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The comprehensive guide to the world's leading tax firms

Bredin Prat focuses mainly on transactional work. Star names have helped the team retain its position as one of France's leading tax practices. Partner Yves Rutschmann is rated highly for his transactional tax skills. One peer called him a "very capable ... [more]

Bredin Prat focuses mainly on transactional work. Star names have helped the team retain its position as one of France's leading tax practices. Partner Yves Rutschmann is rated highly for his transactional tax skills. One peer called him a "very capable individual". Another endorsed the whole team's quality, noting "their level is good across the board". Despite the drop in deal activity because of the economic downturn, the practice has been involved in the most significant transactions on the French market this year. It is advising Banque Fédérale des Banques Populaires on its pending merger with Caisse Nationale des Caisses d'Epargne in a deal worth €17.2 billion ($24.3 billion). Partner and head of the department Renaud Streichenberger, along with Rutschmann, advised Suez on the €67 billion merger between the energy company and Gaz de France. The deal created Europe's second-largest energy group. In addition to the scope and nature of the deal itself, the transaction was particularly notable due to the political involvement it engendered. From a tax standpoint, the merger implied a change in law regarding the consequences of a spin-off on a French tax consolidated group. Streichenberger is recommended by his peers for international taxation.

Industry commentators compare CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre to the big-four accounting firms because of the breadth of its services. The large tax boutique is highly regarded by competitors and has a number of well-known advisers including partner Bruno ... [more]

Industry commentators compare CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre to the big-four accounting firms because of the breadth of its services. The large tax boutique is highly regarded by competitors and has a number of well-known advisers including partner Bruno Gibert, who focuses on international tax and transfer pricing, and Richard Foissac, who is recommended for his real estate work. The team advised Groupe Caisse Nationale des Caisse d'Espargne in a merger with BFBP The merged group is the second largest French banking group with €38 billion in capital and about 22% of all deposits placed with French banks.

Thirty-five lawyers make up Baker & McKenzie's tax team. The size of the group, its full range of services and its diverse client list distinguishes it from other law firms in Paris. The team offers transactional tax assistance as well as more day-to-day ... [more]

Thirty-five lawyers make up Baker & McKenzie's tax team. The size of the group, its full range of services and its diverse client list distinguishes it from other law firms in Paris. The team offers transactional tax assistance as well as more day-to-day tax advice including transfer pricing, auditing and litigation. It is particularly recommended for its real estate skills, with one peer calling the team "one of the best in Paris". It suffered a setback this year when it lost two partners Sarah Espasa Mattei and Bernard Boutemy, who both joined De Pardieu Brocas Maffei. However, competitors still regard the firm as one of the best in the market. The group has adapted to changes including more work in VAT and customs. Partner Thérèse-Anne Amy, a "big name in customs", joined from Ernst & Young.Peers recommend Thierry Vialaneix for indirect tax. The team advised Qatari Diar, wholly owned by Qatar Investment Authority, the Qatari sovereign wealth fund, on the tax aspects of the acquisition of Cegelec, the electrical engineering group. This matter was particularly technical because of the tax framework in the Middle Eastern countries. Partner Pierre Yves Bourtourault is chairman of the IACF [Institut des Avocats Conseils Fiscaux] which is the largest tax association in France, consisting of 800 tax lawyers. He was elected last year for a three year term. Veronique Millischer is also mentioned for her international tax work.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton has an impressive list of tax partners. Out of the five partners, however, only two are fully dedicated tax practitioners: Gilles Entraygues and Pascal Coudin are both highly recommended by peers and clients. There are ... [more]

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton has an impressive list of tax partners. Out of the five partners, however, only two are fully dedicated tax practitioners: Gilles Entraygues and Pascal Coudin are both highly recommended by peers and clients. There are rumours that Entraygues will be retiring this year. Peers fear this could put a strain on the tax practice as he was considered its "driving force". But Entraygues called the rumours "greatly exaggerated". He added: "Having just been appointed by Eric Woerth, French minister of budget, to the new Tax Committee of Abuse of Law (a four year mandate) I certainly don't intend to retire from practice." This is a new committee, chaired by a member of the Conseil d'Etat and includes three judges, a tax lawyer (Entraygues), a notary, a chartered accountant and a law professor. Competitors still rank the team highly and commend the "very able and very good team" of lawyers.

The practice at Clifford Chance is praised for its transactional work. Partners Eric Davoudet and Eric Zeller are highly recommended. Laurent Vallée joined the group as an of counsel in September. He is an ex-judge at the Conseil d'Etat, the French administrative ... [more]

The practice at Clifford Chance is praised for its transactional work. Partners Eric Davoudet and Eric Zeller are highly recommended. Laurent Vallée joined the group as an of counsel in September. He is an ex-judge at the Conseil d'Etat, the French administrative Supreme Court. He is in charge of the development of the tax litigation practice for the group. He will also play a role in advising corporates, banks and insurance companies on their tax planning and tax strategy. The team has advised Jet Multimedia and its majority shareholder on the sale of Jet Multimedia's Editions & International business in a deal valued at $28.6 million. They also did the tax audit and tax structuring work for Rexel in relation to its tender offer on Hagemeyer followed by the disposal of part of Hagemeyer's business to Sonepar. This deal was worth $4.4 billion.

An impressive client list and a varied selection of transactions have cemented Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's position in this year's ranking. The team, headed by Cyril Valentin, advised Eurotunnel on the tax aspects of the restructuring of its €9 ... [more]

An impressive client list and a varied selection of transactions have cemented Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's position in this year's ranking. The team, headed by Cyril Valentin, advised Eurotunnel on the tax aspects of the restructuring of its €9 billion ($12.7 billion) debt and of its equity, including the tender offer by a new holding company, as well as on the refinancing in 2008 (€800 million share capital increase and subordinated debt) of the early redemption of certain debt instruments. This was the largest European restructuring deal to date in Europe. It involved complex tax structuring both in France and the UK, notably to preserve the group's tax losses. The practice also advised CDC Capital Investissement on the acquisition of Socotec, the French leader in property and real estate inspection. Other clients include Goldman Sachs, HSBC France and GE Real Estate.

Allen & Overy is described as having a "good tax team", by one industry specialist. Siamak Mostafavi heads the group and specialises in advising clients on the taxation of financial products and derivative instruments. He works alongside partners Patrice ... [more]

Allen & Overy is described as having a "good tax team", by one industry specialist. Siamak Mostafavi heads the group and specialises in advising clients on the taxation of financial products and derivative instruments. He works alongside partners Patrice Couturier and Mathieu Vignon. The group advised Sanef, a member of the abertis group, a European management operator of transport and telecommunications infrastructure, in relation to its sale of Masternaut to Hub Telecom, the specialised subsidiary of the Airport group of Paris.

Described by one tax adviser as "an alternative to the big-four", Arsene Taxand provides a full range of tax services to both domestic and international clients. The firm is the French member of the independent global tax network, Taxand. Denis Andres, ... [more]

Described by one tax adviser as "an alternative to the big-four", Arsene Taxand provides a full range of tax services to both domestic and international clients. The firm is the French member of the independent global tax network, Taxand. Denis Andres, Frederic Donnedieu de Vabres and Antoine Glaize are some of the recommended tax advisers at the firm.

Ernst & Young is described as the "best out of the big-four firms in Paris". Peers commend the overall quality of the team, its "strong presence" and its "very good people".

Fidal Direction Internationale is KPMG's affiliate firm in France. The team advises on a range of tax services including M&A tax advice, VAT and transfer pricing.

The Gide Loyrette Nouel tax team offers advice on corporate restructurings, financial transactions, tax audits, disputes, international tax and real estate. The practice comprises five partners and 13 associates. Competitors have particularly noted their ... [more]

The Gide Loyrette Nouel tax team offers advice on corporate restructurings, financial transactions, tax audits, disputes, international tax and real estate. The practice comprises five partners and 13 associates. Competitors have particularly noted their visibility in the litigation field rather than in other areas of corporate tax.

Landwell & Associés, a PricewaterhouseCoopers member firm, has advised some of the biggest French multinational organisations this year. The team has carried out some significant due diligence work for large transactions. The 406 tax professionals ... [more]

Latham & Watkins' Paris office is comprised of eights lawyers, including four partners. The team is led by respected lawyer Christian Nouel. They have been involved in a number of important transactions in France this year including advising Petroplus ... [more]

Latham & Watkins' Paris office is comprised of eights lawyers, including four partners. The team is led by respected lawyer Christian Nouel. They have been involved in a number of important transactions in France this year including advising Petroplus on the $800 million acquisition of two refineries located in France from Shell, and Advent International in respect of its leveraged buy-out acquisition of the French card business of the European group Experian.

Edouard Chapellier, head of tax at Linklaters, remains a dominant force in the French market. He is mentioned for his M&A work and is described as "a very good lawyer" by one industry commentator. The group has been involved in an impressive list of ... [more]

Edouard Chapellier, head of tax at Linklaters, remains a dominant force in the French market. He is mentioned for his M&A work and is described as "a very good lawyer" by one industry commentator. The group has been involved in an impressive list of deals this year including: advising Sierra Wireless in connection with its public tender offer for Wavecom in a deal worth €218 million ($311 million); and advising 3 Suisses International in connection with the sale to Crédit Mutuel group of its majority stake in Cofidis group. This was a complex, M&A transaction worth €920 million. The practice also advised Suez on the spin-off and initial public offering (IPO) of Suez Environnement. This transaction was the largest spin-off ever in France and gave rise to a number of significant tax issues to ensure that the restructuring in connection with Suez Environnement's IPO was carried out in a tax neutral fashion.

Mayer Brown's team offers a range of tax advice but focuses on M&A and leveraged buyouts. Eighty percent of its work comes from stand-alone clients including Pernod Ricard, The Carlyle Group and Morgan Stanley. Over the past few months the group ... [more]

Niels Dejean heads the small team at Shearman & Sterling. He represented Société Générale in the deal with Crédit Agricole to combine their asset management operations. He also advised Orbeo, the 50/50 joint-venture between Rhodia and Société Générale, ... [more]

Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom focuses on cross-border transactions and litigation. Renowned partner Philippe Derouin is a popular name on the French market. He is described by one peer as "very active". This year he has advised Air France KLM in ... [more]

Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom focuses on cross-border transactions and litigation. Renowned partner Philippe Derouin is a popular name on the French market. He is described by one peer as "very active". This year he has advised Air France KLM in a four-way joint venture with Delta Northwest and Match.com in its merger with Meetic, a French listed company, in a $100 million deal.

Gauthier Blanluet, partner at Sullivan & Cromwell, has advised on some big-ticket transactions this year. He represented Crédit Agricole in the €6.6 billion combination of its asset management business with Société Générale's and Suez Environnement on ... [more]

Gauthier Blanluet, partner at Sullivan & Cromwell, has advised on some big-ticket transactions this year. He represented Crédit Agricole in the €6.6 billion combination of its asset management business with Société Générale's and Suez Environnement on listings on Euronext Paris and Euronext Brussels. The company's market capitalisation upon listing was about €8.3 billion. Other clients include Caisse Nationale des Caisses d'Epargne and Goldman Sachs.

Taj, Deloitte's affiliate firm in France, is commended for its visibility in the transfer pricing field. Michel Aujean and Gianmarco Monsellato are two of the practice's most highly regarded advisers.

Marie-Hélène Raffin at Willkie Farr & Gallagher is noted for her restructuring work. The team advised France Télécom and Thales, a defence contractor this year. Competitors note that Pierre Ullmann's arrival three years ago from Brandford Griffith boosted ... [more]

Marie-Hélène Raffin at Willkie Farr & Gallagher is noted for her restructuring work. The team advised France Télécom and Thales, a defence contractor this year. Competitors note that Pierre Ullmann's arrival three years ago from Brandford Griffith boosted the team significantly.

Ashurst has been mentioned this year for its continuing improvement. The small team comprising Catherine Charpentier and Nadine Gelli advises domestic and international corporates, banks and funds on all tax aspects relating to their transactions

De Pardieu Brocas Maffei has made a number of significant hirings this year, which have boosted the team. Highly regarded lawyer Bernard Boutemy joined from Baker & McKenzie along with partner Sarah Espasa-Mattei and senior associate Hélène Petard-Montredon. ... [more]

De Pardieu Brocas Maffei has made a number of significant hirings this year, which have boosted the team. Highly regarded lawyer Bernard Boutemy joined from Baker & McKenzie along with partner Sarah Espasa-Mattei and senior associate Hélène Petard-Montredon. All three focus on the taxation of financial transactions. Emmanuel Chauve and Alexandre Blestel have special expertise in real estate taxation. They are both mentioned for skills in this field. One competitor also noted the group's increasing presence in litigation. Its impressive client list includes France Telecom, Accor, Société Générale, BNP Paribas and Casino.

The two tax partners at Jones Day, Christopher Potter and Vincent Agulhon, advise both French and international clients on the tax aspects of cross-border investments and infrastructure investment projects. One peer recommends Potter calling him "a good ... [more]

The two tax partners at Jones Day, Christopher Potter and Vincent Agulhon, advise both French and international clients on the tax aspects of cross-border investments and infrastructure investment projects. One peer recommends Potter calling him "a good lawyer". The team includes five associates.

Hervé Israël heads the tax team at Lovells. He works alongside four other lawyers. The team advised AXA on the tax issues in relation to the setting up of a structure for the distribution of an innovative investment-related insurance product. They also ... [more]

Hervé Israël heads the tax team at Lovells. He works alongside four other lawyers. The team advised AXA on the tax issues in relation to the setting up of a structure for the distribution of an innovative investment-related insurance product. They also advised Accor on the strategic alliance concluded between Accor Services and MasterCard Europe. The deal has resulted in the setting up of the joint venture, PrePay Solutions. PrePay Solutions, based in the UK, is designed to become a European leader in prepaid cards and services.

Stephane Chaouat is the only tax partner at Weil Gotshal & Manges. He advises French domestic and international corporate clients on a variety of tax issues including M&A, restructurings, joint ventures and indirect tax.

Brandford Griffith & Associés has just one tax partner. Roland Poirer advises on tax matters in the areas of M&A, reorganisations, financial instruments and real estate. He also acts for clients in litigation disputes.

Ariel Harroch at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher is regarded as a "very good corporate tax lawyer", even though he does not practice tax law exclusively. Associates Jérôme Delaurière and Charlotte Prest work with him. They advise on domestic and international ... [more]

Ariel Harroch at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher is regarded as a "very good corporate tax lawyer", even though he does not practice tax law exclusively. Associates Jérôme Delaurière and Charlotte Prest work with him. They advise on domestic and international corporate tax.

Pierre Appremont heads the tax department at French law firm Lefèvre Pelletier & Associés. He specialises in real estate taxation but also advises on all areas of tax affecting corporations including VAT and litigation.

Moisand Boutin & Associés is a new entry this year. The firm's practice is led by five partners. They advise local and international clients on all aspects of tax law, ranging from tax optimisation to litigation. Cargill, Thermo Fisher and Icade are ... [more]

Moisand Boutin & Associés is a new entry this year. The firm's practice is led by five partners. They advise local and international clients on all aspects of tax law, ranging from tax optimisation to litigation. Cargill, Thermo Fisher and Icade are some of their clients.

Nixon Peabody is a firm to watch over the next year. It opened its tax group in Paris this year after two partners and a number of associates joined from Taylor Wessing.

Paul Hastings' tax group now consists of one partner, Allard de Waal, after Henri de Feydeau retired this year. De Waal works alongside two associates. He specialises in transactional tax matters, including restructurings, and also advises on transfer ... [more]

Paul Hastings' tax group now consists of one partner, Allard de Waal, after Henri de Feydeau retired this year. De Waal works alongside two associates. He specialises in transactional tax matters, including restructurings, and also advises on transfer pricing issues. He is recommended by peers for his transactional tax skills.

Taylor Wessing is in the process of rebuilding its tax group after two partners left to open Nixon Peabody's Paris tax department. Remaining partner Christophe Flaicher, who created the Taylor Wessing practice in 2003, hopes the team will be back to ... [more]

Taylor Wessing is in the process of rebuilding its tax group after two partners left to open Nixon Peabody's Paris tax department. Remaining partner Christophe Flaicher, who created the Taylor Wessing practice in 2003, hopes the team will be back to three or four partners and three or four associates in the next few months. At the moment he is working with two associates. Flaicher advises on all aspects of tax. He is a well regarded lawyer in the Paris market. One significant matter he was involved in this year was for NMPP, a company which distributes magazines in France. It had been engaged in litigation with the tax authorities in a dispute over business tax for a few years. The press in France is a very difficult market and they needed cash. After discussions with the government and representatives from the Parliament, Flaicher obtained an exemption for all companies. In the end NMPP got a refund of €40 million.

Tirard Naudin is a boutique, specialising in all aspects of international taxation. It is an independent firm working for corporations and wealthy private clients with cross border needs. Co-founders Jean-Marc Tirard and Maryse Naudin are well respected ... [more]

Tirard Naudin is a boutique, specialising in all aspects of international taxation. It is an independent firm working for corporations and wealthy private clients with cross border needs. Co-founders Jean-Marc Tirard and Maryse Naudin are well respected figures with over 50 years of tax advisory experience between them.

Christophe Delrieu joined Veil Jourde last year and is commended by peers as being "an excellent professional". The group works closely with the firm's M&A team and assists on sales and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts and restructurings. Yves-Charles ... [more]

Christophe Delrieu joined Veil Jourde last year and is commended by peers as being "an excellent professional". The group works closely with the firm's M&A team and assists on sales and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts and restructurings. Yves-Charles Zimmermann is also mentioned.

Eight lawyers make up the Paris tax team at White & Case including partners Norbert Majerholc and Alexandre Ippolito. The team advised a number of high profile clients this year including Suez Environnement on its carve out and spin-off in connection ... [more]

Eight lawyers make up the Paris tax team at White & Case including partners Norbert Majerholc and Alexandre Ippolito. The team advised a number of high profile clients this year including Suez Environnement on its carve out and spin-off in connection with the merger of Suez and Gaz de France groups, a deal worth $9 billion, and Starwood Capital and Société du Louvre, its hotel subsidiary, on the tax aspects of the sale of a portfolio of luxury hotels to MBI International.