Viguié Schmidt & Associés is routinely sought out by companies and investment funds to handle their most challenging cases – for instance it is not rare for the team to receive mandates to intervene solely from the appeal proceedings stage after an earlier ruling. The team excels at managing highly complex and one-of-a-kind corporate or commercial litigation and regularly acts in the market’s largest corporate, M&A and unfair competition cases, opposing high-profile companies and parties. The firm also has strong know-how in the field of international and exequatur cases, representing companies and state entities. It notably won a number of victories before courts in 2023 including a landmark decision obtaining the first annulment of an arbitral award by a French court in a case involving a foreign state on the grounds of corruption. The top practice comprises the excellent Yves Schmidt, Nicolas Viguié and Martin Donato. Counsel Laure-Anne Montigny also provides support, while corporate litigator Daniel Villey, who was previously with Villey Girard Grolleaud, joined in Autumn 2023 adding further strength. Olivier Loizon left the firm in early 2024.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Great added value on litigation strategy; close proximity to the client and strong involvement of the partner; extensive experience in France and in complex international disputes.’
Key clients
- Renault
- EDF Renouvelables
- AXA
- Fimalac Entertainment
- Sonepar
- Rallye
- Alter Equity
- Abenex
- OCP
- Danone
- Edilians
- Natixis
- Allianz Trade
- Altitude Infra
- Aon France
- ATOS
- Libyan Investment Authority
- Cardiff City Football Club
- Société Immobilière et Hôtelière du Parc Monceau (SIHPM)
- State of Kuwait
- State of Libya
- Pearl Petrochemical FZE (Dubaï)
- National Oil Corporation
- Platina Equity Solutions
- Hexagold
- Socialist Republic of Vietnam
- Mr. Dominique Desseigne
- OTCex
- The Belgium liquidator of some companies of Bernard Tapie Group
Work highlights
- Defending Renault, against its former CEO Mr. Carlos Ghosn, who filed actions before the French civil and commercial jurisdictions for his variable remuneration, stock options, long-term investing plan shares and his retirement guaranteed regime (“top hat” pension scheme) as well as handling Renault’s counterclaims against Mr. Carlos Ghosn.
- Representing Welsh football club Cardiff City Football Club in proceedings against French football club FC Nantes, seeking damages in connection with the transfer of Argentine striker Emiliano Sala who died in a crash plane in the days following his transfer from FC Nantes to Cardiff City.
- Representing various companies of the DanoneGroup in the defence of claims brought before the French courts by an Algeria-based distributor alleging brutal termination of commercial relationship and unfair competition.
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.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Yves Schmidt