Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton‘s litigation team handles a good amount of white-collar criminal law work, regularly defending leading French and international banks in tax fraud, money laundering and human rights related cases before French and US court. The Paris-based practice, which also assists companies and senior executives, has a strong international component and regularly acts for clients at risk of facing human rights and war crime accusations in relations to their operations in conflict zones. For instance, the team has been advising companies on their exit from the Russian market, as well as assisting with internal investigations and preventive compliance work. Jean-Yves GaraudDelphine Michot and counsel Guillaume de Rancourt are the key names.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Swittf in its analysis of situations with a view to adjusting the defense strategy in a relevant manner, very good anticipation and organization, impactful on the day of the hearing.’

  • ‘The team has a great bench strength. Not only are the partners excellent, but the associates are extremely able lawyers and the whole team knows our case inside-out. All are very user-friendly and a pleasure to work with. ’

  • ‘Delphine Michot, Jean-Yves Garaud, Nicolas Degardin and Elise Goebel are all excellent. ’

  • 'Very professional and expert team.'

  • 'Guillaume de Rancourt: accessible, quick, good listening skills, humble.'

Key clients

  • Bondholders of Groupe Agripole
  • Crédit Lyonnais
  • IDEMIA
  • Royal Bank of Canada
  • The Baupost Group

Work highlights

  • Successfully represented Crédit Lyonnais S.A. in bringing to an end 17 years of billion-dollar litigation under the U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act and Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA).
  • Successfully represented IDEMIA in its conclusion of the French equivalent of a Deferred Prosecution Agreement with the Parquet National Financier.
  • Representing Royal Bank of Canada Trust Company (Bahamas) in its successful defence before the Criminal Section of the Paris Court  and the Court of Appeal of Paris.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Jean-Yves Garaud, Delphine Michot, Guillaume de Rancourt, Aude Dupuis