A&O Shearman has a strong presence among leading banking institutions which the firm regularly assists with the granting of large credit facilities to major corporations, including advising on multi-currency deals. The Paris team, which works closely with the London office, also advises some borrowers and alternative debt funds, while its range of expertise also encompasses project finance, asset finance and acquisition finance. Julien Roux leads the practice which also includes the highly experienced Adrian Mellor and Thomas Roy. Jean-Christophe David  and Géraldine Lezmi left the firm in May 2023.

Clifford Chance  is entrusted by the world’s leading banks and top French financial institutions, while also regularly handling work for borrowers and debt funds. The team covers a large spectrum of structured and complex banking financings, including acquisition finance. project and infrastructure financing. It regularly advises on the granting of large loans and corporate refinancing, and recently worked on a major refinancing pertaining to large infrastructure vehicles. Co-heads of practice Thierry Arachtingi and Daniel Zerbib are among France’s most renowned banking and finance law experts. Pierre-Benoit Pabot Du Châtelard is another strong element, while counsels Maroussia Cuny and Chloé Desreumaux provide additional support.

Latham & Watkins ranks among the top firms for LBO acquisition finance work and sophisticated loans. The practice, which can seamlessly mix banking, high yield and unitranche expertise, assists leading financial institutions as well as private equity sponsors and several corporates. The Paris team, which regularly collaborates with its London counterparts, also advises on major refinancing deals. Carla-Sophie Imperadeiro supervises a team that includes key names Xavier Farde, Michel Houdayer and Lionel Dechmann.

Linklaters houses top banking and finance capabilities in Paris with complementary expertise available in its London and other European offices. The team has a strong involvement working alongside leading French and international investment banks while also regularly acting for borrowers on large complex loan financing and refinancing. It also thrives in the acquisition finance arena, regularly working on large equity bridge loans and financing of public offer facilities. The team is also retained by lenders and borrowers undertaking large pan-European property portfolio acquisition, especially in the logistics sector. Key names in the team include Cyril Abtan, Kathryn Merryfield and recently promoted partner Rhéa Christophilopoulos. Counsel Lauren Hanley provides further support.

Building on the hiring of new practice head Eric Fiszelson in early 2023,  Ashurst LLP’s practice shows great strength when it comes to advising leading French banks on large corporate and acquisition finance deals. The team, which also assists corporations, private equity and private debt funds, is particularly sought after for financing or refinancing deals for credit revolving and bridge financing loans. It advises on mid to large cap LBO financing including unitranche deals. Pierre Roux is the other key name in the practice, which also includes counsel Audrey Lesage.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton advises companies and asset management firms on the setting up of large and sophisticated credit facilities (including RCF, multi-currency and bridge loans), as well as on acquisition finance transactions. Valérie Lemaitre is the key name in the team for those aforementioned areas, while co-practice head Barthélemy Faye is routinely entrusted by African states and other institutions for their financing needs, notably on project development, energy and mining.

Dentons is entrusted by leading French and international banks and borrowers alike, while also advising several debt funds. The firm has a solid corporate syndicated and bilateral loan practice and also advises on credit facilities refinancing. Acquisitions and asset finance also encompass good expertise. Jean-Marc Allix is a key name in those aformentioned areas. Through Philippe Max, the team also houses a high-level fund financing practice, assisting banks on the granting of large equity bridge facilities to leading funds. Of counsels Steeve Jaskierowicz and Meryll Aloro also contribute.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP regularly assists borrowers and notably investment funds or their portfolio companies in the setting up of new facilities, the refinancing of loans and debts, and during acquisition finance deals. The team has recently been particularly in demand to advise on refinancing issues and completed a high-profile deal in the European rail sector. It is also well versed at advising companies facing serious indebtedness and restructuring issues through Laurent Mabilat. Leading the practice is Fabrice Grillo, a banking, finance and securitisation expert.  Stéphanie Corbière is another strong name in the team, while recently promoted partner Marie Roche also stands out. The practice also benefits from Marc Perrone‘s complementary financial services regulatory expertise.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP has strong know-how advising companies or banks on the setting up of credit facilities, including ESG-linked and revolving credit facilities. The comprehensive practice also regularly advises on acquisition finance deals, while its range of expertise also encompasses emerging markets and asset-based financing. Many leading French and international banks are clients. Louis De Longeaux is the key name within the team, with the highly experienced Régis Oréal also a key member. The team is headed by Vincent Hatton and also includes Michaël Armandou. Of note, the team strengthened further its ranks in early 2024 after re-hiring Laure Bonin  from August Debouzy.

Headed by  Olivier Vermeulen, Paul Hastings LLP's practice has a strong focus on investment funds and is a leader in the niche field of fund financing where it assists PE and infrastructure funds with large and complex financing deals, including equity bridge loans. The team is also highly active advising sponsors and alternative debt funds on the setting up of unitranche financings in relation to mid to upper mid-cap transactions, as well as advising on debt and lending or refinancing of companies. Tereza Courmont Vlkova and Marc Zerah  are other key names.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP reorganised its team in 2023 through the hiring of Jean-Christophe David and Géraldine Lezmi from A&O Shearman, which has bolstered the firm's capabilities to act for debt funds and further reinforced its sponsor-side position and debt restructuring skills. The group is highly specialised in leveraged finance, while also advising on credit facilities and tackling refinancing work. The team also worked recently on a headline debt restructuring case in the retail sector. James Clarke heads the team alongside David and Lezmi. Olivier Jauffret retired at the end of 2023.

Baker McKenzie has considerable expertise advising on syndicated lending, and trade and export finance deals pertaining to emerging markets, and particularly Turkey and Africa. The Paris team assists leading French and international institutions with the granting of large ECA-backed financings, including on ESG0-linked loans and sovereign financings. The practice also handles African acquisition finance work and is involved in domestic activity advising on loans and funds financing. The practice is led by the highly experienced Michael Foundethakis, with Gonzague Basso  and counsel Thomas Lefebvre as other key figures.

DLA Piper has restructured its team with the arrival of Sophie Lok in early 2023, a specialist in acquisition and corporate finance, and the promotion of real estate and structured finance specialist Romain Guénin to partner in May 2023. The team, headed by real estate finance expert Erwan Lacheteau and which also includes project finance specialist Eric Villateau, is able to offer a good array of expertise to lenders and borrowers alike. The practice is notably retained by leading US investment funds in need of property financing expertise including on complex financing and restructuring deals. The team also a strong involvement alongside lenders and banks on LBO financing and assists both banks and corporations with the negotiation of credit facilities.

Headed by Amanda Bevan-De Bernède, Gibson Dunn‘s team has in-depth knowledge of the private equity sector, working alongside investment funds and alternative lenders on mid-cap transactions. The banking and finance team is also a key component of the firm’s leading debt restructuring and insolvency practice where it often assists bondholders and debtors with large debt restructuring cases. Finally, the team’s broad range of expertise also spans real estate finance and assisting companies with corporate finance and refinancing transactions. Of counsel Julia-Barbara Michalon also contributes. Of note, the firm added project finance expertise in Autumn 2023 through the hiring of an experienced team from Linklaters led by Darko Adamovic, who also handles some complementary derivatives work.

Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP  is on the panel of many of the world’s leading banks, and also assists alternatives lenders and sponsors providing large resources which allow it to handle a large variety of work: credit facilities, acquisition and LBO financing, as well as asset and property financing, restructuring and sustainable financing. The team is a key destination for mid-cap transactions but also recently advised on the financing of a large battery manufacturing plant. Sabine Bironneau-Loy and Alexander Premont co-head the practice, which also includes Cassandre Porgès.

Jones Day assists banks, alternative debt providers and borrowers, notably startups and technology companies, with the negotiation of loan facilities and refinancing, as well as with acquisition and property finance transactions. The Paris team mostly advises on mid-cap transactions and regularly combines forces with colleagues from the firm’s other international offices. Co-heads of practice Frédéric Gros and Diane Sénéchal and of counsel Isabelle Maury  are the key names in the team. Of note, the firm strengthened its practice in December 2023 through the hiring of Carine Mou Si Yan, who was previously with Orrick.

One of France’s few corporate finance dedicated boutiques, Nabarro Béraud Avocats is led by an experienced team which has a strong involvement advising lenders and particularly international private debt funds on complex LBO and acquisition bond financing transactions, while also advising on credit facilities. The highly experienced Jonathan Nabarro co-heads the team alongside Magali Béraud, which also includes counsel Anthony Minzière.

Norton Rose Fulbright is a strong name in the asset finance field, particularly among leading banks undertaking deals in the transport, project and commodity trading areas, including in relation to Africa. The hiring of the highly regarded Kamel Ben Salah, formerly with Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I., added property finance expertise to its offering. The team also regularly advises banks on the granting of credit facilities to major corporations and handles some acquisition finance work. The team is headed by transport asset finance specialist Christine Ezcutari. Other key names in the team include Alexandre Roth and Janet Butterworth.

Watson Farley & Williams LLP is a well-known name in the field of asset finance among leading banking institutions. Leveraging its international platform and with in-house French and UK law capabilities, the Paris team often advises on high-end shipping finance deals while also handling project finance, export credit, trade and commodity finance in relation to Africa and the French renewables energy sector (including the construction of new battery storage facilities). The group's workload also includes advising on acquisition finance. The experienced Laurence Martinez-Bellet heads the practice, which also includes Alexia Russell, Philippe Wolanski and Rachel Campbell.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is a top name for LBO and private equity acquisition finance work and is regularly entrusted by leading private equity funds and debt funds for advice in this area. The firm regularly advises on mid- to large-cap deals, while also providing advice on loan facilities and refinancing matters. The firm also handles work for corporations and occasionally for banks. Practice head Paul Lombard and Thomas Binet are the names to note for acquisition finance, with Igor Kukhta  also a key practitioner.

Dechert LLP

King & Spalding LLP