French financial services group Societe Generale (SocGen) has named 12 law firms to its new international panel, with a further six practices instructed for disputes and tax work.
The panel is split into 12 full-service firms, which is broken down further into eight ‘preferred’ firms and four ‘selected’ firms, with a further six specialists responsible for large litigation and tax. The European banking giant said the panel was designed to cover its requirements across the 66 countries it operates in, complemented by local panels in those countries.
Ashurst, Dentons, DLA Piper, Herbert Smith Freehills, Mayer Brown, Norton Rose Fulbright, Simmons & Simmons and Watson Farley & Williams were appointed as preferred firms. Baker McKenzie, Gide Loyrette Nouel, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe and Shearman & Sterling make up the selected firms.
The four firms named to handle litigation and regulatory work are Allen & Overy, Debevoise & Plimpton, Hogan Lovells and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. The two tax counsel are Fidal and PwC.
The panel came into effect at the start of this year on a six-year term, with the review led by general counsel Dominique Bourrinet. The bank’s previous review took place in 2011. SocGen is one of Europe’s largest financial services houses, with revenues of €25bn and over 140,000 staff.
In May last year, the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) settled a longstanding dispute against SocGen and Libyan Businessman Walid Giahmi. The LIA had sued Giahmi in 2014 in connection with an alleged bribe paid to him by SocGen, but withdrew its case, and was liable for Giamhi’s costs.