Ranking tables
Private Equity: High-end Capability | France
France
Rankings overview for Lawyers
Vincent Ponsonnaille Kirkland & Ellis LLP19 Years Ranked- David AkninWeil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Florence Haas Bredin Prat7 Years Ranked
Florent Mazeron Linklaters9 Years Ranked
Gaëtan Gianasso Latham & Watkins LLP19 Years Ranked
Nicolas Barberis Freshfields16 Years Ranked
Olivier du Mottay Latham & Watkins LLP14 Years Ranked- Christophe GaraudWillkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
- Eduardo FernandezWillkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
- Jean BeauchataudWeil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Arthur de Baudry d'Asson Paul Hastings (Europe) LLP10 Years Ranked
Benjamin de Blégiers Clifford Chance Europe LLP10 Years Ranked
Denis Criton Latham & Watkins LLP14 Years Ranked
Yann Gozal Freshfields15 Years Ranked- Alexandre DuguayWeil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
- Cédric HajageWillkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
- Emmanuelle HenryWeil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Bruno Derieux Linklaters17 Years Ranked
Fabrice Cohen Ropes & Gray19 Years Ranked
Gilles Lebreton Clifford Chance Europe LLP17 Years Ranked
Guy Benda Freshfields20 Years Ranked
Julien Rebibo Freshfields4 Years Ranked
Laurent Victor-Michel Kirkland & Ellis LLP4 Years Ranked
Marc Castagnède A&O Shearman20 Years Ranked
Olivier Assant Bredin Prat20 Years Ranked
Patrick Tardivy Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe France5 Years Ranked
Romy Richter A&O Shearman4 Years Ranked- Grégory de SaxcéWillkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Charles Masson Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP2 Years Ranked
Louis Gosset Kirkland & Ellis LLP1 Years Ranked- Guillaume BonnardWeil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
All Lawyers profiles
Eminent Practitioners

E Thomas Forschbach
Latham & Watkins LLP | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Eminent Practitioners | 20 Years RankedThomas Forschbach is a standout adviser on large-scale disposals and acquisitions, and is regularly called upon by key private equity houses. He is well placed to handle both domestic and international mandates.
Band 1

1 Vincent Ponsonnaille
Kirkland & Ellis LLP | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 1 | 19 Years RankedVincent Ponsonnaille operates a market-leading practice, regularly acting on large-scale investments and disposals, and can claim a client base of major investment and private equity funds. He is particularly adept at advising on cross-border transactions.
- David AkninWeil, Gotshal & Manges LLP | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 1
Band 2

2 Florence Haas
Bredin Prat | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 2 | 7 Years RankedFlorence Haas boasts a strong practice that spans minority and majority-stake investments for a clientele of renowned private equity funds.

2 Florent Mazeron
Linklaters | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 2 | 9 Years RankedFlorent Mazeron represents international private equity houses in cross-border acquisitions. He acts for clients active across the healthcare and infrastructure sectors.

2 Gaëtan Gianasso
Latham & Watkins LLP | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 2 | 19 Years RankedGaëtan Gianasso undertakes strategic LBO transactions on behalf of French and international private equity firms. He is well prepared to advise on multi-jurisdictional cases.

2 Nicolas Barberis
Freshfields | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 2 | 16 Years RankedNicolas Barberis frequently acts for private equity houses on both the buy and sell sides of transactions. He is well placed to act on domestic and cross-border mandates.

2 Olivier du Mottay
Latham & Watkins LLP | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 2 | 14 Years RankedOlivier du Mottay acts for domestic and international private equity funds on majority-stake acquisitions and disposals.
- Christophe GaraudWillkie Farr & Gallagher LLP | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 2
- Eduardo FernandezWillkie Farr & Gallagher LLP | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 2
- Jean BeauchataudWeil, Gotshal & Manges LLP | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 2
Band 3

3 Arthur de Baudry d'Asson
Paul Hastings (Europe) LLP | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 3 | 10 Years RankedArthur de Baudry d'Asson routinely handles investments and acquisitions on behalf of international investment funds, including US-based clients.

3 Benjamin de Blégiers
Clifford Chance Europe LLP | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 3 | 10 Years RankedBenjamin de Blegiers is highly recognised for his advice to infrastructure investment funds on M&A transactions.

3 Denis Criton
Latham & Watkins LLP | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 3 | 14 Years RankedDenis Criton represents international investment firms, including asset managers, in large-scale LBO transactions.

3 Yann Gozal
Freshfields | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 3 | 15 Years RankedYann Gozal represents international clients in a range of private equity mandates, including disposals and investments.
- Alexandre DuguayWeil, Gotshal & Manges LLP | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 3
- Cédric HajageWillkie Farr & Gallagher LLP | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 3
- Emmanuelle HenryWeil, Gotshal & Manges LLP | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 3
Band 4

4 Bruno Derieux
Linklaters | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 4 | 17 Years RankedBruno Derieux brings extensive experience advising international clients on private equity transactions. His practice extends to advising infrastructure-focused investment funds on their activities in France.

4 Fabrice CohenRopes & Gray | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 4 | 19 Years RankedFabrice Cohen handles acquisitions and LBO exits for leading private equity funds.

4 Gilles Lebreton
Clifford Chance Europe LLP | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 4 | 17 Years RankedGilles Lebreton handles both domestic and cross-border acquisitions, acting for a client base of insurance companies, corporates, and infrastructure and private equity funds.

4 Guy Benda
Freshfields | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 4 | 20 Years RankedGuy Benda boasts a solid track record advising domestic and international private equity firms on high-value LBOs. He is well placed to act on mandates of a multi-jurisdictional scope.

4 Julien Rebibo
Freshfields | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 4 | 4 Years RankedJulien Rebibo is recognised for his work advising on sales, acquisitions and fundraisings. He routinely represents leading international private equity houses.

4 Laurent Victor-Michel
Kirkland & Ellis LLP | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 4 | 4 Years RankedLaurent Victor-Michel advises domestic and international private equity firms on acquisitions and sales. He is active across the technology, healthcare and infrastructure sectors.

4 Marc Castagnède
A&O Shearman | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 4 | 20 Years RankedMarc Castagnède advises clients on private equity matters, on both the sale and buy sides. He has been active recently in the infrastructure, technology and financial services sectors.

4 Olivier Assant
Bredin Prat | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 4 | 20 Years RankedOlivier Assant handles sales, acquisitions and minority investments on behalf of domestic and international private equity funds.

4 Patrick TardivyOrrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe France | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 4 | 5 Years RankedPatrick Tardivy is frequently instructed by infrastructure-focused private equity clients to advise on high-value acquisitions and investments.

4 Romy Richter
A&O Shearman | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 4 | 4 Years RankedRomy Richter assists French and international private equity houses with a range of transactions. She is notably active across the technology and healthcare sectors.
- Grégory de SaxcéWillkie Farr & Gallagher LLP | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Band 4
Up and Coming

U Charles Masson
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Up and Coming | 2 Years RankedCharles Masson of Cleary Gottlieb assists private equity clients with acquisitions.

U Louis Gosset
Kirkland & Ellis LLP | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Up and Coming | 1 Years RankedLouis Gosset maintains an increasingly prominent practice, advising clients from the technology and pharmaceutical sectors on complex cross-border private equity transactions.
- Guillaume BonnardWeil, Gotshal & Manges LLP | Private Equity: High-end Capability2026 | Up and Coming