Baker McKenzie > Paris, France > Firm Profile

Baker McKenzie > The Legal 500 Rankings

France > Data privacy and data protection Tier 1

Notes for its ‘strong expertise in data privacy and health law’, Baker McKenzie‘s broad offering encompasses data privacy litigation and compliance, cyber crime issues, data processing and regulatory advice. Transactional specialist Rémy Bricard and IT expert Laurent Szuskin co-head the practice. Magalie Dansac Le Clerc, who is praised for her ability to provide ‘tailor-made solutions’, has longstanding experience of assisting major companies with their global data privacy compliance programmes. Marie Catherine Ducharme’s practice extends to representing clients before the CNIL, while Elsa Dalimier excels in the drafting and negotiating of IT contracts.

France > Industry focus: IT and internet  Tier 1

Baker McKenzie leverages the strength of its globally integrated network to excel in complex, international transactional work. The group also guides clients through digitalisation projects, crisis situations, data privacy litigation, and compliance issues. Recently, the team has expanded its expertise in the areas of cybercrime and cybersecurity. The team is co-led by Rémy Bricard, a specialist in restructuring and renegotiating complex IT and telecoms projects, and Laurent Szuskin, who leverages his expertise in intricate domestic and international contracts across a number of different sectors. They are supported by Magalie Dansac Le Clerc, who advises on IT transactions and regulatory matters, and Marie-Catherine Ducharme and Elsa Dalimier.

France > Industry focus: Telecoms  Tier 1

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.

France > Intellectual property: Copyright Tier 1

Baker McKenzie’s IP department provides specialised expertise at both domestic and multi-jurisdictional levels, addressing a wide range of advisory and contentious issues across various industries, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, life sciences, luxury, retail, lifestyle, and entertainment. Led by IP agreement specialist Virginie Ulmann, the copyright team possesses extensive knowledge of the French implementation of the new EU copyright directive. They regularly offer counsel to major tech companies on cutting-edge copyright matters arising from this directive, particularly in the realm of neighbouring rights of press publishers and intermediary liability. The team also excels in advisory services for both contentious and non-contentious matters, covering areas like copyright protection in digital media, collective management and enforcement, acquisition, migration, and disposal of copyright assets, alongside expertise in complex copyright litigation cases, bolstered by the experience of litigator Nathalie Marchand. Other key figures at the firm include Pauline Celeyron.

France > Intellectual property: Trade marks and designs Tier 1

With the capability to provide specialised expertise at both local and multi-jurisdictional levels across all aspects of intellectual property, the trade mark and designs practice at Baker McKenzie remains a premier choice for clients in the pharmaceuticals, luxury, lifestyle, entertainment, and technology sectors. Led by Virginie Ulmann, a seasoned professional in drafting and negotiating IP agreements, the team adeptly manages a wide spectrum of advisory and contentious work. Renowned for its mastery in trade mark portfolio management and extensive experience in handling cases involving unfair competition, the team excels in resolving complex and significant IP disputes across civil, criminal, and administrative courts. The team is further bolstered by the presence of litigation expert Nathalie Marchand and Pauline Celeyron, highly regarded for her skill in trade mark portfolio management.

France > Tax Tier 1

Taking full advantage of its strength in numbers, the comprehensive tax practice at Baker McKenzie advises on the full scope of tax-related matters, including corporate tax, transfer pricing, tax audits, litigation, VAT, employee benefits, wealth management and real estate tax. Spearheading the corporate tax team is Veronique Millischer and Guillaume Le Camus , who regularly advise on matters related to international tax, reorganisation, M&A and private equity transactions. Caroline Silberztein leads the transfer pricing division, and tax audits and litigation matters are handled by Eric Meier, Ariane Calloud, Régis Torlet and Mathieu Valeteau. The VAT team is led by Thierry Vialaneix who handles all matters related to VAT and indirect tax issues impacting domestic and multinational companies. Agnès Charpenet is the key contact for employee benefit and wealth management matters, advising on the taxation of individuals and families in France on domestic and cross-border work. Virginie Louvigné leads on real estate tax matters and is heavily involved in large-scale real estate acquisition transactions.

France > EU, competition and distribution Tier 2

Baker McKenzie has strengthened its EU and competition law practice significantly at senior level with the hire of François Gordon from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP in December 2022 and the promotion to counsel of Olivia Chriqui-Guiot in July 2023. The firm is active across the full range of merger control, antitrust investigations and litigation, compliance issues and follow-on damages claims, but particularly stands out for its experience in large-scale cartel investigations by the FCA and in multi-jurisdictional merger control filings and complex phase II investigations. At the head of the practice, Léna Sersiron counts a host of blue-chip French and international companies among her clients.

France > Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences Tier 2

Baker McKenzie houses a ‘fast, reliable and professional’ practice, which is known for its ‘excellent’ expertise in advising global healthcare and biotech corporations on compliance programs, strategic partnerships, and product regulation. Additionally, the group exhibits broad corporate and IP expertise, handling product acquisition arrangements and technology transfer agreements for medtech clients. The ‘exceptional’ Julie Yeni leads the team, and frequently advises healthcare clients on both contentious and non-contentious matters, particularly in relation to market access, clinical trials, and commercialisation.

France > Industry focus: Luxury goods Tier 2

With over 40 years of experience in the luxury goods sector, Baker McKenzie advises many of the world’s leading luxury brands on a range of matters such as corporate acquisitions, refinancings, IP asset protection, and supply chain distribution. Under the guidance of civil and commercial litigation specialist Katia Boneva-Desmicht, the Paris team has expanded its remit to assist with sustainability issues within the sector. Virginie Ulmann is the key contact for drafting intellectual property agreements, whilst Léna Sersiron takes the lead on complex competition cases.

France > Banking and finance: transactional work Tier 3

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.

France > Compliance Tier 3

Baker McKenzie demonstrates experience in domestic and multi-jurisdictional internal investigations, in addition to assisting with the implementation of compliance programmes spanning anti-corruption and anti-money laundering. Other key areas of strength include advising on international sanctions and whistleblowing procedures. Eric Lasry leads the team and focuses on a range of compliance and corporate governance mandates, while Renaud Jaune, a former member of the AFA, is another key contact in the group.

France > Employment Tier 3

Baker McKenzie's team handles the gamut of matters in the employment field and stands out for its capabilities in individual and collective relations, expatriation and employment implications of corporate restructurings and acquisitions. The team is led by Denise Broussal, who is an expert in executive and collective terminations, and corporate restructurings; Olivier Vasset, who specialises in large-scale redundancies and negotiations with trade unions; and Gilles Jolivet, who has expertise in the coordination of cross-border and international employment law projects. Other names of note are Nadège Dallais, Jérémie Paubel and Eléonore d'Anthonay.

France > Environment Tier 3

Baker McKenzie’s group handles a range of environmental matters, among them waste management, environmental risk management, and environmental audits. A trio of partners leads the practice, comprising: Arnaud Cabanes, who majors on contracts work and industrial site decontamination; public and environmental law specialist Francis Donnat; and Emmanuel Guillaume, who is well-versed in administrative law.

France > Mergers and acquisitions Tier 3

Baker McKenzie's team stands out for its ability to advise on global transactions spanning several continents while also being a popular choice for domestic deals. The firm assists a prominent client base, featuring a high number of French and European leaders, notably in the aerospace, luxury goods and technology sectors. The team is regularly entrusted with strategic transactions and corporate reoganisation projects, and also handles a steady flow of mid-cap domestic and outbound transactions. Practice head Stéphane Davin , Alain Sauty de Chalon , Hugo Sanchez de la Espada, Marie-Françoise Bréchignac and Aurélie Govillé are the key names.

France > Real estate Tier 3

The real estate group at Baker McKenzie is regularly instructed by institutional and private equity investors, banks, REITS and corporations for its expertise in the purchase, leasing and sale of real estate assets, as well as their financing and development. The team is particularly well-versed in transactions involving hotel, retail and office properties, as well as tax and VAT issues relating to real estate. Practice head Marc Mariani, lauded as ‘responsive and always attentive’, covers the range of real estate issues. He is supported by key contacts Hervé Jégou and Maria Batlouni.

France > Administrative and public law Tier 4

Baker McKenzie is able to cover a wide spectrum of issues, spanning regulatory, public procurement, and urban and environment law issues. The firm has a strong advisory practice but also managed public procurement performance issues and appears before administrative courts. It acts for a prominent client base, comprising many leading corporations as well as some public local entities including cities and regions. The team also provides strategic regulatory and compliance advice on issues such as export control and international sanctions. It has a particularly strong know-how in the TMT and energy sectors, notably advising on matters including sovereign cloud and electricity grid issues. The practice is jointly headed by Emmanuel Guillaume and Arnaud Cabanes , with counsel Michaël Perche providing strong support. Francis Donnat left the firm in 2023.

France > Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation Tier 4

France > Project finance Tier 4

France > Dispute resolution: International arbitration Tier 5