Signature Litigation AARPI > Paris, France > Firm Profile

Signature Litigation AARPI Offices

Signature Litigation AARPI
21/23 rue Balzac
75008
France
Visit website +33 (0)1 70 75 58 00

Signature Litigation AARPI > The Legal 500 Rankings

France > Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation Tier 1

Signature Litigation AARPI stands out for its highly versatile litigation expertise that features second-to-none toxic tort and product liability know-how. In that area, the firm is entrusted by the world’s largest IT and manufacturing companies to handle their most strategic cases, currently acting in market’s highlights linked to the automotive, healthcare and IT sectors. Insurance, mass litigation, ESG, and civil fraud are also top fields of litigation expertise, with the team being regularly retained to manage new emerging issues such as duty of vigilance-based proceedings. Finally, the practice also manages a growing number of corporate, commercial and banking litigation, including shareholder conflicts.  Thomas Rouhette ranks among France’s most highly regarded names in the litigation arena, while Sylvie Gallage-Alwis is one of the country’s most sought-after advisers for sensitive product liability cases.  Jérémie Fierville completes the partnership, adding excellent corporate and financial litigation expertise. Counsels Mathilde Gérot and Ela Barda also deserve a mention. Claire Massiera left the firm in May 2024.

Practice head(s):

Thomas Rouhette; Sylvie Gallage-Alwis; Jérémie Fierville

Other key lawyers:

Mathilde Gérot; Ela Barda

Testimonials

‘Close-knit and very friendly team that provides work of exceptional quality, both in writing and during hearings, during which Thomas Rouhette is formidable. Very collegial approach with the client and fine understanding of their commercial and technical issues. Versatile team.’

‘Thomas Rouhette is an excellent lawyer, creative and a fine strategist, particularly formidable in court, who always takes into account the commercial issues of his clients. Pedagogical and very pleasant, he ensures regular, honest and collaborative communication with the client. Ela Barda, counsel, is extremely competent and forms a very effective tandem with Thomas Rouhette. She handles the legal and technical issues of a case to perfection.’

‘They are excellent, knowledgeable and responsive as well as being a pleasure to work with.’

‘Excellent team, highly specialised with strong individuals.’

‘Jérémie Fierville is excellent and always a pleasure to work with. He sees to the heart of the issue and looks for every opportunity to find an advantage for his clients.’

‘Great team. Excellent expertise in litigation. An extremely serious, reliable and always innovative firm that finds the best possible strategies to resolve a dispute.’

‘Thomas Rouhette: litigation power house. Sylvie Gallage-Alwis: the innovator of the team.’

‘Their resolutely client-focused approach, combined with tailor-made strategic advice, makes them trusted partners.’

Key clients

Airbnb

Boeing

Casino

Dailymotion

Garrett Motion

Emerson

GE

Honeywell

ID Logistics

Infineum

LG Energy

Mersen

Mitsubishi

Pfizer

Renault

Trivago

Société Générale

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Vorwerk

Wish

Work highlights

  • Representing Pfizer in the French claim relating to the Covid-19 vaccine.
  • Representing French retail group Casino in a dispute arising from alleged non-compliance of its obligations deriving from the so-called duty of vigilance.
  • Representing Groupe Renault in the so-called dieselgate and motorgate cases.

France > Aviation Tier 2

Signature Litigation AARPI ‘s high-profile product liability expertise makes it one of Boeing and other aviation part manufacturers’ go-to-firms following crashes and accidents in France or overseas (when French passengers are concerned) and other toxic tort actions. The team also assists aviation, space and defense manufacturers in dealing with commercial litigation, notably linked with the supply of equipment. The practice is headed by excellent litigator Thomas Rouhette, who is ably supported by counsel Ela Barda.

Practice head(s):

Thomas Rouhette

Other key lawyers:

Ela Barda

Key clients

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty

The Boeing Company

Continental Technologies Aerospace

Daher Aerospace

GE Aviation

Global Aerospace

Honeywell Aerospace

Jeppesen

Work highlights

  • Assisting The Boeing Company in its French aviation litigation and regulatory matters.
  • Assisting Continental Aerospace Technologies in its French aviation litigation matters.  
  • Assisting Honeywell Aerospace in its French aviation litigation matters.

France > Insurance Tier 2

Boutique firm Signature Litigation AARPI‘s insurance offering is underpinned by its strength in dispute resolution. The team has excellent credentials in high-value international insurance litigation and arbitration, with expertise spanning property, D&O, environmental and product liability claims. Founding partners Emmanuèle Lutfalla, whose impressive track record includes complex reinsurance and product liability cases, as well as recent pollution-related disputes, and Thomas Rouhette, a seasoned litigator with notable strength in insurance cases in the aviation sector, jointly head the team. Deborah Azerraf provides capable support.

Practice head(s):

Emmanuèle Lutfalla; Thomas Rouhette

Other key lawyers:

Deborah Azerraf

Testimonials

‘The firm has very good expertise in insurance law as well as in international law in insurance cases, which is rare on the market.’

‘The strength of the team formed by Emmanuèle Lutfalla and her colleagues is first of all the high quality of their skills in many areas and the very sharp analysis of the files, which is, most importantly, at the same level regardless of who handles it. This is very valuable because many firms are made up of lawyers with irregular skills. Emmanuèle knows how to surround herself with talented colleagues that she trains in her image. The members of the team complement each other and deliver a tailor-made service to their clients.’

‘Competence, availability, sense of initiative and strategy, great negotiation skills.’

‘Very good level of communication and collaboration with the team. Pleasant and very competent personalities – but always attentive.’

‘Emmanuèle Lutfalla is an iron fist in a velvet glove. Déborah Azerraf stands out for her dynamism and punch, Very easy to collaborate with and always looking for a common solution, with no competition. We are able to share knowledge at the service of our clients.’

‘Adaptable, always available and expert.’

‘Very good knowledge of the insurance sector and its challenges, including international financial risks.’

‘Thomas Rouhette is attentive, responsive, and knows how to provide his expertise, which is a real professional added value.’

Key clients

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty France

Allianz IARD

HDI Canada

QBE

Global Aerospace – GE Aviation

Global Aerospace – The Boeing Company

Société Générale

Air Liquide

MSIG

Adama

Work highlights

  • Advised Partner Re on a billion-euro case involving the analysis of a reinsurance treaty following the Covid-19 crisis.
  • Advised Allianz on a CAD455 million case involving pollution damages in Canada.
  • Advising Société Générale on two distinct insurance coverage issues, arising from the US class actions involving the so-called IBOR and Gold Fixing investigations, as well as international discovery proceedings.

France > Dispute resolution: International arbitration Tier 5

Practice head(s):

Flore Poloni; Philip Dunham

Testimonials

‘A strong and solid team, with capabilities across multiple legal systems and industries.’

‘This firm is a small but robust practice. Its practitioners are talented and smart legal experts that know how to tackle issues and projects that are challenging in the market. Clients can expect to be well-served by a dedicated team of professionals.’

‘Philip Dunham has deep arbitration experience and expertise, that is genuinely international in nature. He has handled major cases both in Europe and in Asia and is well regarded in both regions. As a French national educated in the UK, he crosses cultures with ease.’

‘Philip Dunham’s skills when it comes to evidentiary, forensic, quantum, and technical matters are exceptional, whether that be in terms of analysis, assessment or advocacy.’

‘Philip Dunham is a very experienced arbitration counsel and arbitrator. He has particular focus on construction arbitration and has experience in many jurisdictions, including the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia. Truly fluent in English and French, he offers very strategic and careful advice. He always knows the details of the file, which is critical in the highly technical disputes in which he is involved.’

‘Philip Dunham: sharp legal brain allied with an ability to focus on relevant detail. Excellent advocate and cross-examiner. Tied an expert on the opposing side in knots. ’

Key clients

EDF

Bolloré Logistics

Pernod Ricard

Avril

France > Administrative and public law

Signature Litigation AARPI expanded its public law expertise in November 2024 with the addition of Michaël Perche, who is skilled in regulatory and public contracts disputes, from Baker McKenzie.

Signature Litigation AARPI > Firm Profile

Signature Litigation was founded in 2012 in London by senior lawyers with many years’ experience in leading practices, specialising in high-value commercial litigation and arbitration. With offices in London, Paris, Frankfurt and Gibraltar, the firm was founded to meet the increased demand for highly experienced litigation and arbitration advice and support in complex cases, where the dedication of a niche specialist firm yields results.

The Paris office of Signature Litigation was established in 2019. It was created in line with the Signature philosophy, offering clients a dedicated dispute resolution team comprising lawyers who are recognised for their expertise and their training at major international law firms.

Signature Litigation Paris is distinct from anything else in the French market – it is the only European specialist law firm focused solely on high-end litigation, mediation and arbitration. No other firm in the market has this advantage, giving the firm a real edge in developing new work streams and supplying superior legal services.

The six Paris-based partners – Thomas Rouhette, Emmanuèle Lutfalla, Sylvie Gallage-Alwis, Flore Poloni, Jérémie Fierville and Philip Dunham – are all leading experts within their areas of expertise, most notably cross-border and international ‘bet the company’ commercial litigation, ESG-related disputes, product liability, toxic tort and environmental litigation, insurance and reinsurance litigation, corporate, banking and finance litigation, shareholders’ disputes, securities litigation, public law, sanctions and export control disputes and international commercial and investment arbitration.

Signature’s Paris office also assists its clients in the scope of investigations conducted by regulatory authorities and in regulatory/product safety matters. The partners are supported by an experienced team of over 35 lawyers and professionals.

Signature’s work in Paris spans a broad range of sectors, such as banking and financial markets, energy and infrastructure, technology, life sciences, consumer goods, transportation, and professional services.

Types of work undertaken: Signature’s expert team in Paris focuses on complex and high-profile international litigation spanning several sectors. Main areas of practice in Paris include: commercial litigation; ESG-related disputes; banking and financial markets litigation; shareholders’ disputes; securities litigation; governance disputes; corporate frauds; class action litigation; post-M&A disputes; trusts and funds management litigation; professional negligence litigation; and public law, sanctions and export control litigation.

Signature’s product liability practice focuses on assisting major national companies and multinationals deal with every compliance issue that may arise with regulators, suppliers or consumers. The firm advises clients on all aspects of liability following their products from the day they are designed until they are placed on the market. In the context of the Paris legal market, Signature’s product liability team is one of the largest and is therefore able to handle highly complex and large disputes.

Signature’s international arbitration team comprises specialist practitioners across all its offices enabling it to cover all regions of the world. The team represents clients in all components of arbitration proceedings (pre-arbitration actions to secure the clients’ interests and interim measures, together with the support of the litigation team, as well as challenges and enforcement of arbitral awards).

Disputes handled are both commercial arbitrations under all major institutional rules and investment treaty arbitrations for both investors and states.

The team handles a broad range of disputes concerning various economic sectors with a strong focus on defence, logistics, energy , pharmaceuticals, mining and consumer goods. It is notably well regarded for its lean and efficient management of proceedings and is therefore well placed to handle time-sensitive disputes.

Signature’s insurance and reinsurance litigation practice focuses on highly complex international claims for their clients. The team intervenes in various domains at national and international levels both for the insurer’s accounts and their insureds in order to advise them throughout their litigation’s lifespan. The team has been involved in some of the most cutting-edge issues that have arisen so far in France, such as COVID-related cases, pollution cases and nuclear issues.

Signature has deep experience in dealing with regulatory disputes in the financial sector and conducting corporate investigations.  Signature’s corporate and financial litigation practice represents listed and non-listed companies as well as investors in high stakes and complex disputes.  It has obtained landmark results in defending its clients’ interests with a strategic approach integrating all aspects of the conflict, including business and financial constraints as well as reputation sensitivity.

Main Contacts

Department Name Email Telephone
Sylvie Gallage-Alwis [email protected] +33 (0)1 70 75 58 00
Emmanuèle Lutfalla [email protected] +33 (0)1 70 75 58 00
Flore Poloni [email protected] +33 (0)1 70 75 58 00
Thomas Rouhette [email protected] +33 (0)1 70 75 58 00
Philip Dunham [email protected] +33 (0)1 70 75 58 00
Jérémie Fierville [email protected] +33 (0)1 70 75 58 00

Lawyer Profiles

Photo Name Position Profile
Deborah Azerraf photo Deborah Azerraf Deborah is a Senior Associate at Signature’s Paris office, specialising in national… View Profile
Ela Barda photo Ela Barda Counsel Ela Barda is a litigator specialising in commercial litigation, digital platform… View Profile
Philip Dunham photo Philip Dunham With over 30 years’ experience, Philip’s extensive practice covers both commercial and… View Profile
Jérémie Fierville photo Jérémie Fierville Jérémie is a highly experienced litigator, specialising in complex corporate and financial… View Profile
Sylvie Gallage-Alwis photo Sylvie Gallage-Alwis After 10 years practicing in a major international law firm, Sylvie became… View Profile
Mathilde Gérot photo Mathilde Gérot With over 10 years’ experience, Counsel Mathilde specialises in commercial and regulatory… View Profile
Emmanuèle Lutfalla photo Emmanuèle Lutfalla After more than 30 years practicing in both major international law firms… View Profile
Michaël Perche photo Michaël Perche Michaël is a Counsel at Signature Litigation’s Paris office, specialising in public… View Profile
Flore Poloni photo Flore Poloni Flore is an international arbitration partner based in Paris. She has significant… View Profile
Thomas Rouhette photo Thomas Rouhette With over 30 years of litigation experience, Thomas is a founding partner… View Profile

Staff Figures

Partners : 6
Number of other fee earners : 26

Languages

French
English
Spanish
German
Arabic

Memberships

IBA (International Bar Association)
ABA (American Bar Association)
International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)
International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO)
Association Internationale de Droit des Assurances (AIDA)
London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)