Distinctions

2019

• 2019

  Tax

  Racine has ‘high-level expertise and enjoys good relationships with the French authorities’. The ‘available and business-oriented’ nine-lawyer team advises major companies, as well as significant property investment funds on transactional tax issues. It recently assisted Mediawan with its acquisition of EuropaCorp’s French TV business, and Deka Immobilien with the acquisition of Engie’s former headquarters. The firm also handles litigation and advises individuals. Eurotunnel, Infrared and Tristan Capital Partners are among its other clients.

• 2019

  Real Estate - Construction

  Racine provides ‘excellent support in a very efficient way’. The firm’s wide-ranging expertise spans investment, lease, construction and litigation matters. It can rely on strong tax support and a large regional office network. It is sought out by high-profile luxury brands and asset manager clients to negotiate commercial leases including flagship stores. The practice also assists property investors including Tristan Capital Partners, which it assisted with the sale of a portfolio. The team is also advising on building and hotel construction and renovation work. KanAm Grund, Gecina, BNP Real Estate, Cartier and Icade are other clients.

• 2019

  Insolvency

  Racine has a strong practice and is regularly instructed by key stakeholders and debtors to handle major industrial and LBO restructuring cases. The team recently acted for leading newspaper and magazine distributor Presstalis in high-stake conciliation proceedings and advised LBO France on the sale of its majority stake in Karavel-Promovacances and Fram. The practice also assisted investors with asset takeover offers.

• 2019

  Employment

  Racine’s ‘highly proficient, available and reactive’ 17-lawyer team advises high-profile French and international companies across various sectors including insurance, energy, transportation, distribution and telecoms. The practice, which has ‘great knowledge of the banking sector’, also acts for several leading French banks. The firm was recently in high demand to assist with reorganisations including collective downsizing and litigation. The team also advised on the employment aspects of M&A transactions, managers’ incentives, insolvency and sensitive litigation including sexual harassment issues.

• 2019

  Competition/European Law

  The competition and antitrust team at Racine consists of three partners. Valérie Ledoux recently assisted Groupe Perle du Nord and the main producers of endives in their appeal against the FCA’s decision to fine them on the grounds of collusion and the maintenance of minimum prices. She also acted for Brandalley in its complaint to the regulator pertaining to an alleged foreclosure strategy implemented by competitor Vente-privée through exclusivity agreements with most high-end fashion suppliers. Bastien Thomas is also a name to note; he recently oversaw the conclusion of PSA’s joint venture with Japanese group Nidec for the design and manufacturing of electric automotive engines in France. The firm’s recent caseload also includes a number of national and European-level regulatory investigations.

• 2019

  IP/IT & Data protection

  Racine has recruited a new team of four lawyers specialized in new technologies and personal data from Alain Bensoussan Avocats, which is led by the very experienced Eric Barbry who acts as DPD (Data Protection Officer) for several companies. The team advises large French groups and public bodies specialized in many fields.

• 2019

  Public law

  The Racine’s team is ‘highly available’ and ‘know how to work in difficult situations with high-pressure’. The firm is renowed for its strong expertise in urban planning law. The team was take on by Icade to audit a building permit for the transformation of an industrial site into a 92-room hotel complex near the Ourcq Canal. It also assisting Altarea Cogedim with the renovation project of the Gare du Nord and recently advised RWE on the renewal of power purchase agreement for one of its hydroelectric plants and managed litigation concerning an exploration permit. Finally, the firm is endowed with a strong and quite rare expertise in the rural field and agribusiness.

• 2019

  Dispute resolution

  Racine handles corporate, commercial and some arbitration cases. The firm acts for major companies and is notably involved in several individual and family shareholders’ disputes and international litigation.

2018

• 2018

  M&A

  “Racine ‘always intervenes in a very efficient way, by sizing the teams adequately and according to the complexity of the files’. The team advises major French and international groups, as well as investment funds.”

• 2018

  Administrative and public law

  “Racine has solid expertise in the field of town planning law. The 15-lawyer team also has extensive experience in the field of public contracts and in agribusiness and rural life.”

• 2018

  EU Competition and Distribution

  “Racine is handling some sensitive antitrust work in the agribusiness sector. The team is also dealing with abuse of dominance and cartel investigations in other sectors, as well as merger control work and distribution law.”

• 2018

  Insolvency

  Racine acts for distressed companies, the management and some investors. The 13-lawyer team regularly acts in key cases and notably represented the management in French magazine Marianne’s successful conciliation proceedings. The practice is also assisting CDR Créances with the high-profile Bernard Tapie case.

• 2018

  Employment

  “Racine ‘always intervenes in a very efficient way, by sizing the teams adequately and according to the complexity of the files’. The team advises major French and international groups, as well as investment funds.”

• 2018

  Litigation

  “Racine handles a diverse caseload. It is notably representing family members in several shareholders’ conflicts and is also acting for major French companies in commercial and corporate litigation.”

• 2018

  Real Estate

  “Racine’s lawyers are accessible and master the legal environment in the fields of real estate and construction. They provide indispensable advice in a changing legal landscape and can quickly mobilize their resources”.

2017

• 2017

  Real Estate – Construction

  “Racine has significant knowledge in real estate development and construction. The firm’s expertise ‘is highly sought by leading companies and developers for the negotiation of commercial and office leases.”

• 2017

  Insolvency

  “Responsive and efficient’, Racine’s team often represents shareholders or distressed companies. The firm is handling a high volume of work, including several high-profile and complex cases.“

• 2017

  Employment

  “Racine has more than 30 lawyers advising large French and international corporations. This practice has gained particular expertise in insolvency proceedings. Other recent work includes restructuring work and high-stakes litigation.”

• 2017

  EU Competition and Distribution

  “Racine is handling some sensitive antitrust work in the agribusiness sector. The team is also dealing with abuse of dominance and cartel investigations in other sectors, as well as merger control work and distribution law.”

2019

• 2019

  Restructuring

  Well reputed for advising both debtors and lenders on debt restructurings, distressed M&A and liquidation proceedings. Additional expertise in safeguard and conciliation procedures, as well as insolvency disputes. Assists clients from a broad range of sectors.

• 2019

  Real Estate

  Advises clients on all aspects of real estate matters from project development to rental management. Client list includes real estate investors, developers and financial institutions. Strong expertise in both contentious and non-contentious leasing matters.

2018

• 2018

  Real Estate

  “Enters the rankings this year following positive market feedback. Advises clients on all stages of real estate projects from land development to rental management. Client list includes real estate investors, developers and financial institutions.”

  One source highlights the responsiveness of the lawyers: “They are very reactive to the issues, respectful of the deadlines and give you a lot of information throughout the matter.”
  Another client praises the team for being “really practical” and appreciates that the lawyers “understand the business.”

  The team acted for KanAm on the acquisition of Le Compernic, an office complex in the Paris region. They also represented Icade in its negotiations with an insurance group regarding two commercial leases in Nanterre.

• 2018

  M&A (Mergers & Acquisitions)

  The M&A team is “Adept at handling an array of corporate matters including corporate restructurings, distressed M&A and private equity deals.” They have a “Strong industry knowledge of the retail, energy, utilities and real estate sectors”. Clients praise the department’s “smart and very responsive lawyers.” They “assisted Mediawan and its founders on the establishment and structuring of a special purpose acquisition company. They also represented Adeo in its acquisition of Alice Délice”. The M&A team have “significant Clients  has Nexity, Richemont, Manutan International, Eurofins and Cofely Endel”.

• 2018

  Restructuring

  “Well reputed for advice to both debtors and lenders on debt restructurings, distressed M&A and liquidation proceedings. Additional expertise lies in safeguard plans, distressed M&A transactions and insolvency disputes. They demonstrates capabilities in cross-border mandates.”

  “Market commentators recognise the team for its experience in the French market, most notably in insolvency proceedings and LBOs.”

  The department “Assisted Bruno Saint Hilaire with the restructuring of its 2012 safeguard plan and the reorganisation of its bank debt.” They also “advised Chez Clément on issues arising from the judicial receivership proceedings over the company.”

2017

• 2017

  M&A

  The M&A department features in the 2017 edition of Chambers Europe: “Adept at handling an array of corporate matters including reorganisations, M&A litigation and strategic alliances. Strong industry knowledge of the retail, energy, utilities and real estate sectors.”

• 2017

  Real Estate

  The Real Estate – Construction department is ranked on the “Other Noted Firms” list.

• 2017

  Individual ranking

  Nicolas Boytchev appears in the “Other noted practitioners” category

2019

• 2019

  Litigation

  Band 3: Acquisition litigation

  Band 4: Financial, capital market and regulatory litigation

  Band 4: Criminal business law

   

• 2019

  Restructuring

  Band 2: Collective procedures (safeguards, judicial restatements and liquidations)

  Band 2: Preventing difficulties and renegotiating debt

  Band 3: Redundancy plans and related collective litigation

2018

• 2018

  Restructuring

  Band 2: Collective procedures (safeguards, judicial restatements and liquidations)

  Band 2: Preventing difficulties and renegotiating debt

  Band 3: Redundancy plans and related collective litigation

• 2018

  Litigation

  Band 3: Acquisition litigation

  Band 4: Financial, capital market and regulatory litigation

  Band 4: Criminal business law

  Band 4: International arbitration

• 2018

  M&A

  Band 1: M&A with a majority of operations is less than 200 millions euros

2017

• 2017

  M&A

  Band 2: M&A with a majority of operations is less than 200 millions euros

• 2017

  Litigation

  Acquisition Litigation: Band 3

• 2017

  Restructuring

  Collective proceedings: Band 2
  Prevention of corporate difficulties and debt renegotiation: Band 2
  Redundancy plans and related collective litigation: Band 3

2019

• 2019

  Competition - Distribution

  Distribution and restrictive practices: Key player
  State aid: Excellent
  Antitrust and anti-competitive practices: Strong reputation
  Merger control: Strong reputation

• 2019

  Public law

  Town planning & development: Excellent

• 2019

  Litigation & competition

  Commercial litigation: Key player
  Financial litigation & equity transactions: Excellent
  High-risk litigation and criminal law related to employment: Excellent
  International Arbitration: Recognized practice
  Criminal law of health: Strong notoriety
  Criminal business law: Quality practice

• 2019

  Tax law/ Private assets

  LBO – Tax: Excellent
  Real estate transactions – Tax: Excellent
  Private assets: Excellent
  Funds creation & funds structuring: Recognized practice

• 2019

  Mergers & Acquisitions

  Operations up to 75M € : Key player

• 2019

  Risk, Management, Insurance and Litigation

  Industrial Risks, Insurance & Liability Litigation – Insurance Claims and Litigation : Strong Notoriety
  Industrial Risks, Insurance & Liability Litigation – Product Liability : Deemed Practice
  Industrial Risks, Insurance & Liability Litigation – Claims and Ground Transportation (Road and Rail) : Strong Notoriety

• 2019

  Real Estate - Construction

  Construction litigation: Key player
  Construction: Excellent
  Commercial Leases: Excellent
  Real estate development: Excellent
  Real estate transaction litigation: Excellent
  Real estate transactions – financing: Strong reputation
  Real estate transactions – investment: Strong reputation

• 2019

  Employment law

  Collective Bargaining & labour relations: Strong reputation
  Redundancy plans and related collective litigation: Excellent
  High-risk litigation and criminal law related to employment: Excellent
  Labour aspects of M&A transactions and audits relating to labour matters: Strong reputation
  Representation of management and company officers: Strong reputation
  Collective and individual compensation: Strong reputation
  Supplementary social welfare: Strong reputation
  Mobility and expatriation: Recognized practice

   

  Employment – Territories

  Employment law in Centre / Val de Loire / Pays de la Loire / Bretagne region: Key player
  Employment law in Bourgogne / Franche Compté / Grand Est region: Excellent
  Employment law in Provence-Alpes Côte d’Azur – Corse region: Excellent

• 2019

  Distressed companies / Restructuring

  Collective proceedings: advice for large-cap companies and their shareholders : Excellent
  Clients: banks and debt securities holders : Strong reputation
  Clients: Distressed buyouts : Key player
  Clients: court-appointed receivers : Excellent

2018

• 2018

  Public law

  Town planning & development: Excellent

• 2018

  Technologies, internet & Telecommunications

  Data protection: Strong reputation
  IT law: Strong reputation
  Internet law: Strong reputation

• 2018

  Health / Pharmaceutical

  Medical and hospital liability litigation: Strong reputation

  Criminal law related to health care: Strong reputation

• 2018

  Competition - Distribution

  Distribution and restrictive practices law: Key player

  State aid: Excellent

  Antitrust and anti-competitive practices: Strong reputation

  Merger control: Strong reputation

• 2018

  Litigation & Arbitration

  Commercial litigation: Key player

  Financial and equity transaction: Excellent

  High-risk litigation and criminal law related to employment: Excellent

  International arbitration: Recognized practice

  Financial, banking and equity transaction: Strong reputation

• 2018

  Employment law

  Redundancy plans and related collective litigation: Excellent
  High-risk litigation and criminal law related to employment: Excellent
  Collective bargaining and labour relations: Strong reputation
  Labour aspects of M&A transactions and audits relating to labour matters: Strong reputation
  Representation of management and company officers: Strong reputation
  Collective and individual compensation: Strong reputation
  Mobility and expatriation: Recognized practice
  Supplementary employee welfare arrangements: Strong reputation
  Employment law in the Centre / Val de Loire / Pays de la Loire / Bretagne region: Key Player
  Employment law in the Bourgogne/Franche Comté/Grand Est region: Excellent
  Employment law in the Auvergne/Rhône-Alpes region: Strong reputation
  Employment law in the Provence-Alpes Côte d’Azur/Corse region: Strong reputation

• 2018

  Real Estate - Construction

  Construction litigation: Key player

  Construction (procurement, construction work, contracts and advisory: Excellent

  Real estate development: Excellent

2017

• 2017

  Insurance

  Industrial risks and insurance litigation: Strong reputation

• 2017

  M&A

  Capital market operations : Key player

  Transactions up to €75 million: Key player

  LBO lower mid cap & small cap : Key player

  LBO – Tax : Excellent

  Capital innovation : Strong reputation

• 2017

  Public law

  Commercial urban planning : Key player

  Town planning and development : Excellent

  Town planning and development tax  : Strong reputation

  Law of public ownership : Strong reputation

• 2017

  Tax law / Private assets

  LBO – Tax: Excellent

  Real estate transactions – Tax : Excellent

  Private assets : Excellent

  Litigation and pre-litigation – Private assets : Well known

  Taxation of associations and non-profit organizations: Excellent

  M&A – Tax: Strong reputation

  VAT: Strong reputation

  Funds creation & funds structuring: Strong reputation

   

• 2017

  Leading Strategist - Bruno Cavalié

• 2017

  Competition-Distribution

  Distribution and restrictive practices law: Key player

  State aid: Excellent

  Antitrust and anti-competitive practices: Strong reputation

  Merger control: Strong reputation

• 2017

  Litigation & Arbitration

  Commercial litigation: Key player

  International arbitration: Recognised practice

  Financial, banking and M&A litigation: Strong reputation

• 2017

  Health / Pharmaceutical

  Medical and hospital liability litigation: Strong reputation

  Criminal law related to health care: Strong reputation

• 2017

  Real Estate – Construction

  Construction litigation: Key player

  Construction (procurement, construction work, contracts and advisory: Excellent

  Real estate development: Excellent

  Commercial leases: Excellent

  Real estate transaction litigation: Excellent

  Real estate transactions – financing: Strong reputation

  Real estate transactions – investment: Strong reputation

   

• 2017

  Distressed companies / Restructuring

  Collective proceedings: advice for large-cap companies and their shareholders: Excellent

  Clients: banks and debt securities holders: Strong reputation

  Clients: Distressed buyouts: Excellent

  Clients: court-appointed receivers: Key player

• 2017

  Employment law

  Collective bargaining and labour relations: Strong reputation

  Redundancy plans and related collective litigation: Strong reputation

  High-risk litigation and criminal law related to employment: Excellent

  Labour aspects of M&A transactions and audits relating to labour matters: Strong reputation

  Representation of management and company officers: Strong reputation

  Collective and individual compensation: Strong reputation

  Mobility and expatriation: Recognized practice

  Supplementary employee welfare arrangements: Strong reputation

2019

• 2019

  Individual rankings

  Eric Barbry is ranked in Who’s Who Legal France – Data

  Bastien Thomas is ranked in Who’s Who Legal France – Competition – Future leaders 2019

  Sylvain Bergès is ranked in Who’s Who Legal France – Energy

  Laurent Jourdan is ranked in Who’s Who Legal France – Insolvency

2018

• 2018

  Competition - Individual ranking

  Bastien Thomas is ranked in Global Competition Review : Who’s Who Future Leaders.

  Bastien Thomas “gets to the detail without losing sight of the big picture”, and “always knows how to deal with complex situations”.

2017

• 2017

  Competition - Individual ranking

  Bastien Thomas is ranked in Global Competition Review : Who’s Who Future Leaders.

  Bastien Thomas “gets to the detail without losing sight of the big picture”, and “always knows how to deal with complex situations”.

2019

• 2019

  Restructuring

  The team is ranked Band 4

  Antoine Diesbecq is individually ranked as “Highly regarded”

• 2019

  M&A

  The team is ranked in “Other notable”

2018

• 2018

  M&A

  Other notable

• 2018

  Restructuring

  The team is ranked Band 4

  Antoine Diesbecq is individually ranked as “Highly regarded”

2017

• 2017

  M&A

  Other notable

• 2017

  Individual ranking

  Antoine Diesbecq is ranked as “Highly regarded”

• 2017

  Restructuring

  The team is ranked in Tier 4

2019

• 2019

  Tax

  Tax – France: Tier 3

2018

• 2018

  Tax

  Tax – France : Tier 3

2017

• 2017

  Tax

  Tax – France : Tier 3

2019

• 2019

  Individual rankings

  Bruno Cavalié is ranked in « Litigation »

  Nicolas Boytchev is ranked in « Real Estate Law »

  Antoine Diesbecq is ranked in« Insolvency and Reorganization Law »

  Laurent Jourdan is ranked in « Insolvency and Reorganization Law »

  Jean-Christophe Beaury is ranked in « Mergers and Acquisitions Law »

  Fabrice Rymarz is ranked in« Tax Law »

  Bastien Thomas is ranked in « Competition / Antitrust Law »

  Eric Barbry is ranked in « Information Technology Law »

  Sylvain Bergès is ranked in « Public Law »

  Frédérique Chaput is ranked in « Competition / Antitrust Law »

  Bernard Laurent-Bellue is ranked in « Capital Markets Law »

   

2018

• 2018

  IP/IT & Data protection: Individual ranking

  Eric Barbry is ranked in the “Information Technology Law” category

2019

• 2019

  Social

  Band 1 : PES and collective litigation

• 2019

  Restructuring

  Band 1 : Preventing difficulties and renegotiating debt

  
  Band 1 : Collective Procedures

2019

• 2019

  Insurance law

  Racine is one of the best law firms in France in the category “Insurance law” of Le Point rankings

• 2019

  Banking & Finance

  Racine is one of the best law firms in the categories “Banking and capital market law” in Le Point rankings

• 2019

  Real Estate - Construction

  Racine is one of the best law firms in France in the category “Real estate” of Le Point rankings

• 2019

  Employment law

  Racine is one of the best law firms in the categories “Labour law” and “Social security law” of Le Point rankings

• 2019

  IP/IT

  Racine is one of the best law firms in France in the category “New technologies, IT & Communication law” of Le Point rankings

• 2019

  Public Law

  Racine is one of the best law firms in France in the categories “Public law” and “Environmental law” of Le Point rankings

• 2019

  Tax law

  Racine is one of the best law firms in France in the category “Tax law” in Le Point rankings.

• 2019

  M&A - Corporate

  Racine is one of the best law firms in France in the categories “Corporate law” and “Mergers and Acquisitions” of Le Point rankings

• 2019

  Competition - Distribution

  Racine is one of the best law firms in France in the categories “Commercial, Business and Competition law” and “Consumer law” of Le Point rankings