Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP

The firm: Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP, founded in 1830, was one of the first US law firms to develop a truly international practice. Dedicated to counselling clients involved with some of the most challenging transnational transactions and complex multijurisdictional disputes, Curtis represents multinational companies, international financial institutions, governments and state-owned entities, family and other privately held businesses, entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals. With offices in the United States, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Central and East Asia, Curtis is located in the key business centres where clients need the firm most.

Areas of practice: Established in 1973, Curtis’ Paris office handles both international and French corporate and finance matters and international arbitration. It works closely with the firm’s 16 other offices. Many of Curtis’ Paris-based lawyers are multilingual and have business degrees in addition to their law degrees.

Curtis’ Paris office is a centre of excellence in international arbitration matters and undertakes arbitrations under the ICSID, ICC, UNCITRAL and other arbitration rules. Partners Peter Wolrich and Geoffroy Lyonnet are noted leaders in the field of international arbitration. Peter Wolrich served for 12 years as chairman of the ICC Commission on Arbitration. He was the principal draftsman of the ICC’s arbitration guide for in-house counsel and other party representatives, which was launched in 2014. Geoffroy Lyonnet co-chairs the ICC Task Force that edits the ICC Guide to National Procedures for Recognition and Enforcement of Awards under the New York Convention.

The highly regarded arbitration team continues to represent clients such as Turkmenistan, Venezuela and Kazakhstan as well as Russia, Macedonia and Cameroon.

On the commercial arbitration side, the team is notable for its comprehensive victory for French-listed Arkema in winning millions of Euros in counterclaims, and is currently handling a variety of commercial arbitrations, including post-M&A and construction disputes.

The corporate group, led by Remy Lerner, is notable for its cross-border investment transactions (projects and infrastructure, M&A, restructuring), spanning Africa, Europe and the US, particularly in the fields of mining and energy (power production, upstream and downstream oil and gas sectors). It has significant experience advising in particular African states in structuring and carrying out acquisitions and disposals of mining and oil and gas assets, and exploration and production contracts. Recent representations include advising the Republic of Gabon in various projects. The corporate group also regularly advises US companies and investment funds on their investments in France and Europe showcasing Curtis’ experience in cross-border corporate team work between offices.

The tax group, led by Marco Blanco, is best known for its advice and analysis of complex cross-border tax issues. Notable matters on which the tax group has advised include advising several Central Asian and African states on international tax matters.

The Paris office has further developed its international oil and gas state representation particularly in West and Central Africa, notably in the natural gas sector, with the active involvement of Remy Lerner, Marco Blanco and Geoffroy Lyonnet.

The Paris office is staffed by a dynamic and highly motivated team that includes French and American lawyers, many of whom are admitted to practice in both Paris and New York.

The Paris office is part of Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP, a New York limited liability partnership.