A&O Shearman has a strong involvement advising asset management institutions, insurance companies and banks on strategic governance, restructuring and business transfer matters. The team recently handled high-profile matters in the mutual banking sector and also assists fintech clients with regulatory, licensing and the launch of new French services. Litigation is also dealt with. The highly regarded Brice Henry is at the helm, with Mia Dassas the other key name in the team. Senior associate Pascal Molinelli provides additional support.

Clifford Chance offers the full spectrum of expertise in relation to banking, finance and insurance regulations, assisting top banks and insurers. The team notably helps with licensing and prudential supervision and, when combining forces with the firm's top corporate expertise, it has particularly strength advising on top M&A deals in the field of financial services. It also advises on internal reorganisation, and new financial innovations such as ESG, digital bonds, digital payments and other new fintech developments. Frédérick Lacroix is a top name in the field. Counsel Hélène Kouyaté provides additional support.

Led by the highly experienced Hubert Blanc-Jouvan, who is also a derivatives expert, Ashurst LLP has a strong following among leading French, US and UK banks. The team is able to cover a full range of issues and notably advises on the set up of French desks and business reorganisation. The practice is also kept busy in the field of fintech where it recently advised on the French setup of a leading cryptocurrency platform. Counsel Maxime Gandibleux and senior associate Francesco Assi are two other key members.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton provides strategic advisory and compliance guidance on a broad range of subjects: ESG, governance, remuneration, regulatory capital, derivatives and market infrastructure regulation as well as money laundering and sanctions. The practice stands out for its top EU law regulatory knowledge, notably on issues linked to EU banking union reforms, where is has particular expertise. The team is also regularly involved in high-profile M&A deals handled by the firm in the financial services sector and also supports clients during compliance audits conducted by the European Central Bank. Leading French banks as well as various international and European financial institutions are clients. Practice head  Amélie Champsaur is highly regarded and is ably supported by senior associate Aurèle Delors.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP stands out for its ability to offer a combination of high-level advisory and enforcement expertise to leading banks and insurers, as well as asset management companies and other financial institutions. The team assists with governance, the launch of new structures and services and compliance issues, including representing them before the AMF and ACPR prudential regulatory agencies. The team is led by Régis Oréal, Vincent Hatton, Antoine Juaristi and Martin Le Touzé.

Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP assists a large and prominent client base comprising leading banks, financial entities and private banks as well as fintech companies on regulatory matters including retail banking, payment services, e-money, credit operations and prudential requirements. The team also assists client in the context of transactional and corporate reorganisation projects, including cross-border ones. Sébastien Gros is in charge and is supported by counsel Franck Dupret, who is highly involved.

At CMS Francis Lefebvre, Jérôme Sutour leads a solid practice, advising a range of asset management firms, banks and other financial institutions on the setting up of their French activity and in dealing with compliance, M&A, internal reorganisation and prudential requirements. The team also has strong expertise in the area of blockchain and crypto assets.

At Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier, the public law and regulatory team handles strategic regulatory issues linked top M&A deals involving top banks and financial institutions including advising on ACPR and prudential clearing. It also provides guidance to French and international credit institutions on various banking regulation. Henri Savoie, counsel Jean-Baptiste Aubert and associate Guillaume Griffart are the key contacts.

Dartevelle Dubest Bellanca assists leading financial institutions and alternative players in dealing with banking law, financial and securities law, handling contentious and non-contentious issues. The team provides regular support on business establishment and restructuring, and recently assisted a major financial institution with the closing of its French retail activities. It also advises clients on anti-bribery, corruption and economic sanctions including dealing with fraud cases and regulator-led investigations and audits.  Practice head Frédéric Bellanca has extensive experience in the area.

Fieldfisher‘s team stands out for its cutting-edge expertise in the field of alternative crypto, blockchain and NFT projects. The team regularly assists new players with their registration as digital assets service providers and with the setting up of new payment services offerings including in the field of gaming and the metaverse. Additionally, the team also assists more established credit and financial institutions with dealing with banking, insurance and capital markets related issues including on the setting up or, closing or restructuring of new branches and offers. Arnaud Grünthaler heads the practice.

Jeantet stands out for its expertise in the field of disciplinary sanctions and compliance audits conducted by the French banking and stock-market regulators (ACPR, AMF); it counts several leading French banks and other financial institutions as clients. The team regularly provides guidance on anti-money laundering compliance while also assisting with more general banking and insurance regulation and on the launch of new products and offers. Martine Samuelian is a prominent name in the field and jointly heads the practice alongside Olivier Lyon-Lynch, who was promoted to the partnership in 2023.

Linklaters assists a diverse client base of French and international banks, asset management funds and insurers, providing key guidance on a large array of financial regulations and key support during M&A deals undertaken in the financial services sector. Regulatory enforcement is also dealt with. Derivatives, asset management, fintech and ESG are key areas of involvement, while the French team can also rely on a strong European platform. The team is led by Ngoc-Hong Ma and counsel Laurent Benoit.

Norton Rose Fulbright's financial regulatory group is closely integrated with the firm's derivatives practice and is led by Roberto Cristofolini, who divides his time between Paris and Casablanca, and Sébastien Praicheux. The group acts for major French and international banks, asset management companies, insurance groups and corporate companies. Its workload includes advising on European regulations, assistance with regulatory licensing and passporting, and anti-money laundering requirements, among other matters.

Pwc Société d'Avocats assists a variety of credit institutions, investment firms, asset managers and insurance companies. The team has particular know-how in the field of insurance and asset management, and also advises on a range of capital markets, banking law and payment issues. It recently advised several African banks on the setting up of their French branch. The practice is jointly headed by Nicolas Mordaunt-Crook and of counsel Benoît Lapointe de Vaudreuil, who is an expert in the insurance sector.