France

CMS Francis Lefebvre Avocats is a business law firm in France established in 1925. The firm has almost 450 lawyers and three offices in France: in Lyon, Paris and Strasbourg. 

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm has a focus on debt capital markets deals, but it is also very active in structured finance and securitisation capital markets, financial services regulatory and project development. 

Key clients 

For banking and finance, key clients of the firm include Société Générale, BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Natixis, LCL Le Crédit Lyonnais, CIC (including Crédit Industriel et Commercial, Banque CIC Est, Banque CIC Ouest and CIC Lyonnaise de Banque), Arkéa Banque Entreprises et Institutionnels, NGE, Warburg Pincus/Groupe Polyplus Transfection and Credit Suisse Asset Management. 

For capital markets, key clients of the firm include Crédit Agricole, HSBC, CAFFIL, Bpifrance, My Money Bank, Barclays, Imerys, Klépierre, Octo Finances, SFIL and La Banque Postale. 

For financial services regulatory, key clients of the firm include Hines, N26, iMGlobal Partner, Kriptown, Agrica, Redburn (Europe), Market Securities, Makor Securities, Mirovaand Stellium Invest. 

For project development, key clients of the firm include GRTgaz, Photosol, Sorégies, Nordex, Montansolar, EWZ, Meridiam and Ailes Marines. 

For project finance, key clients of the firm include 3i, Mirova, Engie, Bouygues Bâtiment, Meridiam, Syndicat Mixte des Transports en Commun de l’Agglomération Clermontoise and Deutsche Bank 

For restructuring and insolvency, key clients of the firm include Atradius, Banque Palatine and FCP Micado France, Sodiaaland its affiliates, Saint-Gobain, Mutares, Hainan Airlines, Vita Polymeres, CEGC (Natixis/BPCE), Natixis and Monsoon Accessorize. 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023) 

Restructuring  

"Respond on time and understand the complexity of the situation."