PARIS – Twenty-two lawyers based in global law firm Reed Smith’s Paris office have been recognised in the latest The Best Lawyers in France™ guide. Of these, four are Paris-based associates who are included as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in France™.

Reed Smith capital markets partner Baptiste Gelpi and asset finance consultant Victoria Westcott have been included as Lawyers of the Year, an exclusive honour that goes to just one lawyer per practice area in each region. This recognition is based on receiving the highest overall feedback from peers.

Gelpi has extensive experience in advising arrangers, dealers, originators, sponsors, investors and issuers in connection with a wide range of debt instruments. His practice also covers fund-related work, including fund structuring and establishment, and counselling on fund-related regulatory and compliance issues. He also regularly advises on structured debt restructurings.

Westcott has a deep understanding of transportation and social infrastructure project finance, as well as energy sector finance. Her asset finance work involves leasing transactions, financing and tax-driven structures, secured and unsecured syndicated lending and export credit financing and covers aircraft, shipping finance, satellites, equipment and other large assets.

The listing demonstrates the Paris practice’s strength in banking and finance, competition / antitrust, construction and real estate, entertainment, European Union law, health care and life sciences, intellectual property, international arbitration, litigation, maritime, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory, tax, and transportation.

The following lawyers are recognised in the 2024 edition:

Asset Finance and Banking and Finance

  • Victoria Westcott

Banking and Finance, Capital Markets and Structured Finance

  • Baptiste Gelpi

Biotechnology and Life Sciences and Intellectual Property

  • Marianne Schaffner

Competition / Antitrust, European Union Law, Litigation and Regulatory

  • Marc Lévy

Competition / Antitrust, Litigation and Regulatory

  • Natasha Tardif

Construction and International Arbitration

  • Peter Rosher

Entertainment and European Union Law

  • Sophie Goossens

Health Care

  • Daniel Kadar

Intellectual Property

  • Thierry Lautier

International Arbitration

  • Clément Fouchard

International Arbitration, Maritime Law and Transportation

  • Ana Atallah
  • Andrew Tetley

Litigation

  • Benoit Charot

Maritime Law

  • Emmanuelle Faivre

Mergers and Acquisitions

  • Isabelle MacElhone

Real Estate

  • Stéphane Illouz

Tax

  • Florence Bilger
  • Jean Pierre Collet

Four Paris-based associates – Lucile Chneiweiss (Competition / Antitrust), Solange Fau (Tax), Olivier Rivoal (Health Care) and Vanessa Thieffry (Energy and International Arbitration) are included as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in France™, a designation that recognises outstanding professional excellence in lawyers who are earlier in their careers.

Selection to the Best Lawyers® list of outstanding lawyers is based on an annual peer-review survey.