Freshfields Paris Legal 500
«The company has a deep understanding of issues in the global and Nigerian oil and gas sectors. Therefore, they always provide the necessary legal advice and expert advice that protects our rights and provides indispensable solutions to support our business in Nigeria. The legal profession increasingly believes that this constant quest for transparency and accountability may be out of control; The fact that several ministers, former and current, government officials and senior officials are currently under criminal investigation for their political management of the Covid-19 health crisis cannot allay their concerns. «Freshfields has made a huge investment in this U.S. market and it shows. They have captured an immense amount of legal talent in a short period of time and I expect them to continue to grow by leaps and bounds. «They have a holistic understanding and expertise in the energy sector and are always a reliable ally in drafting diversified contracts, outstanding legal advice/expert opinions, well-prepared and articulate correspondence. The adoption of the 2017 Due Diligence Act, which provided a legal basis for the application of corporate environmental, social and ESG rules, will mark a turning point. It provides NGOs and civil society with a legal basis to publish reports identifying companies that do not comply with their ESG obligations and to take legal action. In the United States, Freshfields provides integrated and proactive legal advice to clients seeking local or international advice. The firm`s U.S. practice is an important part of its international network with nearly 200 U.S.
attorneys and more than 350 U.S. qualified attorneys practicing in its offices around the world. Moreover, it is not only regulatory oversight bodies that no longer hesitate to impose exemplary penalties. The judiciary has also been felt more strongly in recent years. Countless companies, executives, politicians and even business lawyers themselves are under ongoing investigation into fraud, corruption, bribery and money laundering. Some of them were tried in 2021 and ended with extraordinary sentences. Among the most notable are: the conviction by the Court of Appeal of UBS Bank to a record fine of €1.8 billion for tax fraud; and the two prison sentences received by former President Nicolas Sarkozy at first instance for corruption in the Eavesdropping affair and for illegal financing of his 2012 presidential campaign in the Bygmalion scandal. While this is the first prison sentence handed down by a former French president, it is far from the only prison sentence handed down in 2020 and 2021 against the political elite, and in particular former members of the Sarkozy government.
«The quality of service stands out as well as the legal technical wisdom. We draw on their expertise in the various areas involved in an M&A transaction, including corporate law, tax, competition, regulation and employment. «The team was extremely committed to a very complicated and labor-intensive multi-party transaction. They understand all the legal specifics related to the transactions of listed companies and deal with tax and benefit/compensation issues related to the transaction. «Racial Equality/Social Justice: We have taken a number of steps to promote dialogue and actions focused on racial equality and social justice within our firm and across the legal industry. The company has pledged an initial donation of $100,000 to national and local organizations in the United States that are on the front lines of the fight against racial injustice. We joined the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance and were a founding member of the Alliance for Asian American Justice. In addition, Freshfields observes Juneteenth as a holiday in American society. Many companies have responded by adopting compliance as a preventative solution. Anti-corruption compliance, officially introduced in France by the Sapin II Act of 2016, has changed the legal and corporate culture, rapidly creating new standards of practice in many areas of law, including mergers and acquisitions. Internal investigations within companies, a very rare procedure that did not exist for so long, have become a quasi-automatic reaction when whistleblowers and other incriminating allegations appear, which is increasingly the case.
«Justin Stewart-Teitelbaum was very knowledgeable about antitrust issues, as well as the processes and procedures of the government agencies overseeing these areas. His previous experience in the federal government has been invaluable. In addition, his soft skills and clear communication with external parties and our internal stakeholders have been helpful. «Pragmatic approach to litigation handling, responsiveness, industry knowledge, legal expertise.» «A very intelligent team dedicated to finding practical applications to legal theory.» «With Meghan Rissmiller, Freshfields has added impressive talent to an already exceptional team of promising professionals, including Justin Stewart-Teitelbaum.» Mary Lehner; Meghan Rissmiller; Jan Rybincek; Justin Stewart-Teitelbaum The law has already been used by NGOs to launch the first French lawsuit against oil giant Total in 2020 and to sue retail group Casino in French courts for human rights and environmental violations in Brazil in 2021.