Capital Markets: Structured Finance | France

The French team of this international powerhouse 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.

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.

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.

Hogan Lovells has a robust international team with an established presence on structured finance deals and notable expertise in securitisations and RMBS transactions. 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.

Ashurst enters the rankings this year and handles securitisation transactions for banks and asset managers. Its lawyers are active on asset-backed financings and trade receivables deals.

Herbert Smith Freehills 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.

Jones Day has a leading team in Paris for derivatives products, with a strong focus on strategic equity and swaps. The law firm also acts on notable IPOs and capital increases, including highlight mandates for companies operating in the biotech or medical devices fields. The team is adept at handling transactional as well as regulatory matters, and offers growing expertise in structured finance mandates. The practice makes use of its international presence to assist clients with cross-border transactions.

White & Case maintains a standout reputation in the debt and equity fields, both domestically and on a global scale. The law firm handles a wide range of complex transactions including rights issues, capital increases, the establishment of EMTN programmes, bond issuances and securitisation transactions. The team shows further capabilities in high-yield bond refinancing matters. The practice has a strong client base of issuers, shareholders and investment banks. The team frequently works with its other offices across the globe on cross-border transactions.