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.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Great knowledge of their clients, availability and responsiveness. Able to support clients on a large number of files.’
‘Gonzague Basso: very available and involved.'
‘A wealth of experience.'
- Efficiency and professionalism ’
‘Very professional team on structured financing with good knowledge of the specificities of sovereign risk financing.’
‘Michael Foundethakis is very involved in the execution of transactions, and approaches issues with finesse and intelligence.’
Key clients
- Crédit Agricole
- BNP Paribas
- Société Générale
- Natixis
- Ardian (formerly AXA Private Equity)
- African Export-Import Bank
- PROPARCO
- Bank of America Merrill Lynch
- MUFG Bank
- Commerzbank
- SMBC
- Bank of China
Work highlights
- Advising BNP Paribas and CaixaBank in relation to a EUR 600,000,000 EKN (the Swedish exportcredit agency) covered facilities agreement provided to Bouygues Telecom SA to finance the import of 5G equipment from EricssonAB in Sweden.
- Acting for the lenders led by SMBC Bank International, with MUFG Bank as agent, on a USD 400,000,000 Japan International Cooperation Agency ("JICA") supported covered facilities agreement to African Export-Import Bank.
- Acting for bioMérieux in obtaining EUR 600,000,000 dual currency and ESG-linked financing from a syndicate of banks led by Crédit Agricole and Natixis.
Lawyers
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Michael Foundethakis