Capital Markets: France

Practice head François Poudelet remains active on some of the team's most prolific deals. He represented Morgan Stanley in the establishment of its EUR2 billion Euronext Paris structured EMTN programme. One source says: "His reputation speaks for itself, and his clients always benefit from his great experience."

A front runner in equity capital markets, Marc Castagnède works with top-drawer clients including Foncière des Régions and BNP Paribas. He is widely respected by market observers, who laud him as "a very smart, likeable and efficient lawyer."

Rising star Hervé Ekué continues to go from strength to strength. He recently advised Dexia on the derivatives and debt capital aspects of the restructuring of Dexia Credit Local.

Fabrice Faure-Dauphin is noted for his work in securitisation and structured finance, regularly advising clients such as Barclays Bank and Société Générale. Commentators describe him as "very strong technically."  

Dan Lauder continues to play a key role in the debt capital markets practice. He represented Société Générale in the inaugural bond issue of the European Financial Stability Facility under its EUR27 million guaranteed debt issuance programme.

Dual-qualified in France and the USA, Diana Billik remains an integral part of the team, often advising on the US aspects of international deals.

Julien Bacus heads the practice and leads on most of the group's derivatives transactions. Sources laud his client service skills, with one saying "he handles our questions himself and doesn't delegate to associates. He's very available, which is important to us, and he works in a transparent way."  

Clients are complimentary of Patrick Dziewolski, with one saying: "I appreciate his way of working. He's intelligent and highly experienced." As well as his expertise in capital markets, Dziewolski's practice also covers public M&A, privatisations and securities.

Olivier Saba remains a key member of the capital markets practice. He recently led the IPO of the packaging division of Saint-Gobain, a deal worth EUR2 billion. Clients say: "He's good at driving the case forward, is very motivated, and takes a lot of initiative."  

Corporate star Pierre-Yves Chabert also distinguishes himself in capital markets and securities regulations. He has an impressive international background, and is admitted to practice in France and the USA. Recent achievements include helping Natixis establish a USD5 billion MTN programme.

Andrew Bernstein comes highly recommended by market sources: "You can go to him for any capital markets question. He's pragmatic and helpful - a really smart lawyer who will always find a solution." He frequently advises on securities offerings by French companies in connection with the USA.

Interviewees admire John Brinitzer's performance on deals: "He's completely on the ball and gives excellent advice." His key clients include Veolia Environnement and Crédit Agricole. He is active in international capital markets, M&A and corporate transactions.  

Marie-Laurence Tibi remains a key member of the team. She recently represented the underwriters in a EUR360 million bond offering by CGG Veritas. She also regularly advises clients on corporate finance and M&A matters, including joint ventures.

Commentators say Fabrice Baumgartner "is determined and does impressive work." He is a member of the New York and Paris Bars, and focuses on financial and corporate matters, including international securities offerings, joint ventures and M&A.

Valérie Lemaitre remains an integral part of the team, with a practice covering structured financings, leveraged transactions and securities offerings.

Middle East expert Gamal Abouali is fluent in English, French and Arabic. He is active on capital markets, M&A and financing transactions across the Middle East, and has particular knowledge of the oil and gas, telecommunications and infrastructure industries.

The Russia desk offers capital markets, corporate and litigation expertise, with Mark Adams and Russell Pollack as the key contacts in Paris. Pollack was one of the founders of the Moscow office, and he often assists with M&A and capital markets transactions involving Russia. The team has experience spanning industries such as oil and gas, biotech, financial services and telecoms.

Cédric Burford has been particularly active in debt capital markets work of late. He recently advised BNP Paribas on Valeo's issue of EUR500 million notes and a tender offer. He gains a wealth of positive feedback, with one source saying "he is incredibly knowledgeable, pleasant to work with, and always finds the right solution. A real hands-on partner."  

Jonathan Lewis attracts warm praise for his work in derivatives and structured finance: "He offers high-level technical advice on complex transactions. He's very impressive." His recent achievements include assisting OSEO with the setting up of its EUR4 billion EMTN programme.

Aline Cardin focuses on equity capital markets, with experience in both domestic and international transactions. She regularly advises financial institutions and corporate clients.

Commentators laud Andrés Gil's broad international practice, noting his presence as a prominent global player. He previously worked in New York and Madrid, and has a recognised Latin American practice.  

Arnaud Pérès also remains an integral part of the team. He specialises in equity capital markets and M&A, and recently advised Technip on the issue and public offering of EUR500 million worth of bonds.

Practice head Antoine Maffei has extensive experience of capital markets and financial transactions. He is also a recognised banking practitioner.

Olivier Hubert remains an active member of the capital markets team. He was the lead counsel on the creation of a French real estate fund (OPCI) and on the acquisition of a number of hotels.

Sources say practice head Pierre Clermontel is "pragmatic and able to quickly understand what the client needs." He advised Alstom on the establishment of its EMTN programme and subsequent drawdown of EUR500 million. He is also proficient in corporate finance and M&A.

Based in New York, Pierre Maugüé is dual-qualified in France and the USA. His practice covers derivatives, project finance and leveraged finance.

Equity capital markets specialist Patrick Bonvarlet continues to gain plaudits from observers. He is also a highly respected corporate practitioner, and regularly combines his financial and corporate credentials when advising clients.

Sources note Hervé Touraine's presence in the market. He recently advised Société Générale and BNP Paribas on a EUR1 billion securitisation for Banque PSA Finance.  

Fabrice Grillo has impressive structured finance and capital markets experience. He acts for both arrangers and sponsors, and recently advised BNP Paribas and Crédit Agricole CIB on a pan-European securitisation programme for Michelin.

Finance group head Dougall Molson has a well-recognised practice, covering debt capital markets, structured finance, derivatives and securitisation.

Xavier de Kergommeaux focuses on structured finance, asset financing and securitisation. He recently advised Turkish Airlines on all the English, French and Turkish law aspects of the EUR1 billion financing for the purchase of 18 Airbus planes.

Gilles Saint-Marc is active in structured finance, with a focus on asset-backed financings, structured collateralised bonds and securitisation. He has also developed extensive experience in Shari'a-compliant financing.

Debt capital markets partner Hubert Merveilleux du Vignaux receives positive market feedback for his profound knowledge of the French market.

Equity capital markets practitioner Arnaud Duhamel has worked on some first-rate transactions recently, including advising members of the Bulgari family on the disposal of a portion of their shareholding interest in LVMH, worth EUR557 million.

Sharon Lewis is valued for her high availability and business understanding. She is the firm's global head of international debt capital markets and is active on most of the practice's biggest deals.

Her colleague Jean-Marc Franceschi remains an active member of the team, assisting with equity capital markets and M&A matters.   

Senior partner Philip Boys is dual-qualified in France and the UK. He is a highly regarded name in the Paris market, with vast experience in acting on multi-jurisdictional offerings. 

Derivatives expert Alban Caillemer du Ferrage joined the firm in October 2012 from Gide Loyrette Nouel. Clients are highly impressed with his technical skill, saying he is "among the most experienced lawyers in the market." He regularly advises the International Swaps & Derivatives Association, Zentraler Kredit Ausschuss and International Capital Markets Association.

Linda Hesse receives consistently positive feedback, with sources describing her as "flexible and client-friendly." As practice head she works on many of the team's most significant deals, recently advising France Telecom on a benchmark 30-year bond offering worth USD900 million. She is also well placed to assist international clients, thanks to her dual qualifications in France and the USA.

Renaud Bonnet climbs the equity capital markets rankings following impressive feedback. One interviewee states: "He's highly active in the market and I only have good things to say about him." Recent achievements include acting as lead counsel on EOS Imaging's EUR40 million IPO.  

As co-chair of the firm's structured finance group, Basil Zotiades has been active on a number of significant transactions. He recently assisted Eutelsat with the refinancing of its existing debt through the issue of EUR800 million bonds. He also represents asset managers, arrangers and originators in a range of securitisations.  

Sources praise John Watson's expertise in high-yield work. He recently worked on the CHF1.1 billion Orange Switzerland/Apax Partners high-yield bond offering.  

Market observers confirm that Séverin Robillard remains active in equity capital markets. He assisted Air France-KLM with the sale of 33.6 million shares of Amadeus via an institutional private placement for some USD650 million.

Versatile partner Bertrand Andriani remains one of the best-known lawyers in France. In capital markets he has expertise in advising on debt, derivatives and structured finance matters as part of his banking practice.

Interviewees believe that Patrice Doat is an excellent addition to the team. One source describes him as "very able, successful and charming." Doat is a structured finance expert and recently represented the arrangers in a EUR425 million securitisation originated by Rexel.

Luis Roth receives warm praise from interviewees: "He is excellent – a meticulous, problem-solving lawyer." He has been active on the practice's biggest equity and debt transactions, including Nexans' EUR275 million bond issue.

Since publication, Séverin Robillard has joined White & Case LLP

Managing partner Pascal Agboyibor is highly experienced in structured and project finance. He regularly advises sellers, arrangers and investors on a variety of securitisations.

Based in New York, William Haft is admitted to the Paris Bar and has extensive experience of working with French businesses and financial institutions.

Robert Treuhold continues to contribute to the team's work, regularly advising on the US aspects of international capital markets, corporate and financial transactions. He has extensive experience of working on IPOs, investment grade debt and convertible bond offerings. He was part of the team representing the underwriters in Inside Secure's IPO, valued at EUR79.3 million.  

Hervé Letréguilly remains at the forefront of the practice. Standout mandates include advising the placement banks on a EUR96.25 million block trade of Medica shares by BC Partners. He has extensive experience in IPOs, public tender offers and securities offerings.

Bertrand Sénéchal continues to go from strength to strength. Clients say: "He's very pragmatic and has great ideas and intuition. It's always a real pleasure to have him on a transaction." He focuses on equity and high-yield transactions, as well as insider trading and corporate governance issues.

Sami Toutounji has worked on some of the team's major deals, including INSIDE Secure's IPO. He has developed a significant practice in employee and management equity arrangements.

Manuel Orillac is currently based in New York but has previously practised in the firm's Paris and Abu Dhabi offices. He is a prime choice for international clients, thanks to his extensive experience of working on global capital markets transactions. He is fluent in English and French, in addition to his native Spanish.

Richard Vilanova remains an active member of the team, recently representing Total Capital Canada in an offering of USD1 billion notes. He specialises in privatisations and project finance.

Olivier de Vilmorin goes up in the rankings thanks to positive feedback. He recently advised on the French law aspects of Banque PSA’s debut offering in the USA.

Krystian Czerniecki is a favourite with foreign clients for cross-border Franco-German debt capital markets transactions. He speaks fluent German and Portuguese in addition to English and French.

Commentators offer profuse praise for Gilles Endréo: "He has become a reference in the French market. He's very well known but still remains fully accessible." His practice focuses on debt capital markets, particularly EMTN programmes. Whilst at his previous firm, he advised the joint lead managers on the first two renminbi-denominated bond issues by Air Liquide, totalling CNY2.6 billion.

Clients find Cenzi Gargaroto be "reliable and technically excellent." Although he is best known for his work in the debt capital markets arena, he also advises on equity and derivatives transactions. He regularly helps arrangers and issuers update their EMTN and repackaging programmes.

Philippe Herbelin retains his top-tier ranking, receiving positive feedback: "He is very strong technically and has great relationships with the key players." The majority of his transactions are equity-related, although he also has experience of working on debt and structured finance deals. He advised the bookrunners on Nexans' issue of EUR275 million bonds whilst at his previous firm.

Market observers confirm that Séverin Robillard remains active in equity capital markets. Whilst at Linklaters, he assisted Air France-KLM with the sale of 33.6 million shares of Amadeus via an institutional private placement for some USD650 million.

Colin Chang is dual-qualified in France and the USA. His practice focuses on securities and particularly high-yield financings.