Public Law | Europe

The firm has a skilled team that regularly advises French companies on their participation in public tender processes for important domestic infrastructure projects. The law firm advises on the negotiation of concession agreements and the structuring of supporting project finance facilities. The team also handles regulatory advisory mandates in a range of sectors such as transportation, TMT and energy, with additional experience in regulatory investigations. The lawyers are also well equipped to advise on related litigation cases. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

Clifford Chance is a market-leading firm acting on the structuring of high-profile public infrastructure contracts and the defence of litigation or arbitration arising under the same. The department acts for construction companies, operators and public authorities on large-scale projects including motorways, airports and offshore wind farms. The law firm is experienced in assisting government bodies with the privatisation of state-owned entities, with further activity advising on the regulatory framework in the energy sector.

Dentons has a high-quality team with considerable experience in public law mandates. The team advises public authorities on the structuring of public tenders and the award of PPPs and concessions for the construction and operation of railways, roads and housing. The law firm has assisted with the update of French transport legislation and is frequently involved in matters pertaining to the energy and education sectors. It is also experienced in handling litigation before administrative courts.

Gide Loyrette Nouel is a top-tier firm for public contract mandates, benefiting from a large team of specialists. The practice has strong experience in the negotiation or restructuring of concession contracts, including high-profile mandates that facilitate the development of major rail and motorway infrastructure projects. The law firm regularly assists clients with public tender processes and concession contracts. The team has notable experience in road, airport and public utility projects. It boasts further skill advising on regulatory and contentious matters.

Jones Day advises on regulatory issues affecting clients across the energy, transport and telecommunications sectors. The team has experience in standout public law mandates seeking to facilitate the privatisation of key French infrastructure. The law firm regularly advises on the negotiation and award of public contracts and related disputes. The department acts for private companies on their participation in public procurement processes, including bids for the award of energy or infrastructure construction contracts. It represents clients in cases before regional administrative courts.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher has a top-tier public contract practice praised for its extensive experience in assisting with concession agreements and PPP projects. The team acts for a broad range of concession holders, particularly in transport infrastructure projects such as railways, airports or motorways. The law firm frequently works in collaboration with the firm's well-reputed finance and corporate departments.

Baker McKenzie has a strong administrative and public law team with a loyal client base consisting both of public entities and domestic and international companies, often from the transportation, energy and TMT industries. The team handles administrative litigation brought under disputed public contracts or seeking to overturn adverse decisions made by the French authorities. The law firm represents clients in proceedings before European courts and the Conseil d'État and is additionally proficient in advising on public procurement contracts.

Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier has standout experience in the structuring of key infrastructure concessions. The team handles litigation before the administrative and commercial courts, including appeals against the substance or application of French telecommunications and energy regulations. The law firm boasts further experience in representing clients before the Conseil d'État and the CJEU.

UGGC Avocats handles a range of issues for government bodies and state-owned entities. The team advises international companies on the negotiation of public contracts for the supply of goods. It represents clients in disputes before administrative and constitutional courts, with standout experience in cases seeking to overturn the introduction of new consumer goods regulations. The department assists clients hailing from the transportation, healthcare and construction sectors.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges advises public bodies, state-owned companies and private clients on issues such as privatisation and concession contracts. The team assists clients with litigation at the national and European level. The law firm has expertise on the bidder side of public infrastructure projects. The department also acts on M&A transactions with significant public law elements. The lawyers draw upon their knowledge to act for clients in the energy, transportation, telecommunications and financial sectors.

White & Case climbs the rankings this year and has a well-resourced team with significant capabilities in public law. The law firm routinely advises bidders on public tenders for a range of public facilities, infrastructure and energy projects. The team has further expertise in assisting concession holders with their relations with the French state, particularly in relation to airport, rail and motorway projects.

August Debouzy advises public bodies and multinational companies on contentious and non-contentious public law matters. The team has demonstrable expertise in public procurement processes and subsequent litigation. The law firm handles mandates for clients hailing from the tobacco, healthcare, technology and transportation sectors. The team is additionally skilled at handling the public law aspects of M&A transactions.

Bredin Prat has a compact department known for its activity in contentious administrative matters. The law firm also handles standalone advisory and public policy mandates for domestic and foreign companies operating in heavily regulated sectors such as transportation or TMT. The team is well equipped to advise on the public law aspects of M&A transactions.

CMS attracts attention for its presence in a significant volume of contentious administrative matters. The team advises unsuccessful bidders on appeals against the award of public contracts. The law firm has a broader non-contentious practice whose work extends from the award of public contracts through to advice on infrastructure and construction projects. The department advises on the compatibility of French law with EU regulations.

Linklaters advises on the negotiation of public contracts and on bids for infrastructure concessions. The team is also well versed in acting for borrowers on the financing of infrastructure projects and advising on foreign direct investment issues. The law firm is particularly active in the energy, transportation and banking sectors. The department regularly collaborates with the firm's European offices to provide international support for clients.

FREGET GLASER & ASSOCIES enters the rankings this year and is recognised for its expertise in highly regulated sectors, such as media and energy. The team represents clients before the administrative courts and the Conseil d'Etat. The team is also well-versed in state aid matters.

Latournerie Wolfrom Avocats has an experienced public law team advising both public institutions and key corporate clients. The law firm offers notable expertise in the negotiation and execution of government contracts. The team also assists clients with associated contentious matters. It is active across the telecommunications, education and transportation sectors. The lawyers are equally well equipped to advise on the public law aspects of real estate projects.

McDermott Will & Emery has a solid team boasting experience across a range of regulatory and contentious issues. The department demonstrates further skill in the awarding and negotiation of public procurement and concession contracts. The law firm acts for public institutions and multinational companies across a range of regulated sectors, including energy, telecommunications and transport.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe has a strong presence in the market, advising construction and project companies on concession agreements and PPP projects. The law firm has notable experience in renewable energy and public infrastructure projects, often winning instructions on key mandates relating to motorway and railway concessions.