A&O Shearman is capable of handling all types of cases, from industrial accidents and human rights matters to the most sophisticated financial cases. The team particularly excels in the latter field where banks and financial institutions entrust it with critical cases including headline tax evasion and money laundering cases. The team, which also stands out for its ability to handle matters raising simultaneous criminal, civil, regulatory and commercial proceedings, has recently been retained to handle a high-stakes unfair commercial practices case. The group also regularly assists financial institutions before African courts. The highly regarded Denis Chemla co-chairs the practice alongside Hippolyte Marquetty, Dan Benguigui and counsel Paul Fortin.

Established white-collar criminal law boutique Antonin Lévy & Associés A.A.R.P.I. is called upon by high-profile clients, including leading French and international companies, CEOs and other high-level ranking executives and political figures, to handle their most sensitive cases. The firm has a strong know-how dealing with corruption, money laundering, tax criminal law, consumer and environmental criminal law cases, as well as corporate and financial criminal law investigations. It manages a large and prominent caseload that features several of France’s most high-profile political and international corruption scandals, as well as several proceedings concerning significant industrial accidents. Recently, the firm has also been retained by a leading company to assist with new emerging war crime complicity accusations concerning the French business community. The highly recognised Antonin Lévy jointly heads the practice alongside Ophélia Claude and Joris Monin de Flaugergues. Since publication, the entire team joined Paul Hastings LLP.

Boutique firm Bougartchev Moyne Associés manages a prominent caseload featuring a large number of sensitive headline cases, dealing with international corruption, fraud, illegal employment and criminal tax offences as well as some new emerging cryptocurrency fraud issues. The team has a strong involvement in the defence sector where it assists top companies and also individuals accused of bribery and corruption in relation to contracts concluded in Asia and other parts of the world. The firm acts for top executives and leading companies specialising in various other industries, including online delivery and banking, while also assisting foreign citizens in resisting extradition orders. A top name in France, Kiril Bougartchev jointly heads the practice alongside the highly experienced Emmanuel Moyne, Geoffroy Goubin  recently promoted partner Edward Huylebrouck.

Bredin Prat is a recognised market leader and handles a strong share of headline cases including several of France’s most high-profile criminal tax law disputes. Acting for leading banks and many major French and international companies or their top executives, the firm is also entrusted to handle high-stakes industrial scandals and accidents, bribery, financial criminal law and criminal employment law offences. Recently, the team has also been retained to handle a highly sensitive accusation concerning complicity in a crime against humanity; a new emerging type of offence in the French business world. Eric Dezeuze   is an expert in the field and Guillaume Pellegrin is the other key player in the team.

Dispute resolution boutique Chemarin & Limbour has significant white-collar criminal law expertise and is retained by leading companies and senior executives for their most challenging matters. The team regularly handles headline tax fraud and international corruption cases. It recently obtained the acquittal of a client in first instance proceedings in a high-profile case concerning a plane crash. The team has also played a key part in the country’s landmark moral harassment at work trial. Its client base is diverse and includes major names in the aviation, telecoms, mining and engineering sectors. The practice is headed by the highly recognised Claudia Chemarin and includes Matthias Guillou.

Clifford Chance has extensive experience managing high-stakes international corruption, money laundering and tax fraud cases, but can also deal with a wider variety of cases including securities offences. The team stands out for its ability to handle complex cross-border cases involving other foreign investigation authorities, and is among the Paris-based firms that have signed the most deferred prosecution agreements (CJIP) with the PNF on behalf of its clients – in 2023 it concluded two more very sizeable ones. Its enforcement expertise goes-in-hand with strong internal investigation and compliance know-how. The team acts for leading corporations as well as many leading French and international banks, and can also assist individuals. Heads of practice Thomas Baudesson and Charles-Henri Boeringer are excellent. They are supported by counsel Alice Dunoyer de Segonzac.

Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier arguably houses the market’s most impressive business criminal practice and the diversity of its caseload is particularly remarkable. The team is retained by high-ranking executives and elected figures, as well top companies specialising in various industries, including accounting, retail, TMT, banking and manufacturing, which lead to a very busy caseload. It regularly deals with corruption and bribery allegations, and is also notably involved in several of the market’s landmark tax fraud and corruption cases. The team is also entrusted with cases raising new issues including concealed work accusations targeting internet platforms and allegations of complicity in crime against humanity made against corporations. The practice is headed by the remarkable Christophe Ingrain, who is supported by a team of associates including Paul Mallet, Tristan Gautier and Xavier Philips.

White-collar criminal law boutique Cabinet Delecroix Gublin is entrusted by blue-chip companies, notably active in the aviation, defence and mining fields, as well as CEOs of high-profile companies to assist with high-stakes cases. The firm stands out for its ability to handle sensitive international corruption cases arising from its clients’ global operations. The team is also retained to handle industrial accidents and fraud-related cases and is involved in a landmark moral harassment case. Practice head Alexis Gublin is ‘a very talented strategist and litigator’.

White-collar criminal law boutique Cabinet Maisonneuve manages a high number of headline cases, defending individuals and companies, including former or incumbent high-level civil-servants and political figures and executives, in cases regularly involving the PNF and concerning fraud corruption, doping and embezzlement accusations. The team also deals with high-stakes criminal employment issues, notably representing senior executives and companies in moral harassment cases, or defending a digital platform accused of concealed work. The practice includes the highly regarded Patrick Maisonneuve, Antoine Maisonneuve, Bérénice de Warren and Rémi Lorrain.

August Debouzy has a large and experienced able to assist clients at various stages, from early compliance to prosecution phases. The firm represents leading companies specialising in various industries (retail, defence, engineering, banking), as well as senior executives and some elected officials. Its caseload is as diverse and encompasses illicit advertising, insider dealing, corruption, fraud and money laundering offences. The team has gained particular expertise assisting companies negotiating deferred prosecution deals (CJIP) – it assisted clients in signing two CJIP in 2023 including a very high-profile one. The team also has strong knowledge of international sanctions and of companies’ criminal liabilities linked to conflict areas. Astrid Mignon Colombet has extensive experience and jointly leads the practice alongside Benjamin van Gaver, who litigates in all types of disputes, Valérie Munoz-Pons and Olivier Attias.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton‘s litigation team handles a good amount of white-collar criminal law work, regularly defending leading French and international banks in tax fraud, money laundering and human rights related cases before French and US court. The Paris-based practice, which also assists companies and senior executives, has a strong international component and regularly acts for clients at risk of facing human rights and war crime accusations in relations to their operations in conflict zones. For instance, the team has been advising companies on their exit from the Russian market, as well as assisting with internal investigations and preventive compliance work. Jean-Yves Garaud, Delphine Michot and counsel Guillaume de Rancourt are the key names.

Courrégé-Foreman is a renowned white-collar criminal law and litigation boutique firm that has a strong involvement in the aviation and defence sectors where it assists top names in the field in dealing with a wide range of sensitive files, including accidents, data theft and criminal employment law. The firm also handles top cases in other areas, including defending senior executives in high-profile corruption and fraud cases, while press law offences such as defamation are also dealt with. Mauricia Courrégé is highly regarded, and jointly heads the practice alongside Simon Foreman. Aurélie Girault left the firm.

White-collar criminal law boutique Dartevelle Dubest Bellanca is retained to handle challenging and sensitive cases. The firm has a strong involvement in the banking sector where it regularly assists major financial institutions in dealing with fraud and criminal consumer law issues, and also regularly handles cases in the property sector. Criminal employment law is another strong area of expertise, while the team also has extensive experience defending CEOs and other senior executives in international and domestic corruption, fraud and bribery cases and investigations. Fabrice Dubest and Frédéric Bellanca head the practice, which also includes Philippe Rossignol and Vincent Blondeau.

FTMS Avocats has extensive experience defending senior executives, high-level ranking public servants and elected individuals, as well as companies facing sensitive matters. The team is regularly retained to advise on new emerging issues including defending online platforms accused of undeclared and concealed work and has a strong involvement in the political sphere where it frequently handles major cases linked to political scandals, illegal taking of interest and other related offences. Its work in the public healthcare and media fields are also to be noted, while its caseload also encompasses several major international corruption, tax fraud and money laundering cases. The team is jointly headed by Pierre-Olivier Sur and Mathias Chichportich, with associates Clara Gérard Rodriguez  and Agathe Blanc providing key support.

Kiejman & Marembert's Thierry Marembert is a highly regarded white-collar criminal law expert and his extensive experience includes defending leading investment banks in high-profile tax fraud and money laundering cases. He also acts for companies as well as senior executives and other individuals facing a diverse range of accusations, including for instance recently acting for several Russian citizens in challenging EU sanctions applied against them.

Gosset Lasek Esclatine Avocats is an established white-collar criminal law boutique firm that is instructed by leading companies, corporate executives and individuals to handle a range of cases, predominantly acting on the defence side. The team regularly handles high-profile cases pertaining to industrial disasters, notably in the rail transport sector and is also very adept at dealing with cross-border corruption, money laundering and tax fraud cases, regularly acting in PNF-led investigations. It also defends political figures facing high-profile accusations and has know-how resisting extradition orders, notably involving China, Russia or the US. The team recently received new types of mandates concerning cryptocurrency fraud accusations. The practice is jointly headed by the Emmanuel Marsigny, Louis Guesdon and Cyril Gosset. François Esclatine was a new arrival in early 2024 from Veil Jourde.

Leading French companies and senior executives turn to white-collar criminal law boutique Schapira Associés to handle their most-high profile cases. The firm is notably involved in headline tax fraud and insider trading investigations and also handles cases relating to art, culture, sport as well as international arbitration. The team's caseload encompasses a variety of white-collar crimes, including criminal employment and corporate offences, bribery, international corruption, money laundering and breach of duty of vigilance. The team also assists clients in conducting internal investigations and with crisis situation communication. Sebastien Schapira is highly regarded; he co-heads the practice alongside Dimitri Grémont and media and criminal family law specialist Lorraine Delva.

Taylor Wessing manages a number of headline cases relating to the public sector and political spheres in which it regularly defends lawyers from other firms and political figures. The team also acts in other areas, assisting companies, CEOs, individuals and banks as victims of illicit practices and fraud, or as subject of corruption and fraud accusations. The team also has a good knowledge of the media and sport sectors where it regularly handles cases.  Paul-Albert Iweins has a wealth of experience and heads the practice alongside Benoît Goulesque-Monaux.

VIGO Cabinet d'Avocats is noted for its ability to handle highly sensitive industrial scandals for large corporations. The team has also in-depth expertise dealing with human rights-related criminal law issues, assisting NGOs or accused companies in ill-treatment, war crimes, crimes against humanity and climate change investigations in relation to companies’ operations in France or in emerging markets. The firm also handles a variety of matters including international corruption cases and compliance work. Emmanuel Daoud is the practice head.

White-collar criminal law and stock-market litigation boutique Visconti, Grundler & Artuphel grew its ranks with the hire of François Artuphel, who was previously with Haïk & Associés, further strengthening the firm founded by Benjamin Grundler and Julien Visconti. The team increasingly acts for leading French companies and investment funds, and regularly defends individuals including senior corporate executives and political figures in high-profile cases. It handles a large amount of PNF-led cases, dealing notably with tax fraud, criminal antitrust, and public and private corruption issues. It is involved in a headline criminal employment law case concerning a prominent internet services platform. Counsel Dorothée Hever also contributes.

Specialising in white-collar criminal law, ABPA - Apelbaum Bendavid Poincloux Associés fields a sizeable team that is able to handle a range of cases, representing companies, senior executives or other individuals. The team is regularly entrusted to deal with tax fraud, embezzlement, money laundering and corruption accusations including PNF-led investigations. It also handles a number of sensitive criminal employment, accident, extradition and politically related cases. The practice is headed by founding partners David Apelbaum, Michaël Bendavid and Margaux Durand-Poincloux.

ADVANT Altana's criminal law team assists a number of prominent French companies, and also defends individuals. The team manages a variety of cases including sensitive criminal labour cases. The practice is jointly headed by the well-regarded Philippe Goossens  and Gildas Robert, who was promoted to partner in 2023.

BCTG Avocats launched its white-collar criminal law practice in early 2023 following the arrival of Antoine Beauquier and Silvia Lepel, who joined from boutique firm Boken. They assist leading banks, companies and individuals facing challenging accusations including corruption, complicity in crimes against humanity and tax fraud, or as victims of fraud. The team is also regularly retained to handle matters linked to major industrial accidents on industrial sites.

Belloy & Associés was launched in Autumn 2023 by the highly experienced Félix de Belloy, who was previously with Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP; he was joined by Ralph Moughanie and Laureen Masson, who worked with him at his previous firm. The firm is involved in several headline cases, defending senior executives in sensitive tax fraud and bribery cases. The team also assists major companies.

BG2V manages a diverse caseload featuring corruption, bribery, money laundering, fraud, harassment and work concealment-related files. The firm stands out for its regular involvement alongside international internet companies which it assists with digital libel and criminal liability accusations concerning online posts on their sites. The team also has strong know-how in the food sector where it represents major food companies following food accident events or in dealing with side effects allegations concerning their products. The team is also retained by individuals and foreign nationals facing serious investigations, often concerning tax fraud and embezzlement accusations. Karim Beylouni and Julien Vernet are noted.

Géry Demard Lin & Associés is particularly noted for its know-how in the defence sector and its ability to handle sensitive corruption, customs, sanctions and trade secrets cases, particularly in relation to China, Africa and Russia – the team notably represents several major Chinese companies. The firm’s caseload also extends to many other areas and matters; for instance it regularly assists French and international companies and individuals in dealing with tax fraud and other financial and corporate criminal law offences and also regularly acts in high-profile industrial accident cases. The practice is jointly headed by experienced duo François Gery and Nicolas Demard.

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.‘s team combines strong compliance and white-collar investigation expertise, representing banks, companies and senior executives and individuals. The firm is able to handle investigations and proceedings, spanning a wide range of criminal accusations including international corruption, bribery and tax fraud offences. It has also been retained recently to act on files raising more novel issues including complicity in crimes against humanity and other offences relating to international human rights concerning companies’ operations overseas. The firm has the ability to assist with cross-border investigations and cases, and its involvement also extends to many other areas such as banking products, pharmaceutical trials and cases with a political angle. The highly experienced Sophie Scemla  and Bruno Quentin are the key contacts. Counsel François Voiron provides additional support.

Through Jonathan Mattout, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP has a solid practice able to handle complex and challenging cases. The team, which combines strong compliance and white-collar criminal law know-how, assists a diverse client base including banks and regularly acts for clients facing PNF-led corruption, bribery and tax fraud investigations. The practice is currently involved in one of the market’s largest tax fraud cases, while its range of involvement also encompasses many other areas including criminal employment law. It also regularly assists clients, notably banks, as victims of fraud.

White-collar criminal law boutique firm Huc-Morel Labrousse Avocats is well established in the field and sought after by leading corporations to assist with compliance, internal investigations and criminal law proceedings. The firm notably assists companies and CEOs facing investigations in relation to industrial accidents or criminal employment law offences including harassment and work concealment. It also handles fraud and corporate criminal law cases including defending an individual in a particularly large tax fraud case. Nicolas Huc-Morel is well known in his field and jointly heads the practice alongside Cédric Labrousse. The team also includes Julie Fréal-Saison.

King & Spalding LLP is involved in several headline cases, notably linked to misuse of company assets and tax fraud accusations. The firm regularly defends senior executives, while also regularly representing companies in a range of matters including counterfeiting, fraud and international sanctions investigations. The Paris-based practice also regularly combines forces with its US counterparts to handle international cases, notably when US authorities are involved. The team also assists NGOs and victims of terrorism and human rights violations. Practice head Jean Tamalet and counsel  Aurélie Chazottes are the key names.

Reinhart Marville Torre defends companies as well as senior executives and individuals in a range of matters. The firm notably has a strong criminal employment law practice and is a popular choice for employers for work accident and harassment claims. It is also involved in tax fraud and corporate criminal cases. Jean Reinhart is well known in his field. Also recommended are Olivier Bluche  and Agathe Moreau, who often deal with criminal employment law issues. Commercial and corporate litigator Louis-Marie Absil is also involved, while the arrival in early 2024 of Gaspard Lundwall, who was previously with  Veil Jourde, further bolsters the practice.

White-collar criminal law boutique Soulez Larivière Avocats' team is entrusted to handle a range of matters for companies, SMEs and executives. The team notably has a strong know-how managing industrial accidents and is regularly retained to assist in proceedings initiated following employees’ accidents, industrial fires, airplane crashes and healthcare scandals. Criminal employment law is another strong area of expertise and the firm was recently retained to assist with a large-scale work harassment case. The team also handles a good amount of sensitive corruption and tax fraud cases and is acting in one of France’s most high-profile proceedings regarding terrorism complicity accusations concerning a major company, and has been retained recently on matters raising novel crypto data tools issues. The practice is led by Aurélia Grignon and Capucine Lanta de Bérard.

Veil Jourde's white-collar criminal practice relies on the expertise of a senior team capable of handling a range of cases. The team assists a prominent client base, comprising top companies and senior executives including top banks and a leading luxury goods brand, and is currently acting in several of France’s most high-profile cases in relation to moral harassment and tax fraud. The practice also regularly handles sensitive matters pertaining to the political sphere defending elected figures and public servants. Jean Veil is an authority in the market. Also involved are Georges Jourde, Emmanuel Rosenfeld, Pierre-François Veil and François Esclatine  . Gaspard Lundwall and  François Esclatine left the firm.

DLA Piper

Eversheds Sutherland (France) LLP

GKA & Associés

Gutkès Avocats

Jones Day

Navacelle

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP

White & Case LLP

YL Avocats