A&O Shearman impresses by its large resources that allow for a comprehensive coverage of financing needs, that are completed by an excellent in-house capital markets practice. The Parisian based team, which combines UK and French law expertise and access to an excellent international platform, advises leading French, US and UK banks on the granting of large corporate financing facilities to leading French and international corporations (sustainable loans, RCF, senior term loans, syndicated financing). The practice also has excellent acquisition finance expertise that include LBOs and the financing of prominent public tender offers. Finally, its range of expertise also extends to asset, export and trade finance work, notably involving emerging markets. The excellent Julien Roux  , Adrian Mellor and Thomas Roy co-head the practice, which was further strengthened in September 2024 with the arrival of Michel Houdayer  (ex Latham & Watkins LLP ). Counsel Tristan Jambu-Merlin also provides support.

Clifford Chance advises all types of stakeholders including leading French banks as well as companies, investment funds and alternative debt providers, on the financing of major LBO transactions and also of public takeover deals. Recently, the practice is also regularly seen assisting clients with major debt refinancing work, while infrastructure financing is another key area of strength, especially in the data center, energy and telecoms infrastructure areas. The highly seasoned Daniel Zerbib supervises the practice alongside Pierre-Benoit Pabot Du Châtelard and Chloé Desreumaux who was promoted to partner in May 2024. Counsel Maroussia Cuny provides support. Of note, the firm considerably strengthened its ranks at the end of 2024, notably in the LBO and acquisition finance field, after hiring Arnaud Fromion  and Frédéric Guilloux  from Goodwin .

Latham & Watkins excels at advising leading French and international banks as well as prominent sponsors on the setting up of complex and large financings, often mixing TL and RCF loans. Recently, the Parisian team has also been particularly busy advising on amend and extend deals and repricing negotiations of large facilities. Finally, the practice also stands out for its high-level LBO finance expertise that advises on mid to large transactions.  Xavier Farde and Lionel Dechmann are two highly regarded figures. The practice is led by Carla-Sophie Imperadeiro . Of note, Michel Houdayer  left the firm in September 2024.

Linklaters ‘s large team, which combined top French and UK law expertise, heavily assists leading French and international banks on the granting of complex and large financings including syndicated and bilateral loans, RCF and super RCF facilities, as well as bridge and ESG loans. The practice regularly advises on complex debt refinancing and large acquisition finance deals, including public tender offers.  Finally, the team also assists corporations and investment funds, especially in the real estate finance sector where it has strong knowhow - it recently completed a high volume of refinancing and amend and extend work in that area.  Cyril Abtan, Kathryn Merryfield and  Rhéa Christophilopoulos are all excellent partners. They are supported by counsel Lauren Hanley and managing associate Fanny Allouche .

White & Case LLP 's large dedicated team assists leading French banks, corporations and investment funds with the negotiation, amending and refinancing of large corporate loans (including RCF and ESG facilities), and acquisition finance deals (including the financing of spin-off and takeover bids). Acting alongside the restructuring practice, the banking and finance team also regularly advises debtors and investors on the restructuring of large banking and bond debts linked to large and prominent corporations. The highly regarded Raphaël Richard supervises the practice, within which  Denise Diallo, Samir Berlat and  Neeloferr Roy are other key members.

Ashurst LLP has a strong involvement alongside leading French banks, as well as with some international institutions, which it assists with corporate financing and refinancing deals and acquisition finance. The team's main focus is on mid to large transactions and its client base also counts some corporations. Its wide array of expertise also spans RCF loans and the financing of public tender offers.  The practice is headed by Eric Fiszelson . Pierre Roux  is the other key name within the practice, which also includes counsel  Audrey Lesage.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is the go-to-firm for large French and international corporations, notably among publicly listed companies, for their large credit facilities needs (including senior and medium-term loans and RCF), or to finance large acquisitions. Valérie Lemaitre is the key name here, and is supported by counsel Laura Birène. Additionally, the firm is also retained by many African states and private entities to assist with Africa-related transactions, often dealing with infrastructure, energy and natural resources projects. In that area, Barthélemy Faye   is highly sought after.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP 's strong and solid team is often retained by prominent investment funds or their portfolio companies to assist with large corporate financing and refinancing deals and acquisition finance transactions. Recently, the practice has been particularly busy assisting with large amend and extend and refinancing deals spanning banking term loans, RCF loans as well as unitranche and ESG loans. It is also able to advise on the financing of public M&A deals and is highly respected by creditors to assist with market’s landmark debt restructuring transactions. Finally, infrastructure finance is also dealt with. The practice is headed by the excellent Stéphanie Corbière , with Fabrice Grillo,Marie Roche and Laurent Mabilat being other key names within the practice.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP is one of the few firms equally expert at advising borrowers and French lending banks. Through Louis De Longeaux , the team has a busy practice assisting leading French corporations on the granting and refinancing of large corporate loans. Complementing the practice, Laure Bonin is appreciated by leading French banks for mid-cap LBO and corporate loans financing. Additionally, seasoned partner Régis Oréal also contributes, advising on project finance, sovereign loans and real estate finance.

Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP  has a strong involvement alongside leading French financial institutions (the firm is on the panel of many of the world’s leading banks) while also assisting corporations and alternative lenders. The practice regularly advises on the setting up of mid to large corporate loans and refinancing deals (term loans and RCF notably) and is also renowned for its excellent mid-cap acquisition finance and LBO finance expertise. Its range of involvement also extends to property and asset financing. The team is co-headed by  Sabine Bironneau-Loy and Alexander Premont, and also includes Cassandre Porgès, as well as counsels Guergana Zabonova  and Maria Klass .

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is a reference in France among leading private equity sponsors and private debt funds undertaking major to large LBO and acquisition financing transactions. The practice has strong knowhow advising on unitranche and hybrid financing, while the team also assists some companies with banking and debt bond financing. The practice is co-headed by James Clarke , Jean-Christophe David and Géraldine Lezmi .

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is a go-to-firm for financing and refinancing needs pertaining to the private equity sector. The team, which assists the most prominent private equity sponsors and private debt providers, is retained to advising on the market’s largest LBO and unitranche financing deals. Recently, the practice has also been particularly sought after by funds and companies to help with refinancing and amend and extend negotiations, and by bondholders to work on large debt restructuring.  Paul Lombard heads the practice, with Thomas Binet being the other key name within the practice. Igor Kukhta left the practice.

Dentons  displays solid ability to cover a wide range of financing deals, acting for lenders or borrowers. Recent involvements mostly include corporate refinancing and project-related transactions, spanning various sectors such as healthcare, real estate and railway. The firm is also a top reference in the private fund financing space where it assists leading banks on the equity financing of major investment funds, spanning notably private equity, infrastructure and real estate. Jean-Marc Allix and Philippe Max are the key names. They are supported by counsels  Meryll Aloro and Steeve Jaskierowicz .

DLA Piper offers a good market coverage advising banks and debt funds. The team has a strong mid to upper-mid cap corporate financing and LBO financing practice, including unitranche, bridge loans and RCF facilities. Additionally, the firm houses strong real estate expertise that covers various property assets as well as solid domestic and African project finance capabilities. The practice is headed by real estate finance expert Erwan Lacheteau  and includes the talented Sophie Lok and Romain Guénin, while Eric Villateau focuses on project financing work.

Gibson Dunn‘s banking and finance team is a perfect fit to the firm’s thriving restructuring practice where it advises debtors and creditors on many of the market’s largest and most challenging debt restructuring and refinancing transactions. The versatile team also assists borrowers including investment funds and companies with mid-cap corporate and acquisition finance deals and also handles some real estate finance work. The range of work also extends to project, infrastructure and utilities financing. The practice is conducted by Amanda Bevan-De Bernède , who is supported by of counsel Julia-Barbara Michalon and also includes Darko Adamovic on the project finance side.

Headed by Fernand Arsanios , King & Spalding LLP ‘s versatile team acts for all types of stakeholders (lenders, private debt funds, private equity funds and financial institutions) which it advises on a range of transactions. The practice is particularly recommended for its solid refinancings, corporate lending and LBO and acquisition finance practice, and regularly assists private funds with unitranche finance deals and also advises on ESG financings.

Norton Rose Fulbright needs no introduction in the field of asset and export financing where the firm runs a busy practice advising French and international banking institutions and ECAs on the financing of aircraft, shipping vessels and other transport and infrastructure assets. Practice head Christine Ezcutari and Alexandre Roth  are notably recommended for the above, while the team also has strong property finance expertise through Kamel Ben Salah who recently worked on major portfolio refinancing. Finally, the range of expertise also extends to general banking, advising lenders and some borrowers.

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