IFLR 1000
The Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms

De Pardieu Brocas Maffei's main focus is its debt capital markets practice and the firm holds its tier-two position firmly after another strong 12 months. "On the global basis, De Pardieu is very good," says one peer.

One outstanding mandate saw a team led by partner Pierre Minor advising BNP Paribas on the €200 million structured financing, which relates to the acquisition of a tax claim from a CAC 40 company listed on Euronext Paris.

One of the partners at the firm Olivier Hubert has been heavily involved in the firm's major debt transactions, particularly advising underwriters. One example saw him represent a major banking institution on a deeply subordinated debt issuance to increase the equity of a financial institution. Another example saw him advise Crédit Agricole on energy derivatives with the hope of creating a joint venture with a major energy operator. The transaction aims to develop the trading of energy future contracts and derivatives in electricity, gas, and coal sectors.

"De Pardieu Brocas Maffei does corporate, this is for sure, but I see them more on the real estate side and they've got a big real estate practice," comments on one competitor. "So they're advising M&A transactions but more on the real estate side."

The biggest M&A mandate at the firm last year saw a team of partners advising Carrefour Property in connection with the legal and tax structuring of the transfer of the group's operating real estate assets located in France, Spain and Italy, and the distribution of 25% of Carrefour Property's shares to its shareholders. The mandate was valued at €10.4 billion.

Another highlight worth €458 million saw the team acting for eight cereal cooperatives in relation to strengthen their links with the Tereos group in particular through contribution to a joint venture Tereos Agro-Industrie of their equity interest in Syral and BENP alike.

French boutique De Pardieu Brocas Maffei has drawn peers' attention in the project finance field as one says: "De Pardieu is very strong in financing in general, they're mostly working for the banks."

On the infrastructure side, partner Jean Renaud Cazali led the team advising the European Investment Bank on the €800 million financing of the concession of the motorway A63 awarded to a consortium led by Bouygues.

Elsewhere Renaud Cazali advised the arranger Société Générale and the lenders on the financing of the public-private partnership (PPP) agreement relating to a 1000 video cameras protection project. Another PPP involved project saw him again involved advising the arranger and the group of lenders on the financing of the first PPP in France relating to the conception and construction of photovoltaic plants in Vendée.

One standout transaction saw partners Jacques Henrot and Philippe Dubois lead the team representing a consortium of banks, including BNPP, SG, Calyon, Natixis, CIC, and Fortis, on the €3 billion debt restructuring of the steering committee of CMA CGM.

Partner Henrot came in for personal praise, "Jacques Henrot is an excellent lawyer, and I've been working with him in several cases, so they're very present in major files, they're very very competent people."