Led by the excellent Jennifer Younan, A&O Shearman's Paris-based team handles commercial and investment arbitration cases. It has built a strong reputation handling highly complex strategic investment disputes on behalf of Ukraine and relating to expropriation issues with Russia. The team, which regularly collaborates with colleagues from the firm's other international offices, also handles work dealing with other parts of the world including Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and pertaining to various industry sectors including oil and gas and TMT. The practice also provides guidance to clients on international sanctions, contract negotiations and international human rights issues. Counsels Alexander Marcopoulos and Elise Edson also contribute.

A&O Shearman's Paris-based practice is led by Marie Stoyanov, who also serves as the firm’s global international arbitration practice head and co-head of its public international law group. The team, which regularly works alongside colleagues from the firm’s other international offices, handles a steady stream of commercial arbitration cases but has particular strength in the investment arbitration field where it regularly advises state entities (notably Morocco and several other Arabic states) as well as corporations and investors. The team features regularly in large disputes linked to Africa and the Middle East, pertaining to various industry sectors including energy and construction.

Asafo & Co.

Led by Emmanuelle Cabrol, Ashurst LLP‘s compact Paris practice attracts key mandates from leading corporations. The team handles a high amount of work linked to the energy sector (gas and renewables) and Africa (notably from Algeria), while construction issues pertaining to the nuclear field is a major area of strength. The Paris team, which frequently collaborates with the firm's London and Dubai offices, is notably involved in a particularly prominent case relating to gas field expropriation and recently noticed an uptick in mandates concerning French renewables projects. The team’s caseload also extends to other various areas.

Clay Arbitration

Clifford Chance houses a high-level and diverse commercial arbitration practice, spanning many industry sectors and geographical areas. The group is notably involved in managing highly strategic cases in the aviation sector but is also regularly retained to act in large mining cases in relation to Africa and Brazil. The team also assists clients in dealing with matters raising commercial and corporate issues, spanning the construction, defence, IT, banking and the renewable energy sectors. The practice's set of expertise also encompasses complex exequatur and sanctions-related cases including a number of Russian-linked matters. The practice is jointly headed by the highly experienced Jason Fry and Simon Greenberg, who are assisted by counsels Sandrine Colletier, Karolina Rozycka, Marie-Isabelle Delleur and Alexis Foucard.

Clyde & Co LLP masters all forms of arbitration-related work, including commercial and investment disputes as well as exequatur cases. The Paris practice, which can benefit from the firm’s global network, has a strong ICC and construction offering, often advising on road and infrastructure projects notably in Africa. Its diverse caseload also includes telecoms, public procurement, natural resources and energy-related disputes, linked to many parts of the world including Europe and South America. The team acts for state entities and companies and is one of Ukraine’s privileged counsels for its strategic Russia-related matters, notably at the exequatur stage. Practice head Nadia Darwazeh and Ivan Urzhumov are strongly regarded. David Brown is another key name for construction work. Counsel Sophie Grémaud also contributes.

Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP stands out for acting exclusively for states entities in investor-state arbitration. The Paris-based team, which frequently works with colleagues in the firm's other international offices, represents African, Middle Eastern and European states in a large array of disputes. It is notably involved in several billion-dollar investment arbitration cases raising mining permit issues, and handles large cases linked to the oil and gas and renewables markets. Its caseload also includes commercial arbitration disputes and exequatur cases. Practice heads Geoffroy Lyonnet and Peter Wolrich are well-known experts in the field. Rémy Lerner and Marie-Claire Argac are also involved.

Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier's compact team is entrusted by leading French corporations and international groups to assist predominantly with commercial arbitration disputes. The team often handles cases concerning complex international corporate transactions and joint ventures spanning France, Europe and Africa. It is also currently involved in a number of disputes linked to bankruptcy issues and is managing a particularly large case concerning a prominent Nigerian hydroelectric project. Its exequatur know-how particularly stands out with the firm routinely handling complex set aside and award annulment cases before French courts, notably raising major international public order concerns or issues linked to the Russian-Ukraine war. Laurent Aynès and Carine Dupeyron are the practice co-heads.

DLA Piper’s Paris office has a solid and good sized bench, capable of dealing with commercial and international arbitration. The team is highly involved in matters pertaining to Africa, and notably the Democratic Republic of Congo, and relating to the telecoms sector as well as oil, gas and mining licences. The practice also manages several investment cases against the state of Georgia, while its caseload also spans various other industry sectors and European countries. It won a number of cases recently including in disputes raising sensitive corruption and intra EU issues. The team acts for companies and some state entities. Star partner Michael Ostrove jointly heads the Paris practice alongside Alexander Brabant. The team also includes Théobald Naud and counsel Maxime Desplats.

Eversheds Sutherland (France) LLP‘s commercial arbitration practice is sought out by several leading French corporations. The firm also remains active in the investment arbitration field and is historically involved in cases related to Iran. The practice deals with matters encompassing various industry sectors such as telecoms, aviation, construction and energy relating. It has a strong involvement in Africa and the Middle East but has also recently gained new mandates to act in matters pertaining to France and Latin America. The practice is headed by Wesley Pydiamah and also includes counsel Nanette Pilkington.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP's highly capable team has strong credentials handling both commercial and investment arbitration. The Paris team, which is part of a solid global network, is retained to manage complex and strategic cases, across various industry sectors (including energy and construction) and geographical zones (Europe, Asia, Middle East, South America) by companies but also by some state entities. The team’s ability to handle high-end work recently earned it new mandates linked to Russian sanctions and on high-stakes LNG and gas prices disputes. Managing exequatur cases is another key feature of a team which includes the highly regarded Noah Rubins, Peter Turner and Christophe Seraglini. Counsels Alexandra van der Meulen , who handles public international law issues, and Vasuda Sinha provide additional support.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP acts for large international and French companies in commercial arbitration pertaining to a wide range of issues and industry sectors, including insurance, Russian sanctions, oil and gas, construction and mining. The team regularly handles Africa-related work and also stands out for its Portuguese and Brazilian law capabilities. Its expertise also encompasses exequatur cases. Thierry Tomasi and Laurence Franc-Menget are the practice heads, with of counsel Emily Fox providing support.

Led by Laurent Gouiffès, Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP's solid Paris-based team is regularly mandated to act in large disputes, mainly in commercial arbitration cases but investment arbitration is also a field of expertise. The team is particularly active in the energy and telecoms sectors, often managing cases linked to Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The client base is highly diverse and includes state entities, banks, French and foreign corporations and financial entities. The team also manages exequatur cases before French courts. Other names in the practice include key partner Thomas Kendra as well as Melissa Ordonez and counsel Gauthier Vannieuwenhuyse.

 

International boutique firm Honlet Legum Arbitration is jointly headed by Jean-Christophe Honlet and Barton Legum, who handle investment and commercial arbitration. The pair represent international companies in dealing with a large variety of cases, spanning energy, healthcare, mining and corporate related-issues, linked with Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Jones Day acts for a prominent client base, comprising large telecoms, energy, engineering and defence companies. The Paris-based team has a strong involvement in commercial arbitration disputes relating to North Africa and the Middle East and is managing high-stakes cases linked to Iraq and Algeria, notably concerning construction work. The practice also deals with significant matters relating to joint venture and M&A transactions. Elie Kleiman and Jean-Pierre Harb head the team, which also includes of counsel Claire Pauly.

King & Spalding LLP‘s comprehensive Paris-based practice regularly combines forces with the London and US offices in tackling commercial and investment arbitration cases, acting for many leading international corporations and also some states. The firm has strong experience handling large and challenging cases and is involved in high-stakes Middle Eastern and Algerian commercial arbitration pertaining to oil and gas and construction projects. Its exequatur caseload is also strong and features several recent victories in set-aside arbitration proceedings before French courts. The excellent James Castello and Marc-Olivier Langlois are the practice co-heads, with the highly experienced Laurent Jaeger and counsel Agnès Bizard also noted.

Headed by Fernando Mantilla-Serran, Latham & Watkins‘ Paris-based arbitration practice houses a compact team which regularly acts in close collaboration with colleagues from the firm’s other international offices including London in representing companies and state entities. The caseload features prominent investment and commercial arbitration cases pertaining to Colombia, and notably relating to mining and environmental protection issues. Outside of its Latin America involvement, the team also regularly handles a broad range of commercial arbitration matters including those pertaining to M&A, joint venture and distribution issues. It won three victories in the course of 2023 and gained new commercial arbitration mandates relating to the pharmaceutical sector. Associates Esperanza Barrón-Baratech and Diego Romero provide additional support.

Linklaters is particularly active in cases concerning Africa (Gabon and Senegal) and the Middle East, dealing with mining, natural resources, energy and construction-related issues. The Paris team, which regularly combines forces with colleagues from the firm’s other international offices, also handles M&A arbitration disputes and is present in cases pertaining to various other parts of the world including Portugal and Latin America. The team mainly acts in commercial arbitration but also manages some investment disputes while exequatur proceedings is another field of expertise. Practice head Roland Ziadé is the key figure in the team, while senior litigator Arnaud de La Cotardière and counsels Andrew Plump, Maria Mitaeva and Claudia Cavicchioli also contribute.

MCL Arbitration

Pinsent Masons LLP

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP acts for many leading French and international corporations, specialising in various industry sectors, particularly oil and gas. The team regularly manages multibillion-dollar cases opposing major companies and state entities, handles commercial and investment arbitration cases and provides civil and common law expertise. Its large caseload encompasses oil and gas, infrastructure, mining, banking, concession and construction disputes, and pertains to various parts of the world including Africa and Europe. It has recently attracted new high-profile mandates relating to Russian sanctions and asset seizures. The French practice is co-led by Philippe Pinsolle, who is Geneva based and also heads the firm’s continental Europe practice, the highly experienced Isabelle Michou, Thomas Voisin, Michael Young, who divides his time between Paris and New York, and Alexander Leventhal.

Reed Smith has a solid Paris-based team that handles a diverse commercial arbitration caseload on behalf of French and international companies, encompassing various industry sectors and legal issues such as aviation, power and energy, M&A, construction, mining and shipping. The team handles a good amount of Africa-related work and also assists clients in dealing with sensitive pre-arbitral issues and sanctions matters. The team also acts in exequatur cases. The practice is co-headed by Peter Rosher and Ana Atallah. Andrew Tetley and Clément Fouchard are other two key members.

Squire Patton Boggs is regularly entrusted by state entities to assist with major investment disputes (particularly ISCID ones). The Paris-based team, which often combines forces with the firm’s US and other international offices, is a popular choice for Latin American states for large construction, mining and oil and gas investment disputes. The team also handles strategic cases pertaining to Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, dealing with oil and gas investments notably, but also extending to construction, real estate, media and manufacturing investment issues. Additionally, the team also handles some commercial arbitration work and also acts for companies. The Paris team is headed by Carole Sportes and includes the highly regarded José Ricardo Feris, Sabrina Aïnouz, Jérôme Lehucher and Rostislav Pekař (who divides his time between Prague and Paris).

Dispute resolution boutique Teynier Pic fields a sizeable team led by five experienced partners who assist French and foreign corporations in commercial arbitration with particular know-how handling construction disputes while also taking on cases that relate to other various industry sectors such as retail. The practice is particularly appreciated for its strong knowledge of Africa and Middle East jurisdictions, regularly handling claims relating to Dubai, Qatar and Lebanon. The team also has excellent exequatur and award enforcement expertise. The team is co-headed by Eric Teynier and Pierre Pic, and also includes key partners Raphaël Kaminsky,  Sara Nadeau-Séguin and  Danny Rifaat. Counsel Yann Dehaudt-Delville provides additional support.

International arbitration firm Three Crowns LLP  is retained by many of the world’s largest corporations including a number of large French companies. The practice, which also acts for some state entities, is at the forefront of commercial and investment arbitration and is entrusted to deal with high-profile and sensitive cases. The team has a strong presence in the oil and gas sector where it routinely advises on some of the world’s largest cases in that area, notably concerning the Middle East and Africa. Construction is another strong area of involvement, while the firm’s caseload also includes M&A and exequatur cases, among other matters. Practice heads Georgios Petrochilos and Todd Wetmore are experts in the area. Kathryn Khamsi, Shaparak Saleh and recently promoted partner Ilija Mitrev-Penushliski are other names to note.