The telecoms team at Baker McKenzie has an excellent track record in advising fixed and mobile operators on regulatory work, licensing matters and contractual issues, as well as assisting institutional investors and infrastructure funds with the construction and operation of networks. The group is also well placed to represent corporate clients in outsourcing negotiations and transactional matters, to name a couple of key areas. The practice is jointly led by Rémy Bricard and Laurent Szuskin; the duo bring expertise in handling telecoms contracts and dispute resolution. Christian Blomet and Emmanuel Guillaume are names to note.
Industry focus: Telecoms in France
Baker McKenzie
Responsables de la pratique:
Rémy Bricard; Laurent Szuskin
Autres avocats clés:
Christian Blomet; Emmanuel Guillaume
Principaux clients
BNP Paribas
Covage
Evernex
IES Synergy
Roquette
Sodexo
Crédit Agricole Group
Egis
Oracle
Behring
Behring has a strong offering for telecoms matters, and is regularly sought after by a client base of mobile operators, internet service providers, satellite operators, international development organisations, and government bodies. The ‘responsive and pragmatic' team fields expertise in transactional, regulatory, and contractual issues in the area. Practice head Anne-Solène Gay
'stands out for her professionalism’ and her 'excellent understanding of telecoms regulations'. Valentin Morel-Lab, Myriam Bennari, and Noam Fitoussi are names to note.
Responsables de la pratique:
Anne-Solène Gay
Autres avocats clés:
Valentin Morel-Lab; Laurent Bruneau; Noam Fitoussi
Les références
‘The firm is a specialist on Francophone telecoms regulation. They are responsive and pragmatic.’
‘Anne-Solène Gay has an excellent understanding of telecoms regulations and she explains the position thoughtfully and succinctly. We would always go to her for telecoms questions.’
‘All employees are efficient. The team is always available, attentive and proactive. Responses are provided on time.’
‘Within the Behring team, Anne-Solène Gay as a partner particularly stands out for her professionalism, her mastery of subjects surrounding telecommunications, digital and space, and her ability to work internationally in complex contexts. These are valuable qualities which make working with her on these subjects a valuable asset.’
‘Anne-Solène Gay leads the team and follows the files closely. It has extensive expertise in the telecoms sector. It is able to handle files in different countries and in different market segments. Among the collaborators, we were led to work more particularly with Valentin Morel-Lab, Laurent Bruneau and Noam Fitoussi.’
‘The Behring team is particularly at the cutting edge on subjects including telecommunications, digital and space. They know how to be available and very efficient on their files. The mode of collaboration is very fluid and the value for the work carried out is very interesting.’
‘Anne-Solène Gay – very responsive, highly focused, sound commercial advice.’
‘Extensive knowledge and experience in the French regulatory framework. Proactivity.’
Principaux clients
MITEL
PEOPLEFONE
LIBON
ZIFF DAVIS (formerly J2 GLOBAL)
DRW
INTELEPEER
ECOWAS
CONATEL
Ministry of Telecom of Niger
ANRTIC
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Group VIVENDI Africa (GVA) on a number of major telecoms projects.
- Advised MITEL on various telecoms regulatory matters, including dealings with ARCEP.
- Advised the World Bank on a major project supporting ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), involving improving the international telecoms capacity for the West African region.
Bersay
The telecoms team at Bersay is well versed in advising public sector clients on rollouts of public networks across France. The practice is jointly led by Bradley Joslove and telecoms expert Martin Tissier, who has a solid track record in assisting French regional bodies with digital development mandates. In a recent highlight, Tissier is leading the advice to the Société du Grand Paris on the deployment of a fibre optic infrastructure for new Parisian metro lines. Claire Poirson left the firm in March 2023.
Responsables de la pratique:
Martin Tissier; Bradley Joslove
Principaux clients
Bordeaux Métropole
Société du Grand Paris
Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (Guyane)
Toulouse Métropole
Collectivité de Corse
Rennes Metropole
Metz Metropole
Département du Loiret
Communauté d’Agglomération Paris-Saclay
Département de Mayotte
Principaux dossiers
- Assisted Société du Grand Paris with setting up a fibre optic network infrastructure to be incorporated into the new metro network.
- Acted as counsel to Rennes Métropole on the expansion of its Internet of Things LoRaWan network.
Bird & Bird
At Bird & Bird, the team is well equipped to assist electronic communications operators and investors with regulatory and transactional matters, both in France and in emerging markets. Contentious telecoms issues are another key driver of work for the group, which has a solid track record in acting for clients before ARCEP. Stéphane Leriche and Willy Mikalef co-head the practice; Leriche fields expertise in telecoms-related commercial contracts and transactional matters, and Mikalef focuses on satellite work. Mélanie Bercot, Jean-Claude Vecchiatto and UK-based Frédérique Dupuis-Toubol are also key names to note.
Responsables de la pratique:
Stéphane Leriche; Willy Mikalef
Autres avocats clés:
Jean-Claude Vecchiatto; Frédérique Dupuis-Toubol; Mélanie Bercot
Les références
‘A very dynamic and flexible team with perfect knowledge of the telecommunications market. The work was carried out with intelligence and finesse and obtained the full satisfaction of those involved.’
‘Willy Mikalef, a brilliant lawyer, with perfect knowledge of the telecommunications sector, listens to the needs of his clients down to the smallest detail and has a demonstrated capacity for adaptation, being able to work in Europe and in emerging countries. Mélanie Bercot has perfect knowledge of the sector and complements Willy Mikalef wonderfully. She is available and always provides tailor-made answers to customers.’
‘Very specialized team in telecoms; great responsiveness.’
‘Frédérique Dupuis-Toubol and Mélanie Bercot: a very complete and very experienced team.’
Principaux clients
Aircall Sas
Selafa Mja (Kosc And Kosc Infrastructures)
Dauphin Telecom
Saga Africa Holdind Limited (Free Senegal)
Gambia River Basin Development Organisation
Airbus Defence And Space
Principaux dossiers
- Assisted Aircall with telecom regulatory matters, both in France and in over 20 countries, as part of its global expansion.
- Advised the Gambia River Basin Development Organisation (OMVG) on the commercialisation of fibre optic cables in accordance with the regulatory framework applicable in four member states.
Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.
Thierry Dor, who specialises in IT, data protection and telecoms matters, and Frédéric Mion co-lead the practice at Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I., which is very experienced in advising on the rolling out of fibre broadband and communications networks. The group brings expertise in regulatory matters and contentious issues, and is well known for representing government bodies and private entities in mandates. Dane Tacchini left the firm in August 2023.
Responsables de la pratique:
Thierry Dor; Frédéric Mion
Les références
‘Recognized expertise in the regulation sector in West Africa.’
Principaux clients
Government of Guinea-Bissau
State of Niger
Ashurst LLP
The practice at Ashurst LLP has a solid track record in advising clients on the sales and acquisitions of telecoms-related structures, as well as handling the regulatory aspects of digital infrastructure matters, often pertaining to the rollout of mobile and fibre networks. The team is jointly led by London-based Nick Elverston and François Hellot, who has an excellent reputation for assisting with TMT transactions. Jacques Dabreteau left the firm.
Responsables de la pratique:
François Hellot; Nick Elverston
Principaux clients
Safran Group
Altitude Telecom
1&1 Mobilfunk
Orange
META (previously known as Facebook)
Eiffel Investment Group
Principaux dossiers
- Acted for Meta in the 2Africa Pearls extension, a subsea cable project for increasing connectivity for approximately 3bn people.
- Advised the local subsidiary of a leading global mobile operator in a sub-Saharan African country on the sale of its mobile tower portfolio to Eastcastle, including handling associated leaseback arrangements.
- Advised Eiffel Investment Group on the structuring of an SPV.
Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP
The 'responsive' team at Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP has a solid track record in advising on regulatory, transactional, and contentious telecoms matters for an established client base of mobile network operators, telecoms infrastructure and broadcasting operators. Etienne Drouard is lauded as 'an undeniable expert' in the telecoms space, and is sought after for his expertise in regulatory matters; he co-heads the practice with Mikael Salmela and Charlotte Le Roux, whose broad practice includes telecoms litigation and cybersecurity work.
Responsables de la pratique:
Etienne Drouard; Charlotte Le Roux; Mikael Salmela
Les références
‘Responsiveness, strength of proposal, good understanding of customer needs.’
‘The team led by Etienne Drouard is very expert on very specific subjects and very aware of short and medium term developments in regulations. Response times are always correct and Etienne and his team are always available to support their clients on urgent matters.’
‘Etienne Drouard is an undeniable expert in data and privacy protection.’
Latournerie Wolfrom Avocats
Latournerie Wolfrom Avocats
' telecoms team has a particular specialism in handling regulatory matters relating to fibre optic, mobile and satellite networks, and is equally strong in acting for clients in dispute resolution. Practice head Térence Cabot is sought after by corporations, public bodies and nation states to advise on telecoms issues, including regulatory and compliance matters and related litigation. M&A and private equity expert Hervé Castelnau is active on transactional work in this area.
Responsables de la pratique:
Terence Cabot
Autres avocats clés:
Hervé Castelnau
Principaux clients
Altitude Infrastructure
Auvergne Rhones-Alpes Region
Amazon Web Services
Axione
Bordeaux Métropole
Clear Channel
DigitalOcean
Eure Normandie Numérique
Free / Free Mobile
Gabon State
Grand Est Region
Maroc Telecom
Region Normandie
Seine Maritime Numérique
SYADEN
Territoire d’Energies 44
University of Lille
Val de Loire Numérique
France Télévisions
Mintee Sudio
Asacha Media Group
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Free and Free Mobile on regulatory matters.
- Advised Grand Est, the administrative region of the North East of France, on all aspects of the public concession for its high-speed fibre optic network as part of a €1.3 billion infrastructure project.
- Advised Region Normandie on major public data centre infrastructure matters.
Magenta
At Magenta, the team's workload is predominantly made up of assisting assisting telecoms operators in French overseas territories, as well as in other external jurisdictions, with the negotiation of contracts, regulatory issues, and dispute resolution. In a recent matter, the group advised on the rollout of new 4G sites on islands in French Polynesia. Sylvain Justier heads up the practice and regularly advises on telecoms regulatory and antitrust issues. Vincent Jaunet has expertise in handling competition and public law matters pertaining to telecoms work.
Responsables de la pratique:
Sylvain Justier
Autres avocats clés:
Vincent Jaunet
Les références
‘The levels of professionalism, expertise and quality of this team are very evident. The quality of the advice given and timeliness of their responses is exceptional.’
Principaux clients
Altice group
Onati (OPT / VINI)
INWI
Colt
Adista
Epic
Principaux dossiers
- Assisted XpFibre with an appeal before the Paris Appeal Court against a settlement decision issued by the ARCEP.
- Represented ONATi before the Polynesian Competition Authority and the Paris Appeal Court in an antitrust probe regarding roaming services offered by the client in French Polynesia.
- Acted for Wana before the ANRT in Morocco concerning a €250m fine.