Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability
Global Guide 2024 : France
Band 2
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+33 1 40 06 54 00Chambers Review
The firm acts for a roster of prominent multinational and domestic clients, utilising its network of offices to advise on multi-jurisdictional transactions. The team boasts strong expertise in corporate deals, including public M&A, equity investments and joint ventures. It is also active in share disposals and restructurings. The lawyers demonstrate broad industry knowledge spanning infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, TMT and banking. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.
Work Highlights
- The firm acted for Campari on the EUR119 million acquisition of Picon from Diageo.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The team provides very strong client service. The lawyers are very commercial, with excellent responsiveness. They understand the big issues and tackle them in a creative way; this is what we appreciated the most."
"The lawyers are very good. They are always trying to find solutions and stay very calm, which helps when things get tense. They offer solutions to help the deal go through."
"I would highlight the firm's global reach and wide range of capabilities. It is very comfortable knowing the team is handling the matters."
"I really enjoy working with the firm. The team are attentive to details and you really see the partners; they are hands-on."
"I can only strongly recommend the firm without any reserve as the legal partner to work with on complex and sensitive cases."
"The team provides very strong client service. The lawyers are very commercial, with excellent responsiveness. They understand the big issues and tackle them in a creative way; this is what we appreciated the most."
"The lawyers are very good. They are always trying to find solutions and stay very calm, which helps when things get tense. They offer solutions to help the deal go through."
"I would highlight the firm's global reach and wide range of capabilities. It is very comfortable knowing the team is handling the matters."
"I really enjoy working with the firm. The team are attentive to details and you really see the partners; they are hands-on."
"I can only strongly recommend the firm without any reserve as the legal partner to work with on complex and sensitive cases."
Notable Practitioners
Marc Castagnède is well versed in a broad range of M&A transactions. He acts for French and international corporates as well as financial institutions and life sciences companies.
"Marc Castagnède is a very good lawyer. He is constructive and a deal maker."
"Marc Castagnède is extremely committed to the deal and to the customer. He is very available and he is not the type of partner who is away from the deal. He is on the ball, does the drafting and is very involved, which makes us feel very comfortable."
Alexandre Ancel represents corporates and investment funds in M&A deals, frequently within the infrastructure, energy and technology sectors.
"Alexandre Ancel is here to defend his clients' interests. He finds creative solutions, provides a good level of detail and advises you on when to pick your battles - he is very good at that."
"Alexandre Ancel is very commercial and he knows when we need him. He knows when the client should front the negotiation and also when to make a point; he is very efficient."
Guillaume Isautier has experience acting on joint ventures, cross-border sales and investments for a range of clients, including financial institutions and life sciences companies. He joined Allen & Overy in April 2023.
"Guillaume Isautier is very smart in how he approaches negotiations. He is not looking for conflict; rather, he looks to find solutions. He knows how to handle complexity and adversity, as well as how to adapt to make the deal work."
"He is a lawyer we appreciate a lot and have a lot of trust in."
"I recommend Guillaume Isautier and really like him. He is an amazing lawyer."
Ranked Lawyers at
A&O Shearman
France