed by a mandatory squeeze-out.

De Pardieu Brocas Maffei

De Pardieu Brocas Maffei is home to the market’s most sought after tax real estate practice thanks to practice head  Emmanuel Chauve and Alexandre Blestel who are both legends in the field. Working alongside the firm’s property practice, the duo advises leading investors on the market’s largest asset and portfolio transactions. They handle a high amount of high-end work, such as advising recently on landmark deals in the healthcare, office, hotel, retail and data center sectors. The team was also involved in a high-profile real estate M&A transaction. The tax real estate practice fits in well with the firm’s high-level M&A and private equity tax expertise. Priscilla van den Perre notably assists leading investment funds involved in large LBO transactions. Anne-Laure Drouet is another strong reference for M&A and private equity tax structuring.

Responsables de la pratique:

Emmanuel Chauve

Autres avocats clés:

Alexandre Blestel; Priscilla van den Perre; Anne-Laure Drouet

Les références

‘Emmanuel Chauve has great expertise in real estate taxation.’

Principaux clients

TISHMAN SPEYER

BATIPART

CARREFOUR

GECINA

ALTAREA COGEDIM

EMERIGE

COVIVIO

CREDIT AGRICOLE ASSURANCES

ROTHSCHILD

ERGON CAPITAL

EMZ PARTNERS

ITS GROUP SA

KARTESIA

FLORAC

PGIM REAL ESTATE

ALGONQUIN AND CARDIF

APOLLO

EDIFY

Principaux dossiers

  • Advising Altarea on exclusive negotiations with the shareholders and management of Primonial Group, with a view to acquiring 60% of the capital of Primonial Group.
  • Advising the sellers of New Immo Group, a leader in digital real estate in France, on the sale of a 36% stake to Permira through its Permira Growth Opportunities Fund.
  • Advising Exor N.V., holding company controlled by the Agnelli family, on the acquisition of a minority stake in the capital of Christian Louboutin group.

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. houses a very strong tax team and is especially recommended for transactional tax work. Already an established reference for investment funds undertaking large-cap transactions, the tax practice is increasingly acting alongside leading corporations and institutions for their strategic M&A deals. The team is notably advising on a landmark restructuring project in the energy sector. Magali Buchert is the key contact for this part of the practice. The high-level real estate tax practice of Laurent Modave and Bertrand Jouanneau is sought after by leading property investors to advise on the structuring of real estate funds and large property transactions. The tax team also deals with various other matters, including advising on tax financing deals. The versatile Olivier Dauchez advises companies and private clients on strategic advisory and litigation matters. Paul de France joined as a partner in 2020 following an in-house role as head of tax at Casino.

Autres avocats clés:

Laurent Modave; Magali Buchert; Olivier Dauchez; Bertrand Jouanneau; Paul de France

Les références

‘Excellent tax technicality, responsiveness and availability. The tax advice is presented in a clear and always pragmatic way.’

‘Magali Buchert is an exceptional practitioner combining an encyclopedic knowledge of tax matters, an extraordinary capacity for work and understanding of the commercial issues of her clients to give useful and pragmatic advice.’

‘I have worked with Laurent Modave on a few files over the past year. I greatly appreciate his rich experience in the real estate field which has helped to find innovative solutions to complex problems. Excellent writing skills without verbiage.’

‘The tax team is very competent and attentive to client needs and knows how to adapt.’

‘Bertrand Jouanneau is very available and professional. He listens to the client and knows how to show pragmatism. Bertrand’s skills make it possible to achieve a result which is both secure from a legal point of view and operational from a business point of view. Bertrand knows how to simplify and trivialise his language in order to make the material accessible and understandable, which can be very complex.’

‘Laurent Modave and Bertrand Jouanneau are outstanding lawyers, very experienced, highly approachable and always willing to go the extra mile. I appreciate their hands-on approach as well as their thorough understanding of what is considered market practice; they both have significant expertise in asset management issues and investment funds, including structuring real estate and private equity funds.’

‘A real anticipation of requests! In addition to the responsiveness of the team and the quality of services, I appreciate the  strong commitment.’

‘I work directly and mainly with Bertrand Jouanneau who is always attentive and unfailingly available, which is very appreciable.’

Principaux clients

Icawood

Talend

Wendel

Wella (management)

CEP (management)

Foncière Atland

Blackrock

KPS Capital Partners

CNP Assurances

Cofinimmo

DomusVi

Paris Inn

Petrofrance

DomusVi

Schroder Real Estate

Renault

EOS Imaging

Brookfield

Amundi Immobilier

Bistrot Elysées

Nuveen

Swiss Life

iBanFirst

Redevco

Europcar

Aviva Investors

Latham & Watkins

Latham & Watkins' tax team excels in the field of private equity, in line with the firm’s thriving corporate practice in that area. The tax team frequently works with the corporate practice to advise the largest French and international private equity house on their most high-profile LBO transactions. The tax team is one of Ardian’s preferred advisers and recently assisted the client with its first transaction in the US. The tax team also regularly works for private equity funds’ portfolio companies, notably on major financing, debt restructuring and capital markets transactions. Its body of work also includes prominent mandates from banks and corporations. The tax team was recently involved in the very complex carve-out of a leading French company. The excellent duo Xavier Renard and Olivia Rauch-Ravisé direct the team.

Responsables de la pratique:

Xavier Renard

Autres avocats clés:

Olivia Rauch-Ravisé

Les références

‘Full coordination across teams making any project with multiple legal and tax considerations very fluid. The tax team is in my view one of the best, very business-oriented, leveraging a deep understanding of private equity constraints.’

‘Perfect mix of highest technical skills and business judgement.’

‘The team led by Xavier Renard demonstrates great competence, availability and pedagogy.’

‘The tax team is extremely attentive to our needs, very responsive and very proactive and offers very effective solutions that take into account our constraints.’

‘Xavier Renard is very available, attentive and very responsive. He has a very clear vision of the subjects to be tackled and how to deal with them. He is also very precise, adapts to constraints and offers alternatives.’

Principaux clients

Albéa

Ardian

Astorg Partners

Atos

Autodistribution

Babilou

Bank of Ireland

Barclays Bank Plc

BNP Paribas

Bridgepoint

Carrefour

Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank

Crédit Industriel et Commercial

Crédit Mutuel Arkea

Groupe Bertrand

Groupe Casino

HSBC France

ICG

ING Bank N.V.

iQera group

Kersia Group

L’Oréal

Mainstay Medical

Natixis

Pernod Ricard

Platinum Equity

PSP Investments

Rémy Cointreau

Sagard

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Europe Limited

TA Associates

TechnipFMC

Total

Unicredit

Worldline

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised TechnipFMC on its spin-off into two industry-leading independent and publicly traded companies.
  • Advising PSP Investments on the sale of its stake in Cerba group and the reinvestment in the group.
  • Advising Eutelsat Communications on the refinancing of its existing indebtedness.

Linklaters

Linklaters‘ excellent tax team runs a strong and varied transactional practice, spanning notably public M&A, finance, private equity and real estate and energy projects, closely working with the firm’s corresponding teams. The tax practice handles a high volume of work, mostly advising on the structuring of large high-profile transactions. As a stand-alone practice, the tax team recently advised several clients on Covid-19- related tax governmental support schemes, notably in the hospitality and rail sectors. The team has also been in high demand to assist with strategic issues linked to the restructuring of managers’s incentives packages following recent significant French jurisprudence changes. The tax team has also assisted a number of leading financial institutions and corporations with Brexit issues. Finally, the team also handles work in relation to the structuring of carried interest and international tax issues. Edouard Chapellier leads the team, which also includes Cyril Boussion and counsel Jonathan Abensour.

Responsables de la pratique:

Edouard Chapellier

Autres avocats clés:

Cyril Boussion

Les références

‘Edouard Chapellier is critical in the success of our business activity.’

‘Edouard Chapellier is attentive and commercial in addition to being an expert in taxation.’

‘Edouard Chapellier stands out for his remarkable technical skills and his global vision for M&A projects.’

‘The team is very responsive, very available, very efficient and the deliverables are transmitted on time and with remarkable quality, especially since these are very complex transactions.’

‘Beyond his professional qualities and skills, Cyril Boussion is a person with whom it is very pleasant to work in a serene and constructive atmosphere and who is a source of proposals to find solutions to the many problems identified.’

Principaux clients

Octopus Investments Limited

Argos Wityu

Ardian SAS

European Investment Bank

Arise Infrastructure Services

Bel Group

European Investment Bank & Caisse des dépôts et Consignations

Amundi Transition Energétique

Olam International Limited (Olam)

NatWest Markets Plc, ING Wholesale Banking and CSC Capital Markets (Ireland) Limited

Goldman Sachs private equity arm and B&B Hotels

Atlas Arteria

Solvay SA

Stada Arzneimittel AG

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust plc (ORIT plc) on the acquisition, from Samsung and a minority investor, of a 100% interest in a portfolio of solar PV assets located across France.
  • Advised Argos Wityu on the tax structuring of their acquisition of the control and the public take-over of EPC, a French listed company active in explosives.
  • Advised Ardian on the tax and legal structuring of the €7.5bn fundraising of its seventh generation of buyout fund, Ardian Buyout Fund VII, to invest in high-potential businesses.

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown is home to one of the market’s most impressive tax teams in the field of private equity. The practice is in high demand from leading private equity houses to assist with the structuring of large-cap to jumbo-cap transactions, often presenting a strong cross-border aspect. The team is equally at ease assisting funds or management teams and in private equity litigation. Additionally, the team is one of Altice’s preferred advisers for high-profile private and public transactions, recently assisting the client with completing high-profile French and international IPO and large transactions. The highly regarded Laurent Borey and Benjamin Homo co-direct the practice, which also includes Christopher Lalloz, who particularly focuses on litigation work, Olivier Parawan who regularly handles property tax work, as well private equity tax experts Elodie Deschamps and Nicolas Danan, who became a partner in January 2022, and counsel Rémy Bonnaud.

Responsables de la pratique:

Laurent Borey; Benjamin Homo

Autres avocats clés:

Christopher Lalloz; Olivier Parawan; Elodie Deschamps; Nicolas Danan; Rémy Bonnaud

Les références

‘The most creative, agile and daring team in France in the field of private equity.’

‘Great technical mastery; availability; a strong dynamism and implication.’

‘A level of competence in tax above the lot; a very friendly contact; availability;  a strong will to support the client.’

‘Excellent.’

‘Laurent Borey is able to advise from the genesis of a transaction to its finalisation, advising entrepreneurs and investment funds with a great commercial sense, combined with cutting-edge technical expertise.’

‘Remarkable technical skills of the firm.’

‘The exchange is always excellent and pragmatic, courteous and warm, which is very appreciable for us as a client.’

Principaux clients

Altice

Bridgepoint Development Capital

Charterhouse Capital Partners

Cooper Consumer Health

Crown Holdings Inc.

Digicel

Epsa

Groupe Burrus Courtage

Intermediate Capital Group (ICG)

L Catterton

L-GAM

Magellan Partners

Marlin Equity Partners

Mediawan and founders

Montefiore Investment

Next Private B.V.

Oaktree Capital Partners

Ophiliam Management

Primonial (management)

Qualium Investissement

Quilvest Private Equity

Sagard

SERB group

Siaci Saint-Honoré

Stirling Square Capital Partners

Ultra-Premium Direct (founder)

UTAC CERAM

Verescence Luxembourg Perfumery Holdings Sàrl (VLPH)

Principaux dossiers

  • Advising Altice France which has entered into exclusive negotiations with the Spanish group Cellnex Telecom on the sale to the latter of its 50.01% majority stake in Hivory.
  • Advised Altice on the contemplated IPO of Teads traded on the Nasdaq.
  • Advising the French insurance broker Siaci Saint-Honoré and Groupe Burrus Courtage on their merger in the context of the sale by Charterhouse of its stake in Siaci and the entry of a new financial investor.

Pwc Société d'Avocats

PricewaterhouseCoopers International member, Pwc Société d’Avocats is a powerhouse in the field thanks to its impressive resources gathering one of the deepest benches in the market. The firm is able to provide the full range of tax expertise, from transactional tax advice to audits, litigation, VAT and transfer pricing. The firm’s complementary digital offering in support of the tax practice is another key asset. The prestigious client base includes many CAC 40 companies, as well as leading investment funds and institutions. The team is retained to provide general strategic corporate tax assistance and to conduct tax structuring and support in relation to the market’s largest M&A and private equity transactions. Additionally, the group is a strong choice for tax litigation, spanning various issues such as transfer pricing matters. The practice is headed by managing partner Loic Le Claire and includes key contacts Guillaume Glon, Virginie Louvel and Jean-Philippe Brillet. Also recommended are Anne-Valérie Attias-Assouline, Marc-Olivier Roux and Nicolas Arfel on the transactional side; Bruno Lunghi for real estate tax work; as well as litigation specialist Catherine Cassan. The 2021 partner promotions were Eve Castex, Fabien Fontaine and Marie-Claire Delpin.

Responsables de la pratique:

Loïc Le Claire

Autres avocats clés:

Guillaume Glon; Virginie Louvel; Jean-Philippe Brillet

Les références

‘Accessible; knowledgeable; good advice; available.’

‘Excellent technical knowledge, responsive and commercial.’

‘Listens to our needs; provides pragmatic analyses and recommendations adapted to operational realities; technical mastery.’

‘The transfer pricing and international taxation practice is endowed with a solid experience and shows real pragmatism in their analysis of the situations and proposal of adapted solutions. Very good knowledge of applicable rules and of expected developments allow a quality prospective vision.’

‘The partners are easygoing, pragmatic and complementary which make the exchanges constructive and clear.’

‘Very good follow-up and great interpersonal skills.’

Principaux clients

Hines

Permira

EQT Partners

Ebro Foods

Amundi

Core Equity Holdings

Korian

Moët Hennessy

Lesaffre

Montagu Private Equity

Eutelsat

Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale

AG2R la Mondiale

Orange Bank

LafargeHolcim

Bouygues Telecom

Crédit Mutuel

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised EQT Partners on the tax structuring of the acquisition of an equity stake in Groupe Colisée and Cerba Healthcare.
  • Advised Bertelsmann on the tax structuring of the merger between TF1 and M6.
  • Advised Ebro Foods on the disposal of strategic activities under Panzani Brand to CVC Capital Partners.

Dechert LLP

Co-managing partner Sabina Comis has established Dechert LLP as one of the market’s go-to practices for sophisticated private equity work, spanning transactions and fund formation, a remarkable combination in the market. The compact team, which runs mostly as a stand-alone practice, is in high demand and worked on a high number of transactions in 2021. Large French, US and UK and mid-size funds are clients, as well as leading French family offices and high-level CEOs in relation to fund formation and investment work. The team is also the preferred advisor to a leading US private equity house for its largest transactions in France. The tax team has recently diversified its range of intervention, notably assisting colleagues from other practice areas. For instance, the group recently advised on a real estate tax transaction and was involved in a very large international M&A transaction involving several offices abroad. Lately, the tax team also has assisted several individual private investors with their relocation from London to Paris. Senior associate Etienne Bimbeau is the other key name in the team.

Responsables de la pratique:

Sabina Comis

Autres avocats clés:

Etienne Bimbeau

Les références

‘Great availability. Very good knowledge of the latest market trends.’

‘Great team between tax and corporate. Very good communication and team spirit between them.’

‘Sabina Comis is top, super professional, talented, dedicated, with a great network and a lot of emotional intelligence when needed.’

‘Excellent firm.’

‘Sabina Comis is the best of her field on the Parisian market. She has expertise and experience that are recognised and respected by her peers in Paris, but also in an international context. Her rigour, listening skills, and commercial sense of the deal, but also her perseverance and tenacity make her an important asset in supporting investment funds. She also knows how to surround herself with high-quality associates whom she supports in their development, such as Etienne Bimbeau whose expertise and sense of advice are well beyond other lawyers of his generation.’

‘Outstanding team led by Sabina Comis. Technical skills and deep industry knowledge of the private equity space. Without a doubt amongst the best teams in that space in France.’

‘Sabina Comis is extremely valuable to us as she is the only practitioner in France who couples outstanding legal, regulatory and tax expertise on private equity fund formation. We have worked with her for several years now and fully trust her technical skills and business acumen. She has a team of dedicated, responsive and smart associates working with her.’

Principaux clients

KKR

Elsan

ArchiMed

Blisce

Mérieux Equity Partners

Caravelle

Groupe Artémis – Financière Pinault

Rothschild Martin Maurel

Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity (France)

17 Capital

HysetCo

Natixis

CACIB

Unibel

Bel

Certares

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) on the leveraged buy-out tax structuring of the acquisition of Elsan group from CVC Partners.
  • Advised Domnin de KERDANIEL and Filippo MONTELEONE in connection with the tax structuring of the acquisition of Essling Capital.    
  • Advised Blisce in connection with the structuring of its second fund, Blisce Fund II.

DLA Piper

DLA Piper is one of the market’s leading references for private equity work. The practice assists leading investment funds as well as management teams with mid to large-cap private equity transactions. It also has a wealth of experience in advising on the structuring of the largest private equity and other alternative investment funds. In addition, the team advises on M&A and real estate transactions and handles litigation. The hiring of Antoine Faure from CMS in February has added new expertise in transfer pricing. Practice head Fanny Combourieu  and Raphaël Béra are top names in the private equity sphere.

Responsables de la pratique:

Fanny Combourieu

Autres avocats clés:

Raphaël Béra; Antoine Faure

Les références

‘Excellent knowledge of the alternative investment sector.’

‘Raphaël Bera is available, responsive and gives high-quality tax advice.’

‘Real knowledge of the unlisted market and of the legal and regulatory impacts. The firm is a benchmark player for non-listed companies.’

‘Accessible, attentive, but not intrusive. The right balance.’

‘Good listening and perfect execution.’

‘Fanny Combourieu and her team are involved, technically sharp lawyers, reachable and business-oriented.’

Principaux clients

21 Invest

360 Capital

Abénex

Access Capital Partners

Advent

AEW

Afflelou

Albarest

Alcopa

Andera Partners

Antin Infrastructure Partners

Antirion

Ardian

Ares

Aviva

AXA REIM

Barings

BlackFin Capital Partners

BNP Paribas Agility Capital

Bpifrance

Bridgepoint

Cain International

Carlyle

Cathay Capital

Ekkio

Eurazeo PME

European Camping Group/Homair Vacances

Geneo Capital Entrepreneur

Generali

Goldman Sachs

Harbert Management Corporation

Idinvest

Impact Partners

Jasmin Capital

Kepler Cheuvreux IFE

Kima Ventures (Xavier Niel investment entity)

LBO France

Lion Capital

Mirabaud Asset Management

MML Capital Partners

Naxicap

Newell

New Wave

Norges

Oddo BHF

PAI Partners

Pierre Fabre

Quadrille

Quilvest

Real IS

Rothschild & Co (Five Arrows)

Sagard

Société Générale

Sofinnova

Sparring Capital

STG

TempoCap

Tikehau

Wendel

TNFO

Veepee

Westcore

Principaux dossiers

  • Advising the founders and management of CIRCET in connection with the entry into exclusive negotiations with ICG, a European leading telecoms infrastructure services company, for the sale by ADVENT of its stake in CIRCET and their co-investment with ICG
  • Tax advice to AXA REIM on the acquisition of ”Dolphin Square”, the largest private rented residential complex in London for Axa investors located in different jurisdictions.
  • Advising Bridgepoint on the legal and tax structuring of the private equity investment fund dedicated to the French transactions and carried interest for French executives of the Bridgepoint Development Capital IV fund.

Ernst & Young Société d'Avocats

Ernst & Young Société d’Avocats impresses with its very large team which allows it to provide comprehensive tax services spanning transactional tax, international tax, business tax, transfer pricing, tax technology transformation and indirect tax. The firm notably receives instructions from leading investment funds and companies to assist with large-cap to jumbo-cap transactions. Key names in the practice include: managing partner Lionel BenantCédric DevougesMatthieu Autret and Benjamin Pique for transactional tax work; Eric Verron, who heads the international tax services department; Xavier Dange who is in charge of the business tax services practice; Philippe Vailhen , who supervises the business tax practice in the regions; Benoit Gabelle, who heads the transfer pricing practice; Gwenaelle Bernier, who chairs the tax technology and transformation practice; Jean-David Vasseur, who is in charge of the indirect tax practice; and Alexandra Loran whose remit is tax innovation.

Responsables de la pratique:

Lionel Benant; Cédric Devouges; Philippe Vailhen; Matthieu Autret; Eric Verron; Xavier Dange; Benoit Gabelle; Gwenaelle Bernier; Jean-David Vasseur; Alexandra Loran

Gibson Dunn

Gibson Dunn's tax team complements the firm’s M&A, private equity, and restructuring and insolvency practices very well. The team is often involved in large and complex transactions, but also runs a strong stand-alone practice for leading French and international, especially US, investors and funds in strategic advice and litigation. The team is also proficient in real estate tax and regularly advises on matters relating to management incentives packages. The practice is co-headed by Jérôme Delaurière and corporate and tax partner Ariel Harroch.

Responsables de la pratique:

Jérôme Delaurière; Ariel Harroch

Principaux clients

Groupe La Poste/Docaposte

RedBird Capital Partners, LLC

Banque Française Mutualiste

SoLocal

Hologic, Inc.

Bpifrance Investissement

Eaton Corporation

EuropaCorp.

Ah Hoc Group of Secured Lenders to CNIM

Goodwin

Goodwin's small team excels in the private equity sphere. The tax team works alongside the firm’s corporate and fund formation practices to assist a wide range of leading private equity houses and investment funds with their transactional and fund formation matters, ranging from mid- to large-cap matters. The tax practice also assists investors with venture capital transactions and has expertise in real estate tax. Additionally, the group also advises companies, often featuring in their fund clients’ portfolio. Practice head Marie-Laure Bruneel and Charles-Henri de Gouvion Saint-Cyr are both highly recommended.

Responsables de la pratique:

Marie-Laure Bruneel

Autres avocats clés:

Charles-Henri de Gouvion Saint-Cyr

Les références

‘Marie-Laure Bruneel is a fantastic tax lawyer. She is always reachable for issues as they arise, is creative around structuring problems, is very well versed in all of the details of the business and is an excellent communicator to both management and the owners.’

Principaux clients

Ace Management

Acrelec

Ares Management Corporation

Andera Partners

Artemid

Centessa Pharmaceuticals

Cerba Healthcare

Committed Advisors

Eight Roads Ventures Europe III LLP

EMZ Partners

Equistone Partners Europe

Exxelia

F-Prime Capital Partners Tech Fund II LLP

Hayfin Capital Management

IK Investment Partners

Ipackchem

Jeito Capital

Keensight Capital

Latour Capital Management

LFPI Gestion

Lion Capital

Parquest Capital

Rossignol

Sandaya

Tikehau Capital

Tokoro Capital LLP

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised Cerba Healthcare on tax aspects regarding the reinforcement of its capital structure with existing shareholders and its long-term partner, PSP Investments, welcoming EQT as new shareholder and completing the exit of Partners Group, in the context of its sixth LBO.
  • Advised Latour Capital Management on tax aspects regarding the fundraising of their third generation of funds for a total amount of more than €1bn.
  • Advised Tokoro on tax aspects as they closed their first ever real estate acquisition of an office building fully refurbished located 86 rue de Courcelles in Paris 8ème.

Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP

Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP‘s tax team runs a solid transactional practice. Working alongside the firm’s corporate practice, the tax team regularly assists leading private equity houses with LBO and venture capital transactions. It is also increasingly involved alongside the restructuring and insolvency practice to assist with the tax aspects linked to prominent work in that area. Finally, the tax team also advises companies on their tax restructurings and completed a major asset transaction in Africa in the telecoms sector. Pracrtice head Xenia Legendre, Ludovic Geneston and counsel Thomas Claudel are the key names. Counsel Laurent Ragot left in early 2022.

Responsables de la pratique:

Xenia Legendre

Autres avocats clés:

Ludovic Geneston; Thomas Claudel

Principaux clients

Groupe ADP (aéroports de Paris)

EDF

Bourbon

AccorInvest

Akiem

Eurazeo

Tesca Group

Daher

J.P. Morgan

Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations

Chequers Capital

TowerBrook Capital Partners (U.K.) LLP

Euro Ethnic Foods

Apax Partners Development

Activa Capital

Helios Tower

Vale Nouvelle Calédonie

SCP Group – Metro AG

Argos

IDI

LFPI

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised AccorInvest on its financial restructuration.
  • Advised Bourbon Maritime on its bankruptcy restructuring.      
  • Advised Helios Towers on the signing of an agreement with Free Senegal, the second largest mobile operator in Senegal, to acquire 1,200 telecom sites.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Kirkland & Ellis LLP's Nadine Gelli is sought after for her high-profile expertise advising leading private equity houses. Heading a very tightly-knit tax practice, she works alongside the corporate department to structure large domestic and cross-border transactions.

Responsables de la pratique:

Nadine Gelli

Les références

‘Nadine Gelli is an exceptional tax lawyer and a very good technician endowed with a very good capacity of explanation and restitution in making very complex things finally very understandable. By far the best legal professional I have ever worked with.’

‘We work with Nadine Gelli. She is very proactive, flexible and up-to-date of the tax environment in Europe.’

‘Small specialised team that makes it responsive and efficient.’

‘Technical competence. Respect of deadlines. Creativity. Anticipation. Follow-up.’

‘The tax practice of this firm is of an exceptional level. The lawyers are pragmatic and provide turnkey solutions.’

‘Very high-level, but very accessible.’

‘We work mostly with Nadine Gelli in the tax department. She has always been very responsive and practical in her advice and is very well versed in French tax law.’

Principaux clients

Advent International

Antin Infrastructure Partners

Apollo Global Management

Ares Management Corporation (Ares)

Cinven

Continental Grain Company

CPP Investments

EQT

Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking

Providence Equity Partners

Renaissance

Searchlight Capital

SK Capital Partners

Thoma Bravo

Trinseo

Vista Equity Partners

Vitruvian Partners

Warburg Pincus

West Street Capital Partners VII

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised InPost S.A., the Polish parcel locker firm backed by Advent International Corp. and recently listed on Euronext Amsterdam, on its proposed acquisition of 100% of the shares of Mondial Relay.
  • Advised IVC Evidensia, a portfolio company of EQT Private Equity, on the acquisition of a majority stake in Veternity.
  • Advised Trinseo (NYSE: TSE), a global materials company and manufacturer of plastics, latex binders and synthetic rubber, on the carve-out and acquisition of Arkema’s polymethyl methacrylates (‘PMMA’) and activated methyl methacrylates (‘MMA’) businesses.

KPMG Avocats, France

KPMG Avocats, France is the legal arm of Big Four accounting firm KPMG. The firm houses one of the largest teams on the market and is able to provide a complete set of expertise, spanning transactional tax due diligence and structuring, as well as international taxation and transfer pricing, indirect taxation, research and development, customs and global mobility. The firm serves the largest companies and investment funds active in France and is regularly chosen for the tax due diligence of some of the market’s largest LBO transactions. The group also handles the tax structuring of large LBO and real estate transactions. Litigation is also dealt with. Mustapha Oussedrat and Christophe Bergerot co-head the practice, which also includes key members: Sophie Fournier-Dedoyard, Mathieu Gautier, Xavier Houard and Jérome Talleux for transactional and corporate tax; as well as Jean-Etienne Chatelon for real estate tax transactions. David Lucas and Elfie Ossard-Quintaine made partner in September 2021.

Responsables de la pratique:

Mustapha Oussedrat; Christophe Bergerot

Autres avocats clés:

Sophie Fournier-Dedoyard; Mathieu Gautier; Xavier Houard; Jérome Talleux; Jean-Etienne Chatelon

Les références

‘Agile team which demonstrates a lot of pedagogy towards clients and which is always innovative in terms of tax solutions. Its in-depth knowledge of its clients’ organisation allowed for the best adapted solutions. Flawless availability. Adaptation to its various interlocutors.’

‘The team is very focused on the needs of the client, adapts with a certain flexibility and with a certain responsiveness to the requirements of the client. Ability to adapt to the most complex situations; rationality, efficiency, perspective.’

Principaux clients

Wendel

KKR

For Talents transmission

Eurazeo

PAI Partners

Ardian

IK Investment Partners

Geodis

Allianz Real Estate

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised Cerba HealthCare on the tax vendor due diligence of its disposal to EQT Private Equity.
  • Advised Wendel on tax due diligence conducted over the simplified tender offer made by founding shareholder Deconinck on Tarkett.
  • Advised Ardian on the tax due diligence of its acquisition of a majority stake in AD Education.

Lacourte Raquin Tatar

Lacourte Raquin Tatar houses one of France’s leading tax teams for real estate tax work. The group, which works on a stand-alone basis or alongside the firm’s excellent property practice, acts for a prestigious client base of leading international and French investors. It is retained to handle high-end real estate transactional work on the French market, advising on asset, partnership and other corporate and transactional matters. The versatile practice also assists clients with fund structuring work, in real estate and in other fields. Jean-Yves Charriau is a real legend in the market. Julien Souyeaux and David Sorel are also excellent references. They are supported by counsel Sophie Duboy-Maurel.

Responsables de la pratique:

Jean-Yves Charriau; Julien Souyeaux; David Sorel

Autres avocats clés:

Sophie Duboy-Maurel

Les références

‘An expertise in real estate taxation that is just unbeatable in France.’

‘David Sorel is an excellent professional, very technical and fully focused on finding solutions for his clients. He is a reference for any subject of real estate taxation. Also very solid expertise in general tax matters (corporate tax).’

‘The tax team provides high-quality services. They are essential professionals in the real estate world recognised by clients and peers. They are always very responsive, client-oriented and reliable with a high level of technical expertise.’

‘They have a perfect knowledge of the market and especially of real estate tax issues. David Sorel has extensive experience and a strong understanding of tax issues and related financial mechanisms. They both operate at a high level.’

‘The tax team is always available, responsive, and clear in its recommendations. It does respond to questions asked (which is not the case for all tax specialists) and is very pragmatic in its recommendations. The team does not hesitate to give quantified examples of tax impact (including in Excel, which is a tool rarely used by lawyers!).’

‘In addition to having a perfect knowledge of his legal practice, David Sorel is dynamic, pragmatic, commercial and pleasant. He is by far the best tax expert I have worked with in France.’

‘The tax practice distinguished itself by its excellent knowledge of the real estate sector both in transactional and technical matters, allowing it to support long-term positions. The members of the tax team demonstrate remarkable human qualities and unfailing commitment.’

‘A mention of excellence to David Sorel who stands out for his listening, his clarity in his advice and his willingness to take into account all our issues, both fiscal, financial and operational.’

Principaux clients

Vinci Immobilier

Allianz Group

Poste Immo (La Poste Group)

Axa

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield

Ivanhoé Cambridge

JP Morgan Asset Management

Tishman Speyer

Aermont Capital LLP

Lasalle Investment Management

MCS & Associés

Blackrock

Immobel

Korian

Quartus

Antin Infrastructure

Gulf Islamic Investments (GII)

Almaviva Santé

Clarion Partners Europe

Prologis

Viparis

KKR real estate

Norton Rose Fulbright

Norton Rose Fulbright‘s Antoine Colonna d’Istria acts for an established client base of leading investment funds and financial institutions. His compact team runs a strong stand-alone practice, notably providing strategic advice to private equity funds and family offices on their tax structuring, management incentives and carried interest matters. The tax team also offers support to the firm’s transactional activity, notably in the energy sector. It recently assisted a major energy company with a large transaction. Associate Mathieu Jung also deserves a mention.

Responsables de la pratique:

Antoine Colonna d’Istria

Autres avocats clés:

Mathieu Jung

Les références

‘Antoine Colonna d’Istria has a very high level of tax expertise; he also has a great understanding of business issues; his advice is to the point and he takes a stand.’

‘Antoine Colonna d’Istria knows the internal workings of my group very well. He is in direct contact with the key stakeholders which allows a very fluid operation and personalised advice.’

‘Antoine Colonna d’Istria has perfect knowledge and is practical in his advice. He is a real dealmaker.’

Principaux clients

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.

Deliveroo (Roofoods)

Several French banks (BNPP, SG, CACIB)

Pastacorp

Crédit Mutuel/Euro Information

Total

Akuo Energy

Bourbon Maritime

Advent International

Amundi

Principaux dossiers

  • Advising Groupe Bourbon in the context of its financial restructuring.
  • Advised Crédit Mutuel and Euro-Information, a Crédit Mutuel group company, on the sale of Euro-Information Telecom (EIT) to Bouygues Telecom.
  • Advising French energy company TotalEnergies SE on a synthetic infrastructure agreement with Global Infrastructure Partners.

Orrick

Orrick Rambaud Martel has a strong and complementary team. Anne-Sophie Kerfant offers longstanding experience advising on corporate and finance transactional tax work. She also acts on complex restructuring transactions and the setting up of management incentive plans. Practice head Laurent Olléon has a strong focus on tax litigation and complex tax issues. He is notably appointed by leading French companies to assist them with key issues, including handling several matters in relation to local tax. In July 2021, the team welcomed Jessie Gaston (ex Dentons ), adding expertise in cross-border corporate transactions and insurance-related tax risk. Charles Briand left the firm in July 2021.

Responsables de la pratique:

Laurent Olléon

Autres avocats clés:

Anne-Sophie Kerfant; Jessie Gaston

Les références

‘The team explains and advises very clearly. They will collaborate with specialists where needed.’

‘Me Anne-Sophie Kerfant is always easily available and approachable. She explains matters clearly and always provides options of the various scenarios.’

‘Excellent, commercial and technical strength-in-depth in the tax team.’

‘Jessie Gaston is an excellent lawyer who takes time to understand the sector in which we operate.’

‘The team is very professional, responsive and the quality of the work is always very high.’

‘Responsive and close to us, the team’s advice is always the right one. Working with that team allows you to buy peace of mind on risky subjects.’

‘Laurent Olléon is a brilliant tax specialist, particularly excellent in certain subjects, and in particular the litigation field.’

‘Laurent Olléon is a reference in tax law. His way of approaching cases testifies of a rigour and finesse of legal analysis which allows him to have a detailed opinion endowed with a certain weight.’

Principaux clients

Carrefour

Danone

Dassault Systèmes

Cisco Systems

Veolia Environnement

Vivendi

SNCF

Engie

JCDecaux

SIACI Saint Honoré

Renault

Société Générale

Natixis

Axa-REIM France

BPCE Group

BT Group

Akiem

Hachette Livre

DIF

Equinix Hyperscale 1 Holdings BV

montanSOLAR GmbH

Tenergie

Toulouse Football Club

Advanced Accelerator Applications

Advent International

Air Liquide

Assystem

BCBG Max Azria

Biom’Up

DRT

Dufour Yachts

Ferroglobe

Hivy

Kosc

Naturex

Nexeya

RTE

Wildenstein

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised Société Générale and Sogelease on the tax aspects of setting up a synthetic securitisation in respect of lease receivables originated by Sogelease.
  • Advised Lalilo, a France-based Edtech company, on cross-border tax issues relating to its acquisition by Renaissance Learning Inc.
  • Assisting Dassault Systèmes with a major corporate tax litigation.

Paul Hastings LLP

Paul Hastings LLP has an excellent tax practice that covers corporate tax advice, litigation and transactional tax work. The team has excellent expertise in the field of private equity and LBO through Allard de Waal and senior associate Thomas Pulcini who are increasingly involved in large- to jumbo-cap deals. The team assists leading investment LBO funds and sponsors in addition to advising debt funds on transactions. The practice is also developing its LBO debt restructuring practice, with complementary corporate tax and litigation expertise from Bruno Leroy and of counsel Damien Fenard. The duo assists companies’ founders with the structuring of their companies’ shareholding, as well as investment funds and their portfolio companies. Transfer pricing litigation is another key line of work.

Responsables de la pratique:

Bruno Leroy; Allard de Waal

Autres avocats clés:

Thomas Pulcini; Damien Fenard

Les références

‘The general approach is different compared to other firms: more proximity, very attentive to the client, very professional team, but remaining approachable and doing its utmost to help and resolve issues. Very good follow-up of files over time.’

‘Team of rare kindness and high quality, both humanly and technically speaking: Bruno Leroy and Damien Fénard.’

‘Great creativity and technicality. Very good contact with the client.’

‘Bruno Leroy is one of the best tax specialists in the Place de Paris.’

Principaux clients

Groupe Lafayette

Red Bull France

GGB

A2MAC1

Shire/Takeda

Technetics

InVivo

Fairbanks Morse

UTAC CERAM

Antin Infrastructure Partners

Insight Partners

Mubadala Capital

Management team of Odigo

Eurazeo PME and FCDE

Andera Partners

Tikehau Investment Management

Keensight Capital

Sendinblue

EQT

Shearman & Sterling LLP

Shearman & Sterling LLP’s tax team regularly assists the corporate and capital markets practice with many of its transactions. The practice is able to advise on complex M&A, debt and equity capital markets, financing and private equity transactions, acting for a wide range of clients, including leading banks, corporations as well as private equity funds, from mid- to larger deals. Practice head Niels Dejean is highly regarded. Counsel Anne-Sophie Maes and associate Charles Filleux-Pommerol  regularly lead on tax in key transactions.

Responsables de la pratique:

Niels Dejean

Autres avocats clés:

Anne-Sophie Maes; Charles Filleux-Pommerol

Les références

‘Technically sound and proactive tax team.’

‘Niels Dejean is one of the best French tax lawyers. He understands business, has a great eye for detail and is very responsive and proactive.’

Principaux clients

ALD Automotive

Société Générale

Florac

LBO France

Constellium

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised HalioDx and its shareholders on the sale of HalioDx, an immuno-oncology diagnostics company pioneering the immunological diagnosis of cancers, to Veracyte.
  • Advised Constellium SE in connection with the transfer of its head office from Amsterdam to Paris.

Simmons & Simmons

Headed by Chloë NessimSimmons & Simmons‘ compact team excels at the tax structuring of real estate investment and financing transactions. Working on a stand-alone basis or alongside colleagues from other practices, the tax team assists prominent investors with large office and logistics deals, including asset portfolio transactions. The tax practice also works closely with fund formation expert Agnès Rossi to advise on the setting up and fundraising of various private funds, including growth capital, infrastructure, debt and large-cap energy funds. Key industry sectors span financial institutions, asset management and investment funds, TMT and healthcare and life sciences. The practice also recently provided key advice to a leading investment bank on the transfer of one of its division from London to Paris. Senior associate Jérémie Yéni is another key element in the team. In autumn 2021 Siamak Mostafavi, formerly counsel at Dentons, joined the firm, adding his tax expertise in the finance sector to the team.

Responsables de la pratique:

Chloë Nessim

Autres avocats clés:

Jérémie Yéni; Siamak Mostafavi

Les références

‘I have total confidence in this team which combines an excellent level of knowledge (competence) and a rich and varied background (experience) with a concern to do what is right (ethics) while maintaining excellent working relationships (knowing how to be).’

‘The tax team, led by Chloe Nessim, demonstrates great responsiveness and in-depth knowledge of tax law. It is a guarantee of success to be accompanied by people of a high level.’

‘Chloe Nessim demonstrates excellent listening skills and an excellent level of advice. We are delighted to work with her.’

‘The team is very professional and has consistently provided excellent tax advice being very responsive and attentive to business needs. In-depth knowledge is combined with a practical approach to efficiently provide suitable solutions. It is a pleasure to work with the team.’

‘Chloë Nessim fully understands the client’s needs, is always available when needed, explains complex tax matters in a straightforward manner and identifies potential issues being of concern for us very quickly. She is outstanding at coming up with pragmatic and effective solutions at short notice considering the implications in the overall context.’

Jérémie Yeni is very efficient, quick in responding and gives valuable advice.’

‘Team with an excellent technical mastery and endowed with a great pedagogy to explain complex and sometimes sudden subjects. Their expertise extends from real estate taxation to structuring.’

‘Chloe Nessim is one of the few tax lawyers able to recommend a solution to her client rather than presenting it with a memo exploring all the options. Her pragmatism and technical mastery make her one of the best in Paris.’

Principaux clients

Valor Real Estate Partners

M7

Colosseum AG

Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity

Infravia Capital Partners

Meridiam

RGreen Invest

Generali Global Infrastructure

SOREMI

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP's compact team, headed by Thomas Perrot, works in close combination with the firm’s corporate practice and the London and US offices. The tax team regularly advises on the structuring of strategic and complex transactions, often comprising major US aspects. The practice assists prominent French companies such as LVMH and Illiad as well as many leading private equity funds and other leading companies.

Responsables de la pratique:

Thomas Perrot

Principaux clients

Willis Towers Watson plc

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.E.

F.I.L.A. Fabbrica Italiana Lapis ed Affini S.p.A.

Iliad

Coty Inc

Silver Lake Partners

Capgemini

Axian

Perella Weinberg Partners (PWP)

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised LVMH on the acquisition of Tiffany & Co.
  • Advised funds managed by Silver Lake Partner on the acquisition of Meilleurtaux.
  • Advised CapGeminin on the sale of Odigo to funds managed by Apax.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

Led by Edouard de Lamy, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP's tax practice focuses primarily on transactional tax matters. Working alongside the corporate team, the tax practice advises many leading investment funds on France’s largest LBO transactions. Additionally the group assists several leading French corporations with M&A transactions and was involved in several prominent debt and equity restructuring projects.

Responsables de la pratique:

Edouard de Lamy

Les références

‘Very professional and high-quality team. Exemplary availability.’

‘Edouard de Lamy is a very brilliant tax lawyer who is a great educator and specialist in private equity.’

‘Excellent team in tax structuring of complex transactions, especially in tight timings situations.’

‘We really appreciate working with Edouard de Lamy. Great responsiveness, clarity in explaining the issues and creativity in finding solutions.’

Principaux clients

Montagu PE

Infravia

Eurazeo

Groupe Paprec

Altarea

Groupe Casino

Engie

Dalkia

Nemera Group

Generation IM

Ceva Santé Animale

Ardian

3i

Cathay Capital

Sagard

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised Eurazeo on the acquisition of Aroma Zone.
  • Advised Infravia on the acquisitions of Sandaya and Les Petits Chaperons Rouges.
  • Advised Altarea on certain tax aspects of the acquisition of Primonial.

White & Case LLP

White & Case LLP's team is in high demand from its corporate and capital markets colleagues to assist with the structuring of high-profile transactions. The practice notably advised on recent landmark M&A deals in the audiovisual and insurance sectors. It was also busy assisting banks or companies on IPOs, including the market listing of several SPAC. The team also contributes in the field of real estate tax and debt restructuring matters. Practice head Alexandre Ippolito and Estelle Philippi form a strong duo.

Responsables de la pratique:

Alexandre Ippolito

Autres avocats clés:

Estelle Philippi

Les références

‘A great mix of technical expertise and practical business advice.’

‘Alexandre Ippolito is a world-class tax partner who combines a great mix of technical depth and practical, real world advice.’

Principaux clients

Aéma Groupe

AEW Europe

Air-France KLM

Altitude Infrastructure

Antalis

Archer Hotel Capital

Arval

BNP Paribas

Boussard & Gavaudan

Bpifrance

Casino Group

Citigroup

CNP Assurances

Cobepa

Conforama

Crédit Agricole Assurances

Deutsche Bank

Digital Realty

Eurazeo

Faurecia

Financière Colisée

Financière Eurinter

GIC

Goldman Sachs

Groupe Carré

IK Investment Partners

Ingenico Group

JP Morgan

Klépierre

Legrand

Legris Industries

Marriott

Mérieux Equity Partners

Meyer Bergman

Michelin

Moret Industries

Mr Bricolage

Natixis

Neoen

Oaktree Capital Management

ORPEA

Otium

Qatar Investment Authority

RTL Group

Schneider Electric

Smartbox

Société Générale

Sogecap

Solocal

SPIE

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation

Tikéhau

Vinci

Visteon

Principaux dossiers

  • Advising RTL Group, along with Bouygues, TF1 and M6 on the tax aspects of the proposed combination of the two largest broadcasters in France, TF1 and M6.
  • Advising Vallourec’s ad hoc group of bondholders and RCF, led by Apollo, SVP, Bybrook and M&G, on the financial restructuring of Vallourec.
  • Advising Gapave, Apave’s sole shareholder association, in connection with the minority investment of PAI Partners.

Arkwood SCP

Arkwood SCP is France’s leading wealth management boutique. The very large and experienced team assists multinational family groups, entrepreneurs, investment funds, insurance companies, and high-net-worth families and individuals, including several billionaires. The team stands out for its strong knowledge of multiple foreign taxes and trusts. It provides advice and guidance on estate management, including transmission, real estate investment and other corporate tax issues, often in a complex international context. The practice also has strong litigation expertise and is notably involved in a major family conflict over the shares of a family-controlled company. Tax dawn raids are another area of strength. The partnership consists of practice head Stéphanie Auféril, Marine Dupas, Michaël Khayat and Julien Riahi.

Responsables de la pratique:

Stéphanie Auféril

Autres avocats clés:

Marine Dupa; Michaël Khayat; Julien Riahi

Les références

‘The team is excellent thanks to its specialisation in wealth taxation, where each partner has his/her own specific expertise in this field. Comfort for clients who will always find the answer to their questions in an efficient, technical and comprehensive manner.’

‘Efficiency, responsiveness, professionalism, technicality.’

‘Few law firms have a good knowledge of cross-border insurance issues. Arkwood is one of the rare firms to have developed this skill.’

‘Accessible, dynamic, positive and efficient.’

‘Helpful, competent and commercial, they are experts in all areas of French tax law and one of the few French firms to correctly understand the interaction between the French and English legal systems. Five stars.’

‘Michael Khayat is brilliant and always ready to provide the best legal advice within a short time frame.’

‘These are excellent specialists in everything related to the taxation of private clients, families, etc. Extensive experience in cross-border business. Pragmatic approach to problems.’

‘Michaël Khayat: I appreciate his in-depth expertise in real estate. Stéphanie Auféril: very vast experience in the entire field of international taxation affecting individuals, families. Julien Riahi: I appreciate Julien’s personality, he is very nice, he has a great mastery of files.’

Principaux clients

I.V.O Capital Partners

Laude Esquier Champey

SGG

Ashurst LLP

Headed by Emmanuelle Pontnau-Faure, Ashurst LLP’s compact team focuses on all types of transactional tax work. The team assists leading banks, investment funds and property investors, as well as some companies. Recent matters include several large financing deals, including Europcar’s highlight debt restructuring case. The practice also deals with key tax aspects linked to a jumbo debt issuance. The team, which advises on corporate and private equity transactions, is also very strong in the real estate area where it recently handled the tax issues linked to several major property investment and financing transactions alongside the real estate team, especially in the industrial logistic sector. The team also handles stand-alone work, including litigation, notably related to corporate deals and transfer pricing issues.

Responsables de la pratique:

Emmanuelle Pontnau-Faure

Les références

‘Emmanuelle Pontnau-Faure is very efficient and effective. She can be relied on to make the right recommendations and provide highly skilled advice.’

Principaux clients

Unicrédit

Dexia Crédit Local

M&G Real Estate

P3Parks

Deutsche Pfandbriefbank AG

Crédit Suisse

Principaux dossiers

  • Advising Crédit Suisse on the €670m financing of Europcar balance sheet restructuring.
  • Advising Mastern and La Française REM acting for Korean Investors on the acquisition, via an asset deal, of a French logistics portfolio rented to Amazon, composed of six last mile logistic buildings.
  • Advising Dexia Crédit Local on the update of its US MTN and EMTN issuance programmes guaranteed by the French and Belgium states and on multiple issues of bonds.

August Debouzy

August Debouzy's team is proficient in a wide range of areas; spanning transactional tax, transfer pricing and tax restructuring, as well as fund structuring and personal estate and tax planning. The practice assists investment funds and companies. It recently assisted a major hospitality chain with its restructuring in addition to acting for clients facing tax audits from the authorities. The team also advised on the acquisition of a Brazilian entity which raised 'anti-abuse rules' concerns. Xavier Rohmer and Philippe Lorentz are in charge.

Responsables de la pratique:

Xavier Rohmer; Philippe Lorentz

Les références

‘Philippe Lorentz has extraordinary experience in international tax issues for groups operating in France.’

‘Very high professionalism and speed of understanding the issues and the context. With Philippe Lorentz, we quickly feel very confident and really well advised with strong positions taken and not what we traditionally hear from tax lawyers who hesitate to get involved.’

‘Philippe Lorentz shows great knowledge, listening and technique.’

Principaux clients

FONDATION EURAZEO

FONDATION PARTAGE ET VIE

TRIGANO

SIEMENS AG

ROBECO FRANCE

DEVOTEAM

LIU JO

OGURY LTD

SIA PARTNERS

GROUPE CAHORS

ABF

BIJOUX BURMA SAS

BOTIFY

CATHAY CAPITAL

CHARLES RIVER

COMPAGNIE D’EFFRETEMENT ET DE TRANSPORT

COVEA

CPI GLOBAL

EXECUTIVE CHANNEL INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD

EYROLLES

GDE ECORE

IPSOS

IST CARDIOLOGY

LABORATOIRES GRIMBERG

LOSC

LABVANTAGE LIMITED

LA MAISON BLEUE

MICROPOLE

GALERIE PERROTIN

THIBIERGE & COMAR SA

TNP CONSULTANTS

VALTECH

XMCO PARTNERS

YOHJI YAMAMOTO

FOOTPRINT

5M VENTURES

VH 15 NOTAIRES

Principaux dossiers

  • Advising on the creation of a real estate company.
  • Advising the founders in the context of the sale of the Laboratoires Majorelle to EW Healthcare Partners.
  • Advising on the sale of Laboratoire Grimberg.

AYACHE

AYACHE has strong expertise assisting leading investment funds and management teams with LBO and other private equity transactions. The team is regularly involved in major mid- and upper mid-cap deals and has particular expertise advising managers on the setting up of their incentive packages. Practice co-head Bruno Erard and counsel Laurent Bibaut are key contacts in that area. The firm also has specialised expertise tax matters from the sports sector through Jacques Messeca who advises leading football clubs, the French football league and other major names in football and other sports. Messeca is also proficient in patrimonial tax and handles litigation.

Responsables de la pratique:

Bruno Erard; Jacques Messeca

Les références

‘Precise knowledge of the market, trends, demands, technical and commercial evolutions. Strong adaptability. Very diversified and very complementary team.’

‘Flawless availability. Very strong support. Strong personalities. Dealmakers.’

‘I can say that the individuals I have been dealing with are knowledgeable and very adept at explaining the details and impact.’

Principaux clients

TowerBrook

ICG Infrastructure

Groupe Open

Chausson Matériaux

Groupe Premium

ESRI

Flowbird – Ex Parkeon

Datawords

Refresco

Novetude

Fibonacci SARL

SCI Jaurès

Eversheds Sutherland

UBB – Boulazac

LL Berg

Stade Rennais FC

Toulouse Football Club

Première Ligue

BDGS Associés

BDGS AssociésGuillaume Jolly provides key support to the firm’s high-end M&A practice. The tax team is involved in the structuring of most of the transactions carried out by the corporate practice, acting for leading corporations and investment funds. The firm was recently involved in the ‘New Suez’ transaction; one of the highlights in the French market in 2021. Additional stand-alone expertise covers tax real estate work.

Responsables de la pratique:

Guillaume Jolly

Les références

‘A very flexible team, always looking for a solutions and not just identifying problems. They are very responsive and are able to adapt to all our requests.’

‘Guillaume Jolly has been assisting us since the creation of our company. We have great confidence in him, so we also often ask him to coordinate our tax activities abroad. Guillaume always finds solutions and is very responsive. He explains in a very didactic way the tax issues which can sometimes be quite complex.’

‘Very responsive and efficient team. Good business sense while protecting clients.’

‘High availability and above all they bring great clarity in this often technical work. Real understanding of clients’ needs, great business sense and offering solutions.’

‘Great responsiveness within very tight deadlines, ability to make themselves available, a real concern to understand your challenges, to get to the bottom of things and to propose operational solutions at a reasonable cost.’

Principaux clients

Opengate Capital

Butler Indutries

McArthurGlen

Crédit Agricole Assurance (Predica)

SMAC

Corum Assurances

SIIFFA

EIM Capital

Principaux dossiers

  • Advising SMAC on the carve-out of its industrial activities and the subsequent sale of the Axter activities to IKO and the skylight activities to Kingspan.
  • Advising CDC on its strategic acquisition, in consortium with Meridiam, Global Infrastructure Partners and CNP Assurances, of strategic assets from Veolia and Suez in the context of Veolia’s public offer on Suez.
  • Advising Predica as reference shareholder of Société Foncière Lyonnaise (SFL), listed on Euronext Paris, on a transaction on SFL’s share capital.

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP‘s Christine Daric and Olivier Mesmin, who co-head the tax practice, have unmatched expertise in real estate tax. The stand-alone tax couple is routinely retained by leading investors to assist with the structuring of large office, retail, residential, hospitality and other property asset transactions. It recently completed several landmark transactions in the retail and residential sectors. Additionally, the practice handles corporate and M&A tax work.

Responsables de la pratique:

Christine Daric; Olivier Mesmin

Les références

‘Responsive team and dealmakers.’

‘Christine Daric has great expertise in tax structuring and finds suitable solutions.’

‘This firm is highly digitalised and has very complete and high-quality documentary databases in legal and regulatory matters as well as in case law. In addition, the firm has an excellent relationship with the tax administration, particularly in the area of negotiation of rulings.’

‘We work with Maître Christine Daric who is a tax lawyer of an exceptional level, with a remarkable finesse to provide answers to the most complex questions and a very remarkable commitment to us.’

‘Christine Daric and Olivier Mesmin are excellent professionals, essential in their field.’

‘Olivier Mesmin has proved to be a trusted, dedicated partner with a strong business understanding as well as an ability to close the gap between theoretical and practical tax matters, which is rare and highly sought after.’

‘Olivier Mesmin, in addition to his high tax technicality, is recommended for his pragmatic approach which allows him to provide real, practical solutions.’

Principaux clients

Anacap Financial Partners

Banque des Territoires

Lone Star

HSBC

Sirius Hotel Group

Sogelym Dixence

Schroders

Voco Beaune

King Street

CNIM

DeA Capital

AMR (Amundi)

Black Swan Real Estate Partners

Cohen & Gresser LLP

Cohen & Gresser LLP 's Franck Le Mentec and his team are particularly well regarded for their international and cross-border tax expertise, including its transfer pricing know-how. The practice assists prominent companies and private clients. It is involved in high-profile disputes, including defending UBS AG in the appeal proceedings pertaining to France’s landmark tax evasion case. Associate  Nicolas Vacca also contributes.

Responsables de la pratique:

Franck Le Mentec

Autres avocats clés:

Nicolas Vacca

Principaux clients

William Brad Pitt

UBS AG

Impala Group

FORACO

Owkin Group

Apple Tree Group

Fieldwire group

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised UBS AG on the tax aspects of its appeal against the decision rendered by the French criminal court in February 2019 that applied a fine of €4.5bn to UBS AG for money laundering related to tax evasion.
  • Advising TP Ferro Concesionaria SA in the context of an arbitration dispute with the French Republic and the Kingdom of Spain.
  • Advising Brad Pitt with respect to all corporate and tax aspects of his French assets.

Delaby Dorison Avocats

Tax boutique Delaby Dorison Avocats has excellent expertise in private equity tax work. The team is retained by management teams and investment funds to advise on the structuring of mid- to large-cap LBO transactions. In high demand for the setting up of management incentives packages, the group also conducts due diligence work and recently advised a company under LBO on a large-cap refinancing. Emmanuel Delaby is the key contact here. He co-heads the tax practice alongside Sophie Dorison, among the most renowned names in her field, who leads the firm’s strong patrimonial tax expertise and advises family offices.

Responsables de la pratique:

Emmanuel Delaby; Sophie Dorison

Les références

‘A very flexible and multidisciplinary team.’

‘Excellent skills.’

‘A united and complementary team for tailor-made support.’

‘Professionals with perfect knowledge of market conditions and great situational intelligence to adapt to the different stages of a process.’

‘Combines expertise, availability and speed in the processing of files. The exchanges are very fluid and the firm knows how to deal very quickly and with strong expertise on all aspects of governance and the transfer of businesses.’

‘We regularly work with Sophie Dorison and Emmanuel Delaby. The team is very experienced and works perfectly in symbiosis, which allows a great fluidity of exchanges. The expertise of each lawyer is complementary to ours, which allows for interesting synergies.’

‘I know that Sophie Dorison’s approach, her analysis will allow the work to take place in the best conditions, which is reassuring. She provides very sharp analyses, the client’s interest always put forward. Sophie Dorison is an excellent technician. Finally, she is very responsive.’

‘‘Great availability, ability to listen, integrity and efficiency. Proximity to clients. Sophie Dorison shows real professionalism and expertise. She has a real tax patrimonial wealth expertise. Real proximity to clients. Great objectivity and integrity.’

Principaux clients

Ardian

Credit Mutuel

Galileo

Abenex

Groupe Bernard Hayot

Marignan

Motion Equity Partners

LFPI

Tiama

Siblu

Lagarrigue

LSA Courtage

Fincap Invest

Syclef

Apave

Stelliant

Matebat

JM Bruneau

Principaux dossiers

  • Advising Galileo Global Education group in the context of a refinancing deal.
  • Advising Ardian in the context of the sale of Lagarrigue group.
  • Advising in the context of several sales and acquisitions.

Deloitte Société d’Avocats

With its extensive resources, Deloitte Société d’Avocats is able to provide comprehensive tax expertise to clients, from transactional and corporate tax to transfer pricing, indirect taxation and tax disputes. The firm is regularly retained by leading investment funds to assist with due diligence and tax structuring work concerning large LBO transactions. The firm also regularly handles major real estate tax transactional work. Leading French and international companies are also clients. The tax practice is headed by Thomas Perrin and includes the following key members: managing partner Sophie Blégent-DelapilleArnaud Mourier for M&A taxation, Vanessa Irigoyen for indirect taxation, and Christina Melady for patrimonial tax.

Responsables de la pratique:

Thomas Perrin

Autres avocats clés:

Arnaud Mourier; Sophie Blégent-Delapille; Vanessa Irigoyen; Christina Melady

Principaux clients

Invesco Real Estate

M&G Real Estate

CVC Capital

SPVIE Assurances

BIC

Prudentia Capital and BNP Paribas Développement

DIGITAL VIRGO

Advent International

Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.

Dentons

Dentons provides a broad range of expertise, covering transactional M&A and real estate tax, as well as handling litigation and transfer pricing issues. The team runs a strong stand-alone practice for companies and investment funds, with a good presence in the biomedical industry.Recent work includes advising a French laboratory on the signing up of a licensing deal with a US laboratory. The practice was also retained to handle some aspects of the landmark Veolia-Suez transaction.  Key members of the team include practice head Gianluca Calisti, Sandra Hazan, of counsel Jérôme Le Berre and Julien Le Guyader. Jessie Gaston left the firm in July 2021.

Responsables de la pratique:

Gianluca Calisti

Autres avocats clés:

Sandra Hazan; Jérôme Le Berre; Julien Le Guyader

Les références

‘Strong level of listening and taking into account the specificity of our file. Strong creativity in the solutions proposed in strict compliance with the rules, excellent commitment of the team.’

‘Sandra Hazan provides good listening, commitment, availability, efficiency.’

‘High level of competence and expertise.’

‘Responsive, always ‘on track’, very professional.’

‘Very competent team on international tax issues, available and attentive. Knows how to adapt to its interlocutor. Experienced relationship with the tax authorities.’

‘I especially know Sandra Hazan; she is a very competent person with whom it is very pleasant to work because she is available and has a lot of experience in different situations. Extensive experience in the luxury sector.’

‘Very involved, very persistent and with great tax knowledge.’

‘Professional, persistent, integrated and attentive, thinks for the client.’

Principaux clients

Veolia Environnement SA

Inmarsat PLC

ITM Entreprises

Katara Hospitality

Laboratoires Théa

Maybourne Hotels Group

Principaux dossiers

  • Providing tax advice to Veolia in relation to its takeover of major competitor water and waste French group SUEZ.
  • Assisting the ITM group with all its tax dispute matters.    
  • Assisting Mousse Partners private Equity Fund with the tax structuring of a €150m co-investment with Blackstone in a pan-European real estate investment vehicle.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP's Bruno Knadjian leads a tax practice focusing on the tax structuring of transactions led by the firm’s corporate, real estate, finance and capital markets practices. The tax team is involved in mid- to large-cap transactions. It has been particularly active in the field of DCM recently, advising on EMTN programmes update and notes issuances. The practice also assisted a leading company with the structuring of a large loan and advised on several prominent office building and hotel transactions. The team’s rare expertise in handling tax disputes faced by mining and energy companies in French-speaking African countries is another asset.

Responsables de la pratique:

Bruno Knadjian

Les références

‘The team is responsive, coordinated and organised.’

‘Simple, fast, efficient, competent. Excellent value for money.’

‘Very solid team and well integrated with the other teams (M&A in particular) which guarantees a fluid interaction between the firm and the client.’

‘We mainly worked with Bruno Knadjian who stands out for his pragmatism and commercial spirit in risk assessment, his ability to clearly explain complex legal concepts and help us position ourselves.’

‘The tax team is very competent, available and pragmatic.’

‘Bruno Knadjian is an excellent professional with whom everybody finds pleasure working. Beyond the tax issues that he masters perfectly, he understands all legal issues and helps to find solutions.’

‘The team is extremely professional, efficient and pragmatic, which allows us to always have answers on time and answers that are easily usable in practice.’

‘Excellent practical approach to cases and efficiency from Bruno Knadjian’s team.’

Principaux clients

AFD Technologies

Amarenco

Air Liquide

Altran Technologies

Boluda

CDS Group

Cellnex Telecom

EssilorLuxottica

Gras Savoye Willis Towers Watson

Green Investment Group

Groupe SEB

La Française Real Estate

MCA Group

Oracle France

SAMSIC

SOS Oxygen

Stago

Teleperformance

Tikehau Capital

Safran

Renault

Yves Saint Laurent

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised Cellnex on the acquisition of French Towers Hivory from Altice France and Starlight Holdco.
  • Advised Amarenco Group on its new capital increase with Tikehau Capital and IDIA Capital Investissement.
  • Advised several shareholders of SUEZ in the context of the proposed takeover of SUEZ by VEOLIA.

Jeantet

Jeantet impresses with a strong team that can rely on the firm’s extensive international network in Switzerland, Luxembourg and Eastern Europe. The practice has a good breadth of expertise, spanning corporate tax, M&A and private equity transactional tax, as well as property and wealth tax issues. It recently acted in several large private equity and property asset transactions for international investors. The team is also in charge of several significant tax disputes, including several matters dealt with on behalf of an African state entity. Jean-Guillaume Follorou and Jacques-Henry de Bourmont are in charge. They are supported by counsel Gabriel di Chiara.

Responsables de la pratique:

Jacques-Henry de Bourmont; Jean-Guillaume Follorou

Autres avocats clés:

Gabriel di Chiara

Les références

‘Very technical approach with a focus on details.’

‘Jean-Guillaume Follorou is always responsive and provides feedback on time. The level of service is high.’

‘The team headed by Jean-Guillaume Follorou is dedicated, hands-on and competent. It has always been a pleasure to work together.’

‘Jean-Guillaume Follorou is a strong technician with in-depth knowledge of the market in which he operates. Good contacts with the tax administration.’

Principaux clients

OTTO GROUP

GENERALI

NATIXIS

INVESCO REAL ESTATE

KINGFISHER

BEY MEDIAS

Metropolitan Filmexport

OTTO GROUP

GENERALI

NATIXIS

INVESCO REAL ESTATE

KINGFISHER

BEY MEDIAS

Metropolitan Filmexport

Jeausserand Audouard

Jeausserand Audouard combines individual and corporate tax expertise. The firm offers high-level expertise in advising management teams during LBO transactions, shouldering a very busy caseload of  large- to jumbo-cap transactions. Jérémie Jeausserand, Tristan Audouard, Pascal Gour and Carole Furst, who was promoted to partner in July 2021, all have extensive experience. Sarah Espasa-Mattei  and Bernard Boutemy are experts in tax litigation, acting for leading corporations and banks in disputes challenging French regulations, often acting before EU Courts.

Responsables de la pratique:

Jérémie Jeausserand; Tristan Audouard; Pascal Gour; Carole Furst; Sarah Espasa-Mattei; Bernard Boutemy

Les références

‘An excellent team always available and attentive to our needs. A special mention to Carole Furst for her remarkable professionalism.’

‘High-quality tax team with very specific expertise in EU litigation in particular. Sarah Espasa-Mattei and Bernard Boutemy are close to their clients.’

Principaux clients

CYRUS

GINGER

ADVENS

HIBOUTATILLUS

SGD PHARMA

DIDACTIC

SOLINA

ERMEWA

TARKETT

LP PROMOTION

ALLIANCE ETIQUETTES

IAD

DL SOFTWARE

BTP CONSULTANTS

PHOTONIS

SKILL & YOU

NUTRISENS

CONSOLIS RAIL

SERB

GDE GROUPE

PRO ENGIN

AD EDUCATION

KAPI & NOVAE

ALCHIMIE

CAFEYN

EUREKA EDUCATION

SANTIANE

BABILOU

ELSAN

FINAXY

EUREXO

Jones Day

Jones Day stands out for its specialised expertise in venture capital deals and strong presence among digital companies and French tech start-ups, working hand in hand with the corporate team. The tax team regularly assists clients with fundraising work and was involved in several initial public offerings lately. Teaming up with the fund formation practice, the tax department in also well versed in advising leading and mid-cap investment funds with the setting up of new investment vehicles. The tax team also provides support to the M&A practice in addition to shouldering a stand-alone practice and litigation. Emmanuel de La Rochethulon and Nicolas André co-head the practice.

Responsables de la pratique:

Emmanuel de La Rochethulon; Nicolas André

Les références

‘Nicolas André has a great understanding of cross-border aspects and asks all the right questions. Also, it is very pleasant to work with him and his team.’

‘The tax department has a strong transactional and autonomous tax activity.’

‘Emmanuel de la Rochethulon has solid expertise and was able to answer all the very specific questions asked. Nicolas André shows great maturity in understanding tax issues.’

‘Their tax practice is very reliable, both on general tax matters and specific issues we face. We are in particular impressed by how available and collaborative their tax lawyers are, be it in respect of corporate transactions or day-to-day tax issues. They always provide on-point and business-oriented advice. The fact that we can reach one of the tax partners in respect of any matter is extremely useful for us, as he allows us to spot the structuring issues in advance, and can quickly recommend the right process, expert, timing, etc.’

‘When discussing with Nicolas André and his team, you feel that they always know how to find the right balance between technical advice and business strategy.’

‘I appreciated both the quality of the advice and the ability to act on a delicate subject without creating friction.’

Principaux clients

EDF Invest

TotalEnergies Renouvelables France

TotalEnergies Gaz Electricité de France

Tikehau Investment Management

ACE Capital Partners

Natixis

Kartesia

CDPQ Revenue Fixe Inc./Macquarie Euro Ltd

Bpifrance

Cellectis

EasyVista

Swile

Nanobiotix

Singular Capital Partners

King & Spalding LLP

King & Spalding LLP's Aurélia de Viry works in close collaboration with the firm’s M&A and corporate team to advise on the structuring of mid-cap M&A and private equity transactions, including public M&A and convertibles transactions. The tax practice is also recognised for its strong real estate and fund investment expertise. As a stand-alone a practice, de Viry and her team also handle patrimonial tax issues and litigation.

Responsables de la pratique:

Aurélia de Viry

Les références

‘The tax team is well known to stakeholders and recognised by its peers for the quality of its analyses and its dynamism.’

‘I appreciate Aurélia de Viry’s pragmatism, her approach to problems and her very good knowledge of the tax administration and practices.’

‘Aurélia de Viry is an expert in French tax law. Her availability and ability to search for solutions are greatly appreciated.’

Principaux clients

Neotys

France Galop

Sidetrade

DALET

McPhy

EODEN

Banque Mirabeau

ENVEA

Fermentalg

M&G Real Estate

Alex Gambal

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised the controlling shareholders of Neotys (including the founders of the company and French private equity funds Ardian and BPI) on the sale of the entire Neotys share capital and voting rights to Tricentis.
  • Advised France Galop (a non-profit association that organizes and controls the gallop racing industry in France and depends both on the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Budget) in relation to the change of the French VAT regime (introduction of a provision) related to race winnings incomes.
  • Advising Banque Mirabaud Luxembourg on the investment structure named ‘Grand Paris’, set up in Luxembourg as regulated vehicle, on the French aspects of the fund structure and investments.

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP has excellent tax real estate expertise. The stand-alone practice is directly appointed by leading names in the sector to assist with the structuring of large asset and portfolio investment transactions. It notably recently acted on a landmark office acquisition and on the transfer of a large real estate portfolio. The team is also active in other areas, such as private equity transactions. Practice head Pierre Appremont and Paméla Le Jeune are the key contacts.

Responsables de la pratique:

Pierre Appremont; Paméla Le Jeune

Principaux clients

AG Real Estate

EDF

LBO France

Eternam

Etche

Colliers Global Investors France

Keys Reim

BNP Paribas Real Estate

Swiss Life Asset Managers France

Coriolis

Principaux dossiers

  • Advising AG Real Estate on numerous deals in France.
  • Advising LBO France on the setting up of a partnership with Caisse des Dépôts for a real estate operation.
  • Advising JV EDF/Primonial/la Francaise on the acquisition of Nestle France’s headquarters’ building.

LPA-CGR avocats

LPA-CGR avocats is able to offer a wide range of expertise thanks to its sizeable team. The practice is particularly highly regarded for its excellent real estate tax expertise, in line with the firm standing as a go-to firm for real estate matters. The group regularly advises leading international and French investors involved in major office, logistic and other large development projects. Practice head Sandra Fernandes is the key name in that area. The energy and renewables sector is another mainstay of the firm, with the tax practice’s expertise including the structuring of French and international renewables transactions. As a highlight, the firm notably assisted Orano with a strategic international M&A transaction conducted in the nuclear sector. Bertrand Galvez is the key contact here. Finally, the tax practice also works on M&A and private equity transactions, with Mathieu Selva-Roudon as the main contact. Martine Blanck-Dap  and counsel Virginie Martel are developing a stand-alone private client practice.

Responsables de la pratique:

Sandra Fernandes

Autres avocats clés:

Bertrand Galvez; Mathieu Selva-Roudon; Martine Blanck-Dap; Virginie Martel

Les références

‘A dynamic firm, highly concerned with client satisfaction and which fully plays its advisory role by guiding the client, taking into account its specificities, both cultural and financial. The quality is excellent at an extremely affordable price.’

‘Sandra Fernandes is very appreciated from various angles: very technical approach, deep knowledge of the real estate industry and related business needs, and ability to provide quick and insightful feedback.’

‘Sandra Fernandes is business-oriented. She has a good global vision of the issues of the real estate sector. She is very responsive, works very well with the other counsels and communicates well the points raised. Good technician. It’s very nice to work with her.’

‘Lawyers with a real sense of business, who seek to find a solution acceptable to both parties.’

‘Sandra Fernandes is a recognised professional who masters her subject perfectly. She seeks the best solutions for her clients and does not hesitate to take the time necessary for reflection in order to propose the best strategy. She has an excellent relationship with her colleagues, which facilitates discussions.’

‘Sandra Fernandes’ knowledge is exceptional.’

Principaux clients

ARISE INDUSTRIAL SERVICES (ARISE IS)

BANQUE DES TERRITOIRES

CORSICA SOLE

GINKGO

IMPACT FIELD MARKETING GROUP

INTEROR

LABORATOIRES DELBERT

OMNES CAPITAL

ORANO

OSAE PARTNERS

McDermott Will & Emery AARPI

Led by Antoine VergnatMcDermott Will & Emery AARPI's tax team provides assistance to the firm’s corporate and private equity practice. The team assists investment funds and management teams with LBO transactions, often in the mid-cap segment of the market, as well as with venture investments, notably in the IT and biotechnology sectors. The tax team has strong cross-border capabilities. Its in-depth knowledge of the healthcare sector is another asset. The practice's stand-alone caseload includes assisting companies, private clients and funds with tax restructuring, trust, audit and litigation work. Counsel Romain Desmonts is also noted.

Responsables de la pratique:

Antoine Vergnat

Autres avocats clés:

Romain Desmonts

Les références

Responsive and precise. They take a stand.

Principaux clients

Tiller Systems

Ardian Growth and BNP Paribas Développement

Labelium

CAPZA

Qualium Investissement

L’Oréal

Pierre Fabre

Eurazeo PME

R.V.A.

Management team of Sogetrel

Cryoport

CAFPI

Vetoquinol

Naxicap Partners

Florac

Campari

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised CAPZA in the context of its acquisition of a minority stake in the Magellan Partners Group.
  • Advised Tiller Systems on its sale to SumUp.
  • Advised the founders of the CAFPI, a real estate brokerage network, in connection with the opening of its capital to the investment fund BlackFin Capital Partners.

Racine

Racine‘s tax team provides key support to the firm’s transactional practice. The team has strong property tax expertise and regularly advises on significant asset and portfolio transactions. In addition, the tax team offers strong private equity and M&A capabilities. It advises a number of prominent investment funds and has advised investors on the setting up and IPO deals of several SPACs. The stand-alone practice includes tax restructuring, private client matters and litigation work. The practice is co-headed by Fabrice Rymarz and  Xavier Rollet.

Responsables de la pratique:

Xavier Rollet; Fabrice Rymarz

Les références

‘High level of expertise; aware of market practice standards and deal-oriented.’

‘Very responsive; well organised.’

Principaux clients

Mediawan

2MX Organic

Tristan Capital Partners

I2PO

Hémisphère

Infrared Capital Partners

Ellisphère

Orange Bank

Samfi Invest

Bridgepoint

AG2R La Mondiale

Motion Equity Partners

Global Gate Capital Partners

Axtom

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised Mediawan on the creation of Mediawan Alliance.
  • Advised Xavier Niel, Matthieu Pigasse and Moez-Alexandre Zaouri in connection with the creation of the second French SPAC, 2MX Organic.
  • Advised Episo 5, the real estate fund of Tristan Capital Partners, on the sale-and-leaseback acquisition, with Catella Asset Management, of a logistics and light industrial portfolio.

Reed Smith

Reed Smith has a high-level tax real estate practice. The team, which is co-led by the highly experienced trio of Jean-Pierre ColletFlorence Bilger and David Colin, assists high-profile French and property investors. The team is regularly involved in large asset and portfolio acquisition transactions. It also assists clients with tax restructuring and other tax issues.

Responsables de la pratique:

Florence Bilger; David Colin; Jean-Pierre Collet

Les références

‘David Colin is in my opinion the best specialist in France on subjects related to real estate VAT and registering rights issues relating to complex transactions.’

Scotto Partners

Led by Jérôme CommerçonScotto Partners' compact tax team handles a high volume of work. In line with the firm’s thriving market recognition for advising management teams on private equity deals, the tax team is sought after by the management to structure their incentive packages. It is involved in the market’s largest private equity transactions. Additionally, the team advises management teams on tax issues relating to distressed and restructuring matters.

Responsables de la pratique:

Jérôme Commerçon

Principaux clients

Idinvest Partners

Kandelium (ex-Solvay Barium Strontium and Sodium percarbonate divisions)

Cooper-Vemedia

Omni-Pac

EidosMedia

Babcock Wanson

Winoa

Corsair

Cofinance

Ales Group

Essling Capital

Siaci Saint Honoré

Vinventions

Adista

Verdant (ex-Solvay amphoteric surfactant division)

Calucem

Aquilus

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised both the French and Dutch equity holder-managers in the context of the acquisition by CVC Capital Partners of the Cooper-Vemedia Group.
  • Advised the management of Siaci Saint Honoré group on the merger with Burrus group.
  • Advised Omni-Pac’s CEO Renaud Malarre and his management team in the context of Latour Capital’s acquisition of a majority stake.

Sekri Valentin Zerrouk

Sekri Valentin Zerrouk is recognised as a go-to-firm for private client work and counts a number of high-profile French and American families as clients. The practice advises on wealth management issues and on transactional work. Leading investment funds increasingly turn to the practice for SMID-size transactions and on occasion for large-cap deals. Practice head Jérôme Assouline stands out for his experienced knowledge of French-American tax issues and tax treatment of trusts. Thomas Verdeil is also recommended.

Responsables de la pratique:

Jérôme Assouline

Autres avocats clés:

Thomas Verdeil

Les références

‘Very flexible and client-focused.’

‘A multidisciplinary team, knowing perfectly the taxation, the needs and the trades of its client. Availability and listening.’

‘Helpfulness, fair advice and able to anticipate side effects.’

‘A mid-sized firm – not too big, not too small, with a partner and a small team of dedicated, high-quality associates.’

‘Jérôme Assouline is an excellent professional. He was highly recommended to us and his qualities and level of service are in line with our expectations. He is very sharp in his analyses and recommendations, and very responsive.’

‘Excellent collaboration with other attorneys and experts for the benefit of clients across borders.’

Principaux clients

Valtus

Apax Partners

Mutares

Milestone Investisseurs

Chequers Capital

Dai Nippon

Société Générale Capital Partenaires

IN Groupe

Turenne Capital

Entoria

Synlab

Principaux dossiers

  • Assisted Milestone Investisseurs with the sale of its participation in company Swania International.
  • Advised Mutares on two deals: the takeovers of Carglass Maison (CGM) and paper manufacturer La Rochette.
  • Advised Apax Partners Development on its investment in Diapason.

Stephenson Harwood

Stephenson Harwood‘s Olivier Couraud  specialises in transactional tax in addition to running a distinguished stand-alone practice assisting founders and executives with their personal tax issues. The tax team has also developed particular expertise in asset finance and shipping finance matters – shipping finance being one area of specialty of the Paris office. In that area, the tax practice regularly advises leading banks on the largest shipping finance transactions, in particular with the structuring of French tax leases. The practice also offers strong litigation expertise.

Responsables de la pratique:

Olivier Couraud

Les références

‘Olivier Couraud s team has remarkable expertise in wealth tax, which sets it apart from a large number of tax lawyers.’

‘I particularly appreciate Olivier Couraud, who has remarkable technical skills. He demonstrates remarkable rapidity of analysis and real technicality that he puts very effectively at the service of his clients.’

‘The team is made up of very competent and very involved lawyers and advisers, with excellent knowledge and a very wide variety of profiles which allow us to meet a very wide range of needs.’

‘Very great involvement of Olivier Couraud, excellent and very diligent professional who always provides very good advice.’

‘Real strategic and business-added value, rare ability to put themselves into the shoes of an entrepreneur and to seek solutions beyond the strict legal framework.’

‘Strong involvement, impeccable technical knowledge. Olivier Couraud stands out from the lot of tax specialists that I have met before by his very global approach.’

Principaux clients

GENERAL ELECTRIC HEALTHCARE

CDER INVESTISSEMENTS

JULIEN CASTEL (VITALLIANCE)

NATIXIS

MATA CAPITAL

FREE 2 MOVE (FORMERLY MHIRI INNOVATION)

LVMH / LES ECHOS – LE PARISIEN GROUP

APAX PARTNERS

PENINSULAR

MIROVA

CIC

BNPP / BPCE

CEPAC

Principaux dossiers

  • Advising GE Healthcare, a medical technology, pharmaceutical diagnostics, and digital solutions company, on the tax aspect of the acquisition of Zionexa, an innovator of in-vivo oncology and neurology biomarkers that help enable more personalised healthcare.
  • Advising Apax Partners on the tax aspects of the creation and launch of a new type of fund, Apax Private Equity Opportunities (APEO), an approved FCPR (French risk mutual fund – Fonds commun de placement à risque).
  • Advising CDER Investissements on the tax aspects of the sale of its module rental activity to Kiloutou.

Viguié Schmidt & Associés

Viguié Schmidt & Associés‘ Christel Alberti team shoulders a very busy caseload, advising on M&A and private equity transactions handled by the firm, including publicly listed M&A deals. The practice handles a high volume of mid-cap deals including advising funds on private equity venture deal, with a recent landmark transaction for a venture fundraising deal under its belt. Additionally, the team is increasingly solicited to assist clients with tax controls, notably in relation to M&A transactions or executives’ incentives packages. The versatile team also offers patrimonial tax expertise. Associate Maxence Dubois provides key support.

Responsables de la pratique:

Christel Alberti

Autres avocats clés:

Maxence Dubois

Les références

‘A responsive, versatile, operational and technical team.’

‘Christel Alberti is a great pro, very business-oriented and operational, she challenges the rules brilliantly.’

‘A very great fluidity and simplicity in the exchanges, a great capacity to deal with all the tax aspects of a file, thus ensuring consistency day-to-day information and progress of the file. This fluidity also emerges from the excellent collaboration with the corporate and M&A department of the firm.’

‘Christel Alberti is a remarkable technician with a global vision of taxation coupled with very high-level writing skills, and exceptional capacity at managing of complex subjects. Maxence Dubois has excellent technique and a flawless availability.’

‘Christel Alberti’s team is always very available, rigorous and able to explain very complex subjects in a very concise way. The firm has a very pragmatic and solution-oriented approach, which sets it apart from its competitors.’

‘Christel Alberti is brilliant, she is able to explain very technical tax matters quickly, precisely and extremely clearly.’

Principaux clients

Galeries Lafayette

Laborizon

Alstom

Groupe Ascoma

Mediawan

Danone

Calcium Capital

HiPay Group

Sonepar

Sony Music Entertainment

Crédit Agricole/CASA

Vendis Capital

Fimalac Entertainment

Alter Equity

Unify (TF1 Group)

SNCF/Geodis

Groupe Cahors

Accuracy

Alter Equity

LPCR Groupe (Grandir)

Headline (e.ventures)

LBO France

Astanor

Pace capital fund

Principaux dossiers

  • Advising Alstom on several complex disposals required as a consequence of the acquisition of the rail business of Bombardier Transportation.
  • Advised Galeries Lafayette Group on the strategic partnership signed with Keys Asset Management.
  • Advised Headline, a San-Francisco based fund, on several investments in France.

Villey Girard Grolleaud

Villey Girard Grolleaud

Responsables de la pratique:

Yann Grolleaud

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP's special European counsel Philippe Grudé assists the firm’s corporate team with the structuring of its transactions. He regularly advises leading investment funds, as well as some companies, on large- to jumbo-cap LBO transactions. Recently, Grudé assisted a leading company with the divestment of one its businesses.

Responsables de la pratique:

Philippe Grudé

Principaux clients

PAI Partners

IK Investment Partners

Insight Partners

Intermediate Capital Group

Qualium Investissement

Caisse des Dépôts

CNP Assurances

EDF Invest

Arkema

Arch Capital Partners

Alerion

Alerion

Responsables de la pratique:

Christophe Gerschel; Philippe Pescayre; Stanislas Vailhen

Les références

‘Tax law specialty with an affordable price quality of service.’

‘Responsive and competent team.’

‘Adapted, clear.’

‘Simplicity, responsiveness, transparency.’

‘Very responsive team – broad expertise in French taxation and litigation – good value for money.’

‘Stanislas Vailhen – always available – competent and responsive – pragmatic.’

Principaux clients

Pinet

Ponticelli

L-Acoustics

123 IM

Groupe Baelen

INSEEC Group

Finalcad

Eisai

Pochet

Stallergenes

Mandar

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised the INSEEC Group – A2G on a tax dispute before the Administrative Court of Appeal of Lyon.
  • Advised Santarelli on an LBO.
  • Advised Pochet on general tax issues and a restructuration.

Altitude Avocats

Altitude Avocats

Responsables de la pratique:

Eric Ginter

Autres avocats clés:

Eric Chartier; Julien Bellet

Les références

‘Eric Ginter and Julien Bellet are two excellent practitioners, providing pragmatic and excellent advice. I have complete confidence in them, in all circumstances.’

‘Small tight-knit team made up of competent and motivated professionals in tax law advice and assistance with extensive experience in Franco-Swiss relations and a high level of technical knowledge.’

‘Ease of access to partners, responsiveness, proactivity in maintaining legal and tax knowledge (permanent monitoring of decisions of higher judicial bodies and legislative and regulatory developments).’

Principaux clients

Didier Pineau-Valencienne

Philippe Videau

Sagard

Néoline

Sifaco

SportsDirect

Trace Partners

Serge Proutchenko

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised Charlotte Momenty on a OBO operation.
  • Advising Hubert Martigny on the construction and management of a new-built yacht.
  • Advising Serge Proutchenko on the sale of a storage building in Paris.

Aramis

Aramis

Responsables de la pratique:

Nelson Da Riba

Les références

‘Ability to quickly grasp complex issues. High level of experience. Availability.’

‘High technicality.’

Principaux clients

Tikehau Capital

Sagax

La Poste (French Post Office)

Unique Heritage Media

Thai Union Group

Catalyst Capital

Laboratoires Lehning

Enyx

Square

Fayat

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised La Poste (through its health division La Poste Silver) on the acquisition of a controlling interest in e-health company Nouvéal.
  • Advising Oteo (Spice Capital) on an OBO related to Atulam.
  • Advising US Square group on their tax obligations in France, tax structuring and VAT certification.

BG2V

BG2V

Responsables de la pratique:

Jean-Marc Valot; Jean-Sébastien Dumont

Les références

‘Very high availability and efficiency.’

‘They are innovative and inventive. Jean-Sébastien Dumont: his advice is always clear and his commitment clear. He is innovative.’

‘Jean-Marc Valot was able to demonstrate a great sense of advice, tenacity and pugnacity. It is a small structure that knows how to be agile and responsive, listening to its clients. The value for money of the work carried out is perfectly calibrated. Jean-Marc Valot is a great professional in tax law and real estate tax law who has real expertise on his subjects.’

‘The contact with Jean-Marc Valot is always pleasant, he has a business-oriented spirit, develops quick and clear analyses which allow to quickly circumscribe the main key elements of a question/structuring and to understand their scope. We can quickly have a first ‘feeling’ on a problem that we submit to him, which is appreciated and not always frequent with tax experts. Jean-Marc is also very responsive and keeps his deadlines.’

Principaux clients

INTERPUBLIC GROUP

ACE CAPITAL PARTNERS (TIKEHAU GROUP)

ALTICE

PLEIADE INVESTISSEMENT

COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL

SOPIC

GROUPE SCAFF

WESHAREBONDS

EDF

HUMANIS

FINIMMO INVEST

FEDERATION NATIONALE DES SCIENCES POLITIQUES

GROUPE DUVAL

CAISSE DES DEPOTS ET CONSIGNATIONS

Cazals Manzo Pichot Saint Quentin AARPI

Cazals Manzo Pichot Saint Quentin AARPI

Autres avocats clés:

Thomas Cazals; Maxence Manzo; Romain Pichot; Bertrand de Saint Quentin; Virginie Aïdan; Pierre Ullmann; Xavier Colard

Les références

‘In addition to a great responsiveness, the firm is able to give the most effective advice taking into account the different components of a decision (fiscal, employment, patrimonial …) rather than offering a single solution, which allows its clients to understand the stakes of the various solutions proposed in order to choose while understanding the possible risks.’

‘Bertrand de Saint Quentin fully understands inheritance issues, arrives with efficient and intelligent solutions. The rare times he is confronted with a new subject, he goes with passion to seek and, or develop expertise and he always comes back with an effective solution. Xavier Colard perfectly masters the challenges of the manager/shareholder of a company.’

‘I know and have had the opportunity to work mainly with Maxence Manzo, whose sharp analysis and creativity I appreciate; Thomas Cazals who is always pragmatic and reassuring, as well as Pierre Ullmann for his expertise and his precise approach.’

‘Maxence Manzo has a perfect knowledge of both the laws and the practice which allows him to foresee the problems and their consequences and therefore find the best solutions. He has a wide knowledge of taxation, commercial law, finance and accounting. His writings are carefully documented. Plus, he is always available and delivers on time…which is essential in our profession.’

‘Virginie Aidan is a very high-quality professional, available and responsive. She has an excellent understanding of the transactional issues on which she works alongside us. Bertrand de Saint Quentin is an excellent technician.’

‘Thomas Cazals and Romain Pichot are great professionals capable of guiding clients on complex structures without monopolising their clients’ bandwidth. All this brings comfort to client and confidence.’

‘A firm of modest size and mindset, resolutely turned towards the business world. A team of modern and brilliant tax specialists, who demonstrate a very sharp expertise and a great mastery of its subjects.’

‘Virgine Aïdan is truly exceptional. She listens, is very responsive and remains perfectly calm under all circumstances. She has been able to find innovative solutions on complex international tax issues. She has an excellent understanding of accounting and financial mechanisms which is rare for a tax specialist.’

Principaux clients

Serris REIM

Blackstone

CIC

Carlyle

iM Global Partner

Nuxe

Axa

BPCE

Maincare SolutionsLa Poste

AB ScienceKamet Venture

Fiducial

CMA – CGM

Mata Capital

Rakuten

Europ-assistance

Qonto

Andera PartnersCegid

KametThalgo

CDC

Rayonier

SCT Telecom

Picture Real Estate

Principaux dossiers

  • Advising WITAM MFO, AXYALIS PATRIMOINE, COFIGE PATRIMOINE, 3A PATRIMOINE, Groupe VENICE and WISEAM (Victoire Group) in the context of their acquisition by Groupe Crystal.
  • Advising Joséphine Duffau-Lagarrosse on the acquisition of Château Beauséjour Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse alongside the Courtin-Clarins family.
  • Advising IM Global Partner on the entry of IK Investment Partners and Luxempart in its capital.

Chammas & Marcheteau

Chammas & Marcheteau

Responsables de la pratique:

Christophe Moreau

Les références

‘Excellent knowledge of financial taxation and venture capital. The partners are very available and didactic. The words are clear and do not remain theoretical.’

Couderc Dinh & Associés

Couderc Dinh & Associés

Responsables de la pratique:

Hervé-Antoine Couderc; Emmanuel Dinh; Christian Couderc

Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP

Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP

Responsables de la pratique:

Marco Blanc

Autres avocats clés:

Brice Couturier

Les références

‘Marco Blanco shows great availability, serenity in all circumstances as well as a pedagogy particularly appreciated by clients. His mastery of US taxation through a European reading prism makes him an undeniable asset when dealing with international cases.’

‘Availability, competence and long experience in technical subjects.’

Principaux clients

Government of India

Unipharm

Burgan Bank

United Gulf Bank

Eudonet group

Leasecom

Kois Invest and Médecins du Monde

Principaux dossiers

  • Acted for the Government of India in connection with a tax dispute involving a bilateral investment treaty arbitration over its liability for a $2.6bn tax transfer of assets.
  • Advised Unipharm on the tax aspects of its corporate matters including cross-border M&A transactions and tax planning.
  • Advised Kuwait-based Burgan Bank on the acquisition of multiple portfolios of US private equity funds.

De Gaulle Fleurance & Associés

De Gaulle Fleurance & Associés

Responsables de la pratique:

Henri-Nicolas Fleurance; Jerome Labrousse; Gilbert Ladreyt; Vincent Schmitt

Les références

‘Excellent full-service approach to cases.’

‘Professional, skillful, proactive team providing very good advice and recommendations.’

‘Professional advice, patience, pedagogy, experience, together with nice and sympathetic relationships. This goes for both Henri-Nicolas Fleurance and Jean-Francois Paque.’

‘Pragmatism and adaptation to needs – high responsiveness and availability.’

Principaux clients

Renault

Société Française de Gériatrie et Gérontologie

Sopra Steria Group

Degroux Brugère

Degroux Brugère

Responsables de la pratique:

Frédéric Hennes; Nicolas Ballet; Philippe Delattre; Denis Brugère

Les références

‘Multidisciplinary team. Very efficient in taxation and corporate law.’

‘Maître Hennes demonstrates great availability and great professionalism.’

Delsol Avocats

Delsol Avocats

Responsables de la pratique:

Mathieu Le Tacon; Frédéric Subra; Julien Monsenego

Les références

‘The team of partners and associates is extremely competent and able to provide advice in several different areas of tax. They also have a very fast turnaround for projects, and are able to commit resources to ensure that our projects are completed within an agreed timeline. Julien Monsenego is an extremely responsive individual, able to give great advice on various projects. With Delsol we feel valued as clients.’

‘Very rare closeness and availability. Very broad and at the same time in-depth ​​expertise. Very good listeners, and great availability, open to original or even atypical approaches. Depth of analysis and relevance of recommendations, good responsiveness at all levels, involvement and professionalism.’

‘A recognised and available, reliable and responsive team. International expertise favouring tailor-made support. Julien Monsenego has been able to develop a tax department of very high quality, with excellent technical skills.’

‘Versatile, agile and able to have a global vision to properly orient the subjects. Matthieu le Tacon demonstrates a good economic understanding of the subjects as well as a good knowledge of both corporate taxation, personal and asset taxation, very good interlocutor to take the right options.’

Principaux clients

Bage

Bollinger

Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations

Dentsu France

DocuSign France

EDH

Evolem

Frénéhard & Michaux

Garibaldi Participations

Mediaschool

New MT

Novadis

Peer Music

Qualis Consulting

Quilvest Capital Partners

Réalités

Santé Cie

Union Générale des Placements

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised the family office Evolem on its acquisition of a majority equity stake in Cap Vert Développement.
  • Advised Garibaldi Participations on its acquisition of an equity stake in Vacancéole.
  • Advised Union Générale des Placements on the entry of Primonial in its share capital.

Desfilis

Desfilis

Responsables de la pratique:

Eglantine Lioret

Autres avocats clés:

Valérie Farez

Les références

‘The team stands out for its specialisation in dealing with trust issues and knows how to find pragmatic solutions. Valérie Farez is available and responds quickly. She demonstrates an excellent mastery of the subjects discussed and always a desire to dig into the dark spots and finds practical and viable solutions.’

‘The strong experience and the diversity of the files on which the tax team worked constitute a very solid technical basis which, combined with an excellent level of client service, are the reasons why I do not hesitate to contact them. The lawyers we have worked with have been very knowledgeable and proactive.’

‘Eglantine Lioret and Valérie Farez have strong know-how in real estate and estate taxation. They always provide an excellent quality of service and always clear and precise answers. The tax team is very responsive, efficient and able to listen.’

‘Ability to negotiate very calmly. The team has a good sense of timing to get a deal done on time. High availability and responsiveness; ability to delve into complex subjects; excellent experience in real estate tax law.’

Principaux clients

IMV

Sofidy

UBS

Vastned

Selectirente gestion

Groupe Petit forestier

Netfective

Eurazeo

Principaux dossiers

  • Successfully represented Netfective Technology in front of the Tribunal of CergyPontoise regarding research tax credit.
  • Advised Sofidy, acting of behalf of SCPI Immorente and SCPI EFIMMO 1, on the structuring of its acquisition of a 2,400Sqm office building in Amsterdam.
  • Advised UBS Asset Management Real Estate and Private Markets on its acquisition, on behalf of a private client, of the UnionSquare building in Rueil Malmaison.

DWF (France) AARPI

DWF (France) AARPI

Responsables de la pratique:

Vincent Lazimi

Les références

‘The team is extremely well informed, open to discussions around the subject to educate the client about the different approaches, new developments. The lawyer who advises us is always contactable. The very transparent and straightforward payment is comforting.’

‘The lawyer we admire most is Vincent Lazimi. His language skills and culture bridge several countries. He is extremely knowledgeable, productive and available. He looks beyond the issue at hand and also defends his clients when seeking information from the client’s other service providers. We are very grateful to employ the resources of someone as intellectually capable and good-humored as he is.’

‘Excellent knowledge of complex multi-country tax issues. Excellent job on tax reporting and tax refund when applicable.’

‘Vincent Lazimi and his team are extremely knowledgeable and available. They provide sound and clear advice and handle all details.’

Eight Advisory Avocats

Eight Advisory Avocats

Responsables de la pratique:

Guillaume Rembry

Les références

‘The team stands out through its availability.’

Principaux clients

AnaCap Financial Partners

Ardian

Bridgepoint

Capza

Equistone

Eurazeo

IK Partners

PAI Partners

Vauban Infrastructure Partners

SPIE

Cofigeo

Dalkia

Orange

Engie

OVH Cloud

Nexity

Petit Forestier

RATP Smart Systems

Sendinblue

Talan

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised Anacap on the buy-side tax due diligence regarding its investment in Market Pay.
  • Advised Ardian on the tax vendor due diligence with respect to the aborted disposal of Grand Frais/Proso.
  • Advised Bridgepoint on the buy-side tax due diligence regarding its investment in Younited Credit.

Everlaw&Tax

Everlaw&Tax

Responsables de la pratique:

Vincent Renoux; Catherine de Manneville; Isabelle Savin; Corinne Dadi

Les références

‘Always close to its clients in times of crisis as in good weather. Always responsive and diligent.’

‘Accessible and able to go from M&A to restructuring or niche tax law.’

Principaux clients

NOMADE LODGE

HEINZ

FAUCHON

AGATHA

LECTRA

GLB

TRIGO

BREITLING

WILLIAM GRANT

DIAGAST

INVUS

HISTORY GROUP

EURO RESSOURCES

JACQUEMUS

DEVOTEAM

NOMADE LODGE

HEINZ

FAUCHON

AGATHA

LECTRA

Fairway A.A.R.P.I.

Fairway A.A.R.P.I.

Responsables de la pratique:

Emmanuel Galifer

Les références

‘Great follow up; the work is really collaborative within the firm’s teams.’

‘Emmanuel Galifer is proactive, friendly and keeps his client informed of the latest news. He follows the files very well and moves them forward.’

‘Emmanuel Galifer is a remarkable professional who knows how to combine a rare competence in real estate taxation with a controlled creativity which make him a first-rate trusted advisor.’

‘The strengths of the team are as follows: seriousness, competence, relevance, availability and responsiveness. A very pleasant, enthusiastic team with optimised fee conclusion, a rare combination.’

‘The firm stands out through its pedagogy and its pragmatism; its support and communication in times of health crisis is very effective.’

‘Emmanuel Galifer is a lawyer with great tax expertise; with a great sense of pragmatism; he is not a zealous legalist, he is business-oriented and a dealmaker; he is also very responsive.’

‘A very available team which knows how to take into account the emergencies of its clients. Always looking for pragmatic solutions, a good balance between risk management and the desire to make the deal.’

‘Always available. Pragmatic and realistic.’

Principaux clients

STAM EUROPE

DENTRESSANGLE INITIATIVES

INTUITAE

JC DECAUX HOLDING

ARES MANAGEMENT

MERCIALYS

AG2R LA MONDIALE

AXA REAL ESTATE

PRIMEVEST CAPITAL PARTNERS

VIVENDI

Principaux dossiers

  • Advising MERCIALYS in the context of a sale and exchange of retail shops and warehouses to AMUNDI.
  • Advising AXA REIM on the acquisition of a 49% stake in REI HABITAT.
  • Assisting AXA IM Real Assets on a major greenfield development project.

FIDAL

FIDAL

Responsables de la pratique:

Gaelle Menu-Lejeune

Les références

‘Great teamwork – very professional work – speed and respect of service delivery deadlines – lawyers specialised by sector of activity.’

‘High quality of the service provided to the client (high level of professionalism), efficiency and speed in processing cases.’

‘I particularly appreciated the availability of the team on short notice, the ability to complete all the work in a short time.’

‘Strong team with big experience and diverse specialists.’

‘Proximity, competence and availability.’

Principaux clients

COMPAGNIE NATIONALE DU RHONE (CNR)

GROUPE COURIR

DENTRESSANGLE

B & Capital

IN’LI

MOTION EQUITY PARTNERS

UN AUTRE CHEMIN

SANA (trade)

TURENNE CAPITAL

HEREZ

Principaux dossiers

  • Advising Groupe COURIR on the contractual implementation of the new omnichannel distribution strategy.
  • Assisted IN’LI in the context of a partnership with institutional investors for the construction of intermediate housing.
  • Advising on HEREZ’s acquisition of the firm Fromental Paccard.

Fieldfisher

Fieldfisher

Responsables de la pratique:

Antoine Gabizon

Autres avocats clés:

François de Senneville

Principaux clients

Greenwish Partners

Hydrogen Refueling Solutions (HRS)

Computacenter

Efor

Carbios

Apivia Macif Mutuelle

INTM Group

Vivid Money

Smartnode

Cantabria Labs

Ekkio Capital

Principaux dossiers

  • Advising on the tax aspects of Hydrogen-Refueling-Solutions’ (HRS) Euronext Growth Paris market IPO.
  • Advising Computacenter on the acquisition of the domestic activities of BTS, the French subsidiary of BT Group.
  • Advising Carbios on its €114m capital increase.

Franklin

Franklin

Responsables de la pratique:

Jacques Mestoudjian

Les références

‘Jacques Mestoudjian has a very good technical knowledge as well as a pragmatic approach.’

‘Jacques Mestoudjian is an efficient, attentive and friendly partner.’

Principaux clients

Eurazeo PME

Perwyn

Eurazeo

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised Eurazeo on its acquisition of a 51% stake in I-Tracing.

FTPA

FTPA

Responsables de la pratique:

Nicolas Message

Autres avocats clés:

Sophie Jouniaux

Les références

‘Remarkable team, great follow-up and processing of files. Good understanding of the client’s issues.’

Grant Thornton Société d’Avocats

Grant Thornton Société d’Avocats

Responsables de la pratique:

Anne Frede; Elvire Tardivon-Lorizon; Stéphany Brévost; Pascal Luquet

Les références

‘The practical and concerted approach of Stéphany Brévost’s team has enabled us to better anticipate the challenges of new regulations and to define our priority actions. The exceptional responsiveness of each element of her team brought us great comfort.’

‘Stéphany Brévost has a 360 degree vision.’

‘Great responsiveness as a team and as individuals. We do not feel just like a ‘number’ working with the firm.’

‘They distinguished themselves by a pragmatic approach and excellent knowledge of tax M&A issues as well as of our business sector.’

‘I love this firm- they are quietly competent and efficient, and I have never had to chase them for a tax payment deadline or declaration. Any unusual circumstances or occasional need for special advice are quickly and easily covered by their very experienced staff. Anything they don’t know is researched and sorted very quickly.’

‘The team is available and good at knowing how to turn a situation around that had seemed blocked.’

Principaux clients

CAUSEWAY

CHAPSVISION

KILOUTOU

NAUTEL

SCHINDLER

PRELIGENS

QCENTRIS

ALSTOM

Alliance Entreprendre

Alizent

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised CAUSEWAY on the acquisition of Erméo SAS.
  • Advised SUEZ SMART SOLUTIONS, a subsidiary of the SUEZ Group, in relation to the acquisition of Hydrelis.
  • Advised SCHINDLER FRANCE in relation to the acquisition of Automat Ascenseurs.

HOCHE AVOCATS

HOCHE AVOCATS

Responsables de la pratique:

Eric Quentin; Didier Barsus; Eugénie Berthet; Christophe Lefebvre; Jérôme Mas; Virginie Restino

KEELS Avocats

KEELS Avocats

Responsables de la pratique:

Laurent Partouche

Les références

‘Laurent Partouche is a great professional: nice, smart, sharp, rapid, pragmatic, as good on companies as on personal matters. Responsiveness was very good. Outstanding advice.’

‘Great professionalism; constant and relentless commitment until the goal is reached; great proximity and ability to put oneself in the client’s shoes; great flexibility.’

‘Laurent Partouche is an excellent lawyer, always available, attentive, open and very solid technically.’

‘A great independent firm, keen to provide high-quality, tailor-made advice to its clients. The lawyers offer first-rate technical expertise in structuring private equity or M&A transactions. The team stands out for its ability to integrate the financial dimension into its advice.’

‘Great availability; ability to handle all tax aspects in the context of LBO transactions; remarkable rigour and technique.’

‘Laurent Partouche is very available and works his file in depth. He has great analysis skills. His advice is very pragmatic.’

‘The team asks the right questions and comes up with possible solutions.’

‘Laurent Partouche demonstrates good listening, negotiating and writing skills. His ability to conduct negotiations has been essential in several disputes.’

Principaux clients

Naxicap Partners

Capza

Emera

Trajan Capital

FnB

Federation Entertainment

Eureka group

Stellian

Dental Monitoring

Astek

Principaux dossiers

  • Assisted Naxicap with the investment in Eureka Education group.
  • Assisted Capza with the investment in Ynov group.

KGA Avocats & Wenner

Klein Wenner

Responsables de la pratique:

Sophie Borenstein

Les références

‘Sophie Borenstein: listens and monitors each file personally and whatever the size of the client. Great technical support and analysis skills.’

‘High availability and a tailor-made and very personal approach. Sophie Borenstein takes great care in coming up with solutions that are applicable and concrete.’

‘A very high-level tax law department. The team can deal with any subject relating to tax law, in France and abroad. It is very easy to collaborate with them, thanks to their responsiveness, listening and expertise.’

‘Sophie Borenstein has significant experience in tax law and knowledge of case law; great ability to adapt to different cases and clients, find solutions whatever the difficulty; great availability, responsiveness and empathy. I highly recommend Sophie Borenstein.’

‘Sophie Borenstein listened and was thoughtful in her questions to understand my needs. I just knew I was in capable hands. She is personable and kind, but has the ‘bulldog’ mentality to get the job done.’

‘I have especially valued Sophie Borenstein’s responsiveness and expertise and problem-solving attitude.’

‘Sophie Borenstein’s knowledge and responsiveness set her apart, not only in our view, but in the view of others who have come to rely on her to get things done even though she does not represent them.’

‘Sophie Borenstein provides excellent service, providing a didactic approach to her work and commitment to clients which is invaluable in ensuring that everyone is on the same page and goals are centralised.’

Mermoz Avocats

Mermoz Avocats

Responsables de la pratique:

Philippe Rolland; Nicolas Privat

Les références

‘Skills, responsiveness, availability, involvement and respect of deadlines. An excellent ratio of fees to quality.’

‘Beyond very good technical knowledge, the availability and strong involvement of the partners who take the time and provide advice with high added value stand out.’

‘Excellent knowledge of the media sector, its stakes and its problems.’

Principaux clients

MOMENTUM INVEST

CICLAD

FINANCIERES FONDS PRIVES

VENUS MEDICAL

SOFILAB

ALLIANCE ENTREPRENDRE

CTP ENVIRONNEMENT

IMX FRANCE

SPARRING CAPITAL

PROPRIETES PRIVEES.COM

SOVEA

LONSDALE

UI INVESTISSEMENT

NCI

PENELOPE

SEGAMI NICESOFT

Principaux dossiers

  • Advising Financière Fonds Privés on the tax aspects in the framework of the acquisition of BA Healthcare, medical subsidiary of the Alstef Group.
  • Advising on Momentum Invest and Build and Co’s acquisition of VM Développement’s shares in VM Expansion.
  • Advised Ciclad on the tax aspects and the structuring of the acquisition of Desmarez, specialised in radio communication and wireless solutions.

Moncey Avocats

Moncey Avocats

Responsables de la pratique:

Frédéric Bosc

Les références

‘Responsive, experienced, efficient and knowledgeable.’

‘The team is accomplished at coordinating complex, multi-jurisdictional transactions in a legally robust, but commercially aware manner. Excellent technical and project management skills and adept at horizon-scanning for the purposes of identifying in advance potential issues on the transaction.’

‘Frédéric Bosc is unique in my experience in terms of being a tax-focused partner who is capable of stepping back from the core technical issues to understand the commercial implications of tax risk in the context of delivering an overall favourable result for the client.’

‘Frédéric Bosc’s expertise is invaluable. He is dynamic, enterprising and responsive. He was able to operate in a complex M&A context.’

‘Excellent technical mastery of all issues and very good ability to liaise with the LBO team. Inspires confidence and builds confidence, which is essential in a matter such as taxation. Frédéric Bosc is an excellent tax lawyer, with a great ability to make the link between business issues and tax issues. Good anticipation of tax developments.’

‘Excellent tax team, very proactive and providing good advice. I was able to appreciate Frédéric Bosc’s listening skills, his sound advice, his ability to anticipate issues and propose innovative solutions.’

Principaux clients

Market Pay

EMZ Partners

Klubb

Evernex

Questel

M 80 Partners

Pixyz Software

Andera Partners

Eris

Sparring Capital

Alandia Industries

Coventya Group

Principaux dossiers

  • Advised Pixyz Software and its founders on its sale to Unity.
  • Advised the managers on the disposal of Carrefour’s 60% stake in its Market Pay payments platform to AnaCap Financial Partners.
  • Assisted EMZ Partners with its investment in Fauché Group.

Opleo Avocats

Opleo Avocats

Responsables de la pratique:

Pierre-Olivier Bernard

Autres avocats clés:

Aude Chartier

Tirard Naudin A.A.R.P.I

Tirard Naudin A.A.R.P.I

Responsables de la pratique:

Maryse Naudin; Jean-Marc Tirard; Ouri Belmin

Les références

‘Jean-Marc Tirard and Maryse Naudin are a force of nature. They are superb.’

‘Jean-Marc Tirard and Maryse Naudin are two of a handful of lawyers in France who advise on complex French tax rules, but with a good understanding of how they apply across borders.  They bring their combined intellect and experience to problem-solving and deliver advice on what to do and not just opinions on what the tax treatment is. They are pragmatic and user-friendly.’

‘I rate Maryse Naudin as the best French practitioner for trusts. Maryse is thorough and has a detailed understanding of trusts and the legal nuances.’

Vaslin Associés

Vaslin Associés

Responsables de la pratique:

Marc Vaslin; Amandine Allix-Cieutat; Nicolas Billotte; Lara Despicht

Les références

‘Very responsive firm: advice is sharp and can be implemented on a practical level.’

‘Amandine Allix-Cieutat is very available, creative and competent on purely French issues and in an international context.’

‘Excellent complementarity between the partners, very high efficiency.’

‘Nicolas Billotte is a remarkable lawyer in terms of speed, competence and kindness.’

‘They have been able to assemble a team of qualified lawyers able to perform on any topic, with a consistent level of involvement and responsiveness across all teams. They put a strong emphasis on giving the right advice, straight to the point. They are the ‘extra-mile’ firm for tax in France!’

‘Nicolas Billotte is a brilliant tax expert with a perfect command of pure business and commercial constraints. He speaks like an entrepreneur and delivers a high standard of tax advice. What we appreciated most was his availability and proactvity.’

Principaux clients

Faiveley Family

Veil Jourde

Veil Jourde

Responsables de la pratique:

Benoît Greteau

Les références

‘The tax team combines the rigour, professional standards and intellectual agility required of a leading firm. The technical involvement of the team makes it possible to anticipate specific problems of transactional operations and to provide concerted solutions.’

‘Benoît Greteau treats complex technical difficulties with simplicity. He cultivates a multidisciplinary approach and, in addition to tax aspects, he always presents the teams involved in transactions with a valuable transversal financial and legal vision. He is very involved in cases and listens to his clients.’

‘Great availability of the tax team; extremely technical and rigorous; of great quality. Great listening skills and availability, technical expertise and precision of Benoît Greteau in addition to invaluable writing skills appreciable in the context of complex litigation. In short, highly commendable professionalism.’

‘Benoît Gréteau is an ingenious and rigorous lawyer. He is oriented towards finding solutions. His advice is always clear and precise. He is an asset in a team.’

‘Competence, expertise, creativity and availability are the key words describing Benoît Greteau’s work.’

Principaux clients

EDF

Sanofi

Danone

Fnac Darty

IKKS

Maincare

Publicis

Boehringer Ingelheim

Covivio

Ermewa

British Aerospace

Ariane (family office)

Safti

Arts & Biens (family office)

Smart Adserver

Carlson Wagonlit Travel

French national olympic committee

Société Générale

Crédit Agricole and its subsidiaries

Vivien & Associés

Vivien & Associés

Responsables de la pratique:

Jérôme Chapus; Marine Pelletier-Capes

Les références

‘Efficient team with good coordination, excellent understanding of client needs.’

‘Very strong interweaving of the corporate team and the tax team which facilitates sales and M&A operations. Human-sized firm that allows greater communication between the different teams working on a subject.’

‘High level of technical expertise on disposal and M&A operations.’

Watson Farley & Williams LLP

Watson Farley & Williams LLP

Responsables de la pratique:

Romain Girtanner

Les références

‘A team of tax specialists, well integrated into the firm, working in harmony with the other legal teams in order to provide a ‘one-stop-shop’ service of excellent quality.’

‘Romain Girtanner has detailed knowledge of the legal framework and mechanisms and explains them easily and clearly to his clients. He also helped us a lot in structuring, often offering creative solutions to meet multiple constraints.’

Principaux clients

BW Offshore

Akuo

DIF Capital Partners

Naxicap

Crédit Agricole Group

Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (Banque des Territoires)

Elektrizitätswerk der Stadt Zürich (ewz)

Principaux dossiers

  • Advising BW Offshore on the acquisition of Ideol, the French floating offshore wind technology specialist, to create BW Ideol.
  • Advising Akuo, an independent global renewable and distributed energy power producer and developer, on the legal and tax aspects of the debt and equity refinancing arrangements of a 103MW solar and wind Phoenix portfolio.
  • Advising Naxicap on all the legal and tax aspects of the acquisition of Swiss company myStromer AG.

YARDS

YARDS

Autres avocats clés:

Jerôme Barré; Dorothée Traverse; Marie-Eve Chauvière; François Morazin; Julia Novak; Laurent Gabaud; Nicolas Bourgeois; Raphaël François

Les références

‘Real partners! A fluid collaboration with a constructive state of mind, solution-oriented.’

‘The team is very knowledgeable and proactive.’

‘Jérome Barré is a very likeable individual with a great sense of humor, but at the same time a great professional. Julia Novak is a dedicated professional who always has solutions for difficult questions.’

‘The team is client-oriented and efficiently provides legal advice on a high level.’

‘Jêrome Barré is a highly qualified tax lawyer with broad knowledge on cross-border cases.’

‘Julia Novak is a raising star. She manages cases very carefully and efficiently.’

Principaux clients

Asobo

Stars