The Euro Elite: France – La vie en rose

Posted on |
The Euro Elite: France – La vie en rose

Any conversation with a French lawyer these days turns at some point to the volatility of the market and the unpredictability of the future. But there is more substance to these words this time around than a reflection of the industry’s traditional caution.

In just over two years, France has gone from an election that might have ended up with a populist anti-EU leader to the enthusiasm for the victory of business-friendly, pro-European Emmanuel Macron… and then to the rude awakening of social unrest and economic slowdown. Continue reading “The Euro Elite: France – La vie en rose”

Deal View: Warlords in Paris – Kirkland’s long march to the French capital

Posted on |
Deal View: Warlords in Paris – Kirkland’s long march to the French capital

For a 109-year-old giant that fielded just 12 offices at the beginning of 2017, Kirkland & Ellis has had an expansive 18 months. Of course, there is never a better time to invest than the year in which your firm became the highest-grossing legal outfit in the world as Kirkland did in 2018 after posting $3.165bn. But it is still notable that of the five branches launched since Jeffrey Hammes took over as chair in 2010, three were announced since May 2017.

While earlier Boston and Dallas launches reflect a well-established ambition in its home market, news of Kirkland’s plans for a new arm in Paris signal a more symbolic extension of empire. Only Kirkland’s third branch in Europe, it comes more than two decades after London and almost 14 years after its Munich debut. Continue reading “Deal View: Warlords in Paris – Kirkland’s long march to the French capital”

World’s top-billing law firm Kirkland finally makes Paris debut with Linklaters corporate duo

Posted on |
World’s top-billing law firm Kirkland finally makes Paris debut with Linklaters corporate duo

After years of internal debate Kirkland & Ellis is to launch in Paris with the hire of one of Linklaters’ key corporate partners.

In a market largely defined by star individuals, Vincent Ponsonnaille has quit the Magic Circle firm alongside fellow corporate partner Laurent Victor-Michel to spearhead the launch of Kirkland’s second outpost on the continent. Continue reading “World’s top-billing law firm Kirkland finally makes Paris debut with Linklaters corporate duo”

Letter from Paris: After the malaise, local counsel rediscover la joie de vivre

Posted on |
Letter from Paris: After the malaise, local counsel rediscover la joie de vivre

It was one of the defining moments of the year: on 7 May president-elect Emmanuel Macron strode towards the stage outside the Louvre to give his victory speech to Ode to Joy. Much has been written on what that moment meant for France as a more confident, globally-minded country. The triumph of a 39-year-old ex-banker who marked his success with the EU’s German-born anthem rather than La Marseillaise has done much to raise hopes in the French business community.

Rising confidence is obviously welcome for the profession with the French legal market remaining one of Europe’s key hunting grounds and – unlike Germany’s increasingly-price-sensitive sector – one that comfortably sustains Global 100-level profitability. Continue reading “Letter from Paris: After the malaise, local counsel rediscover la joie de vivre”

Letter from Paris: After the malaise, local counsel rediscover la joie de vivre

Posted on |
Letter from Paris: After the malaise, local counsel rediscover la joie de vivre

It was one of the defining moments of the year: on 7 May president-elect Emmanuel Macron strode towards the stage outside the Louvre to give his victory speech to Ode to Joy. Much has been written on what that moment meant for France as a more confident, globally-minded country. The triumph of a 39-year-old ex-banker who marked his success with the EU’s German-born anthem rather than La Marseillaise has done much to raise hopes in the French business community.

Rising confidence is obviously welcome for the profession with the French legal market remaining one of Europe’s key hunting grounds and – unlike Germany’s increasingly-price-sensitive sector – one that comfortably sustains Global 100-level profitability. Continue reading “Letter from Paris: After the malaise, local counsel rediscover la joie de vivre”

En Marche!

Posted on |
En Marche!

With France’s political landscape settled and its EU status reconfirmed, the country’s law firms are feeling confident

The French presidential election in May drew widespread attention, but now that Emmanuel Macron is safely installed in the Élysée Palace, will it make any difference to businesses and their law firms? ‘It’s a great relief for the whole business community,’ says Stéphane Puel, managing partner of Gide Loyrette Nouel, France’s largest independent full-service law firm with 503 lawyers. ‘It’s difficult to tell whether this will have a huge impact generally, but it will have a huge impact on the confidence of business players in France.’

Continue reading “En Marche!”

Market report: France – En Marche!

Posted on |
Market report: France – En Marche!

With France’s political landscape settled and its EU status reconfirmed, the country’s law firms are feeling confident

The French presidential election in May drew widespread attention, but now that Emmanuel Macron is safely installed in the Élysée Palace, will it make any difference to businesses and their law firms? ‘It’s a great relief for the whole business community,’ says Stéphane Puel, managing partner of Gide Loyrette Nouel, France’s largest independent full-service law firm with 503 lawyers. ‘It’s difficult to tell whether this will have a huge impact generally, but it will have a huge impact on the confidence of business players in France.’

Continue reading “Market report: France – En Marche!”

Ashurst Paris corporate team chooses Freshfields as Magic Circle firm reinvigorates offering

Posted on |
Ashurst Paris corporate team chooses Freshfields as Magic Circle firm reinvigorates offering

Madeleine Farman on a rare team move between London-based international players

In one of the most significant team hires between major City players for some time, a group of five Paris corporate partners – collectively responsible for a book of business worth £8m – is moving from Ashurst to Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. Continue reading “Ashurst Paris corporate team chooses Freshfields as Magic Circle firm reinvigorates offering”