Capital Markets: Debt | France

A&O Shearman's team boasts a strong offering in all areas of capital markets, with particular expertise in debt and structured finance, for which it remains a national leader. The practice has further strength in derivatives and ECM transactions and acts for a number of major domestic and international banks, as well as leading French corporates. A&O Shearman's lawyers offer additional expertise in securitisation and green bond mandates. The law firm maintains a solid reputation for its cross-border capabilities, with a large team that includes UK and US-qualified practitioners.

The French team of this international law firm covers the full spectrum of capital markets matters. The practice remains a market leader in debt and structured finance, often dealing with complex hybrid bond issuances and securitisation transactions, and is additionally active on ECM and derivatives matters. The team acts for an impressive range of clients including banks, insurers and corporates, and it benefits from US and UK law capabilities based locally in Paris. Clifford Chance's lawyers can access the firm's wider European resources to offer further support to clients.

Gide Loyrette Nouel boasts a strong debt and equity team with further skills across the wider capital markets field. The law firm is well reputed for its presence on complex deals, offering particular knowledge and experience of European private placements and high-yield bond issuances. The team also has notable expertise advising on IPOs and capital increases, as well as derivatives matters. The practice maintains a varied client roster of leading banks and French corporates, and is particularly active in the biotech sector.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton has market-leading capabilities in ECM, regularly acting on major IPOs and rights issues. The team offers expertise in the field of debt, with notable strength in a variety of bond issuances as well as EMTN programmes and private placements. The practice is best known for its work for large corporate issuers, sovereign states and leading banking institutions. The team features experts in French and US law.

CMS is particularly highly regarded for its debt and structured finance expertise. The law firm assists with the drafting of German or English law-governed security agreements. The team advises issuers or arrangers and dealers on a range of transactions involving Euro PPs, green bonds, the issuance of covered bonds and the establishment of EMTN programmes. The practice offers further experience in trade receivables securitisation, leveraging close ties with offices in the network to advise major French and international banks.

Latham & Watkins houses a respected practice that draws particular recognition for its activity on high-yield debt issuances. The law firm has additional experience in derivatives transactions. It advises a range of clients including investment banks and insurance companies. The team provides international coverage for cross-border capital market transactions.

Linklaters' strong capital markets practice has demonstrable expertise in the debt and securitisation fields. The law firm advises on both domestic and cross-border deals governed by French, UK and US law. The practice offers fully integrated services thanks to close links with the firm's corporate, banking and tax teams and can also assist with equity deals. The lawyers regularly act in coordination with team members based in Europe, Hong Kong or London. The law firm's client list includes leading investment banks, corporates and insurers.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer has an active DCM practice that advises on Euro PPs, EMTN programmes and bond issuances. The law firm acts predominantly for issuers, including high-profile French corporates. The practice also advises on securitisation matters, including non-performing loan portfolio transactions. The team frequently handles mandates in collaboration with other European offices from the network, notably the Frankfurt and London offices.

Hogan Lovells has a robust international team with an established presence on structured finance deals and notable expertise in STS and ECB auto-loan securitisations. The law firm is also highly experienced in domestic and international DCM and derivatives mandates, including EMTN programmes, liability management and bond issues. The team covers both English and French law within the capital markets practice in Paris.