The Olswang law firm's Paris office opened in 2011. It currently comprises around 20 lawyers who previously practiced in several major French, British and US law firms, and who operate primarily in the following areas:

• corporate law, mergers & acquisitions, public offerings, joint ventures
• securities law and litigation
• banking and finance law, asset financing, acquisition financing, audiovisual financing
• capital market
• fund structuring, investment services
• corporate restructuring
• public law
• tax law: corporate, M&A, and personal taxation, transfer pricing, stock options and employee stock ownership
• international projects, particularly in emerging countries
• commercial litigation
• audiovisual and media law
• Intellectual Property

The firm's clients include major European and US financial institutions as well as individual blue chip industrial companies and medium-sized companies operating in the food production, telecommunication and IT sectors. They also include a number of investment funds and investment service providers.

All the lawyers in the Paris office are familiar with international operations, either because they regularly represent foreign companies in their investments in France, or because they advise French companies on their projects overseas, whether in Europe or in emerging countries.

In addition to French, the following languages are spoken at the law firm: English, Spanish, Italian, Serbo-Croatian and Chinese.

Corporate - Corporate law
Banking & Finance
Public law
Tax law
Litigation

Corporate - Corporate law 

The firm's Corporate Department in Paris is headed by two partners: Guillaume Kessler and Vanina Paolaggi.

Our Corporate Department lawyers have first-hand experience of mergers, acquisitions, public offerings, restructurings, capital investments, privatizations and IPOs. They work closely with lawyers in the Tax Law and Banking & Financial Law departments and with the firm's overseas offices if required.

Mergers, Acquisitions - Restructurings

The department assists French and foreign clients in connection with acquisitions and restructurings of listed and unlisted companies. The firm frequently works on transnational operations. Our clients are industrial companies from the major sectors of the French economy, financial institutions and investment funds, both French and foreign, operating in the main industrial and commercial sectors.

Private Equity

The Corporate Department is renowned for its extensive experience in advising on private equity transactions, venture capital investments for transnational takeovers and is involved at every stage of these operations until their completion. Our lawyers advise investors, target companies and the directors of the companies concerned.

LEGAL 500 Paris 2012-2013 : Mergers & acquisitions - recommended: tier 7

Olswang has recruited Guillaume Kessler and Vanina Paolaggi from Brandford-Griffith & Associés, two partners who combine a considerable experience in major tender offers, to lead the development of Olswang's mergers & acquisitions activity in Paris. The team advised OFI Private Equity Capital within the framework of its acquisition by Eurazeo.

Banking & Finance

In the fields of banking and finance, the department headed by Stéphan Alamowitch deals with all forms of credit, from conventional loans to fundraising by recourse to the capital markets, as well as alternatives to credit such as financial leasing or receivables operations (securitization, Dailly, factoring, etc.). Finally the Banking & Finance department advises on the many forms of guarantee that accompany financial transactions: sureties, guarantees of all kinds, documentary credit, credit insurance and political risk insurance.

With regard to bank financing, we negotiate all the resulting financial term sheets and contracts on behalf of financial institutions or industrial borrowers and investment funds involved as borrowers or mezzanine creditors. The context can vary from acquisition and asset financing to project financing, particularly in Africa.

With regard to the capital markets and securities, we represent either the issuers, in their senior or subordinated debt programs, treasury notes or EMTNs in France or overseas, or the arrangers, if necessary, in the context of underwriting.

Finally the Banking & Finance Department represents investment service providers.

• Acquisition Finance
• Asset Finance, Financial Lease
• French or offshore securitizations, factoring, monetization of trade receivables
• Public-Private Partnerships
• Project Finance
• Capital Markets (debts)
• Investment Services

LEGAL 500 Paris 2012-2013 :

Banking and finance - recommended: tier 5

Olswang has recruited Stephan Alamowitch from Dechert to lead its finance practice in Paris. The expertise of the French team encompasses acquisition finance, asset financing, structured and derivative finance. The team advises banks and numerous companies. It intervenes regularly for Credit Mutuel Arkea, a company that was assisted by the firm within the framework of the acquisition financing of a stake in STEF TFE.

Capital markets - recommended: tier 4

Stephan Alamowitch of Olswang Paris advises large French issuers such as Auchan, France Telecom and Imerys. The team notably operates on bond issues and drawing up of EMTN programs.

Public Law

The Public law team, headed by Emmanuel Breen, advises public entities, private operators or financial partners on operations that are subject to the provisions of public law, including public service concessions, public contracts and public property transactions. For example, it regularly advises local authorities on issues regarding public-private partnerships. It also deals with administrative litigation matters.

Through working with the Projects team, the Public Law team has contributed to the development and negotiation of major energy or infrastructure projects (BOT, IPP), as well as institutional reforms in Europe and Africa.

Tax law

The Tax Law Department, headed by Julien Monsenego, operates in all areas of tax law, both nationally and internationally. The tax team work with the firm's other departments to advise on operations conducted by its clients, but has also developed its own expertise in areas such as transfer pricing, R&D taxation and employee stock ownership.

The tax department therefore assists clients with their day-to-day operations, acquisitions, disposals and restructurings, as well as advising on tax optimization for their managers or directors, both in France and internationally. The team also provides advice in the event of tax inspections and litigation.

The department's clients are French or foreign operators, family-run or industrial groups, investment funds and large listed companies, particularly in the pharmaceutical, food production, media and new technology (Internet, software, etc.) sectors.

LEGAL 500 Paris 2012-2013 : Tax - recommended: tier 7

Olswang's tax practice in France is leaded by Julien Monsenego. "Available and efficient", he is a "very good listener to his clients' concerns" and delivers "pragmatic advice". Julien has an extensive expertise, notably with respect to transfer pricing and VAT issues.

Litigation

The Litigation department is headed by Géraldine Roch. The Litigation team devises strategies, prepares arguments and represents clients in court or in administrative tribunals, as well as in proceedings designed to prevent disputes or resolve them. It is known for its work before the disciplinary committee of the French financial market authority. The Litigation department represents French and foreign companies and, to a lesser extent, individuals, particularly in respect of securities litigation.

Litigation activity covers many areas of business law, the firm having built up extensive experience in litigation relating to the following areas:

• Corporate Law, Stockholder Disputes
• Directors' and Officers' Liability
• Market Abuse and Stock Market Offences
• Financial Institution Control and disciplinary procedures
• Criminal law
• Unfair Competition and Commercial Contracts
• Enforcement and Precautionary Measures