Dentons stands out for its public procurement expertise, alternatively advising leading sponsors, private operators or the French state on the awarding of the country's largest concessions or public infrastructure projects. The practice is advising on large stadium and motorway concessions and urban rail projects, as well as on new innovative projects such as truck tolls and the opening of regional train rail markets to competition. Its public contract execution and performance skillset is also well regarded and evident in its recent engagement in a high-profile train station development project dispute. The practice  also deals with regulatory and brownfield work in the energy sector, advising on hydrogen, energy trading certificate and renewable energy projects. Practice head  Marc Fornacciari is a respected name in the field. Dorothée Griveaux is another highly regarded practitioner and senior associate Inès Tantardini also contributes.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘A senior team which is very strong in the field of public law and PPP project financing. The team is very available.’
  • ‘Marc Fornacciari is very attentive to the client and quickly recognizes the points of attention in the files.’

  • ‘Competent and very available team. Responsiveness and pragmatic advice’

  • ‘Inès Tantardini is responsive and pragmatic.’

  • ‘A very competent team, fluid and responsive exchanges.’

  • ‘Knows how to adapt to a changing and complex institutional environment.’

  • ‘Availability, responsiveness, competence and experience’.

  • ‘Great availability, very good knowledge of the file. Very good teamwork. ’

Key clients

  • ENI France
  • French Ministry of Economy
  • BASF
  • Hello Paris (JV RATP Dev and Keolis)
  • Flying Whales
  • Direction Départementale des Territoires (DDT) du Rhône
  • Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC)
  • Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM)
  • Ministère de la Transition écologique
  • Collectivité Européenne d’Alsace
  • Paris Saclay University
  • Société Générale

Work highlights

  • Assisting the French Ministry of Economy in the context of the “Stade de France” concession renewal (ending July 2025).
  • Representing Auchan Group against SNCF Gares et Connexions before the administrative tribunal of Paris with regard to the litigation relating to the “Gare du Nord” concession.
  • Advising Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM) on the award of two concession contracts for the operation of three new automatic metro lines of the “Grand Paris Express” (GPE).

Lawyers

Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Marc Fornacciari
Marc Fornacciari
Hall of fameDentons
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Marc Fornacciari

Other key lawyers

Dorothée Griveaux, Inès Tantardini