Addleshaw Goddard strengthened its regulatory practice after hiring Pierre Mathé as managing associate in April 2024, who joins derivatives expert Julien Bacus in assisting fintechs, crypto asset service, and payment providers.

Launched in early 2025, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner's practice is led by Damien Luqué, who assists asset management firms in dealing with regulatory requirements and reorganisation projects.

Structured finance and securitisation expert Vincent Danton joined Dentons in October 2025 from LPA Law, bringing expertise in banking and financial regulation, including on matters related to the credit insurance sector.

Christophe Jacomin, who joined Herald Avocats in early 2024, provides the firm with banking regulatory and banking litigation expertise, and advises a number of foreign international banks, including Arabic and Asian banks.

Stephenson Harwood hired a team led by Emmanuelle Corcos in March 2025 from EY Société d'Avocats to establish its financial regulatory practice, which handles financial services regulation, wealth, and asset management.

Headed by the highly recommended Brice Henry, A&O Shearman' team routinely assists a prominent client base of leading French and international banks, as well as leading insurers and asset management firms. The firm offers a large range of expertise, spanning banking, insurance, and finance regulation. The team provides regulatory guidance and compliance, and also assists with reorganisations, establishing activities and investment funds, and the regulatory aspects of M&A deals in the asset management and banking sectors. Mia Dassas and Pascal Molinelli are also key members of the department.

Ashurst LLP stands out for its leading expertise and pioneering work in the crypto-assets and digital finance field, where the firm assists some of the world’s most prestigious platforms and players. The practice is also retained by many leading French and international banks and financial institutions to advise on a wide range of matters, including AML and ABC compliance, the launch of new structured products, and reorganisation projects. Hubert Blanc-Jouvan leads the practice and is ably supported by Maxime Gandibleux and Francesco Assi.

Clifford Chance assists many of the world’s largest financial institutions with banking, finance, and insurance regulatory issues, offering licensing and prudential guidance.  The team also advises on regulatory issues regarding strategic financial services M&A deals, payments, ESG, fintech, derivatives, clearing, and contentious work. Also particularly active in the clearing field, the team has recently handled cutting-edge work advising on the first clearing services for Bitcoin index derivatives offered in France. The highly regarded Frédérick Lacroix is a key name within the practice, and Hélène Kouyaté and Louis-Auguste Barthout are also active members of the department.

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. demonstrates particular strength in the asset management field, where the team assists a large client base of French private equity companies, real estate players, insurers and wealth management firms with financial compliance issues and business development projects. The team is also routinely called upon to advise on the regulatory elements of strategic asset management M&A transactions, and its expertise also extends to AMF and ACPR compliance audits. In addition, the practice advises banks and other financial institutions, including payment and financial entities. The practice is co-headed by Stéphane Puel, Olivier Bernardi, Guillaume Goffin, Benjamin Delaunay, and Jean-Philippe Pons-Henry.

Linklaters advises a large range of clients, including leading French and international banks, insurers, and asset management firms, on financial services M&A deals, as well as contentious mandates. Its impressive combined regulatory and M&A capabilities particularly ensure the firm regularly handles some of the market’s most high-end deals. The team is also sought after to assist with drafting legal opinions and clients facing ACPR and ECB-led audits and disciplinary proceedings. The Paris-based team, which benefits from the firm's wider European network in London, Brussels, and Luxembourg, also features strong expertise in the asset management field. The highly regarded Marc Perrone co-heads the practice alongside Ngoc-Hong Ma.

Entirely dedicated to servicing the financial services sector, Spitz Poulle Kannan stands out for its second-to-none offering with a large and experienced 15-strong team. Leading French banks, asset management firms, and US investment funds, as well as international law firms, fintechs, and crypto-platforms, turn to the firm for regulatory guidance, including advice on new regulations, such as Dora, CRDIV, and AIFM, and for assistance with strategic transactional deals and new business licensing and expansion projects in France and in Europe. Additionally, the team is also proficient in the disciplinary and contentious field involving France’s main regulatory authorities, ACPR and AMF, as well as the ECB.  The practice is co-headed by the highly experienced trio, Arut Kannan, Jean-Baptiste Poulle, and Nicolas Spitz. 

 

Headed by Amélie Champsaur, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton's practice stands out for its excellent grasp of EU capital and ESG requirements in the banking and financial sector. The team is sought after by leading French and international banks to advise on complex regulatory issues, including CRR, CRD 6, AML, and blocking status, as well as the regulatory elements of M&A transactions conducted in the banking and asset management fields. The team also demonstrates particular strength in enforcement and contentious proceedings, as it regularly defends banks before the EU Single Resolution Board and the ECB, as well as the French ACPR authorities in relation to compliance requirements.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP is often mandated by leading French banks, major international banks, and other alternative financial institutions to advise on regulatory matters and M&A transactional work, notably in the structured finance field. The practice regularly assists with the sale of large loan portfolios. Régis Oréal, Vincent Hatton, and  Sonia Rogez are key contacts in the practice, which also houses strong enforcement, prudential, and money laundering expertise, and is retained by banks and financial institutions facing AMF, ACPR, and other types of investigations from national or international authorities. Antoine Juaristi and Martin Le Touzé are recommended in this area.

Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP features on the panel of most of France’s leading banks, while also advising many international financial institutions, fintechs, and other alternative players. The team is particularly sought after to assist with financial institutions’ internal reorganisations and with banking sector regulation spanning derivatives, CRDIV, retail banking, payment services, and anti-money laundering. It is particularly regarded for its know-how in the insurance credit regulatory field and also handles work in the payment services sector, notably for major fintechs. Sébastien Gros leads the practice, with Franck Dupret providing further key support.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP assists a diverse client base consisting of leading French and international banks, asset management firms, insurers, fintech companies, and securities and lending platforms with compliance issues and the development and reorganisation of their activities. The team's range of expertise also extends to ACPR and AMF-led compliance audits. The practice is headed by the experienced duo, Hubert de Vauplane and Hugues Bouchetemble.

Led by the 'outstanding' Béna Mara, Bredin Prat‘s practice regularly handles the regulatory aspects attached to major banking and financial sector M&A transactions. Additionally, the team also advises leading French banks and asset management firms on regulation and corporate reorganisation. The group is lauded for its 'its combination of deep subject-matter expertise' and 'commercial insight'.

Headed by regulatory and public law expert Henri Savoie, Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier’s practice is a go-to for managing financial regulatory issues related to large and cross-border M&A transactions conducted by the firm in the banking, insurance, and asset management sectors. With a strong and prominent client base of banks, the practice also offers guidance on governance and other regulatory requirements, as well as support in dealing with regulators. Guillaume Griffart also provides key support to clients in the regulatory arena.

Spearheaded by Frédéric Bellanca, Dartevelle Dubest Bellanca stands out for combining strong advisory work with contentious expertise. The team is regularly sought after by French banking institutions to assist with internal reorganisation projects, including branch closures and business extensions, and securities law is also an area of expertise for the team. The firm regularly defends clients facing AMF and other regulatory investigations, and is skilled in managing fraud and other WCC investigations and litigation.

De Gaulle Fleurance & Associés has established itself as a go-to firm for fintech and crypto-related work. The team routinely assists a large base of French and foreign fintech companies, as well as established financial institutions, who turn to the firm for the structuring of their digital projects, notably to obtain MICA licenses and EMI authorisations. The practice also advises on other financial regulatory needs, including in the field of payment requirements. Anne Maréchal is an authority in her field, and she is ably supported by Adam Stolcz and Julie Bader.

Chaired by senior stateswoman Martine Samuelian, Jeantet's team stands out for its extensive experience in the field of ACPR-led compliance audits, in which the firm assists banks and other financial institutions, particularly in relation to AML requirements. The department's range of expertise also includes advisory work on AML and other financial regulations, as well as M&A and business development projects. Olivier Lyon Lynch is another key member of the group.

Led by Emilie Rogey, who is praised as 'an expert in her field', White & Case LLP's regulatory practice is particularly active in advising on prominent banking and asset management M&A transactions. The practice also advises leading banks and fintechs on regulatory compliance and on the development of their offering.

Bird & Bird strengthened its practice after hiring Nicolas Mordaunt-Crook from PwC Société d'Avocats in February 2025 and whose range of expertise spans banking, payment, asset management, and insurance regulations. He co-heads the practice alongside Cathie-Rosalie Joly, who is particularly adept in the crypto, fintech, and payments spaces. Leading French banks, major payment institutions, fintechs, and private banks constitute the department's client portfolio, and they seek the firm’s expertise for regulatory, prudential, and compliance advice, as well as for the launch of new businesses.

Headed by Jérôme Sutour, CMS Francis Lefebvre’s practice provides solid banking and finance coverage, advising fintechs, banks, and asset management firms on financial regulation, business launches, reorganisation projects, and M&A transactions. The team also offers solid contentious and enforcement expertise, regularly defending clients before the AMF and ACPR regulators.

De Pardieu Brocas Maffei assists a varied client base of real estate funds, major insurance companies, and various financial institutions with ACPR, AMF, and other financial compliance requirements and investigations, while also advising clients facing restructuring situations. Additionally, the team provides support in handling regulatory aspects linked to M&A transactions in the asset management and financial spaces, including working on pan-European deals. Corentin Coatalem  and Paul Talbourdet lead the practice, and Côme Chaine and Alice Gaillard are also key names within the team.

DLA Piper launched its regulatory practice after hiring Pierre d’Ormesson as a partner from Clifford Chance in October 2024. The team routinely assists major asset management firms, payment institutions, banks, and various financial institutions with regulatory compliance, including AML and Dora-related matters, as well as with the launch of new businesses.

Spearheaded by Géraldine Roch, EY Société d'Avocats' regulatory practice is often sought after by French and international banks, asset management firms, and insurers to assist with a wide range of matters, such as regulatory compliance, licensing, governance, and reorganisation issues. The practice also conducts regulatory audits and provides support with major asset management M&A transactions, as well as ACPR-led compliance audits.

Norton Rose Fulbright assists leading French and UK banks with their financial regulatory requirements, the launch of new entities, and their reorganisation projects, and also advises on derivatives regulation. The team’s expertise also extends to fintech and payment institutions. The practice is co-headed by Roberto Cristofolini and Sébastien Praicheux, and Aurélie Pelisson and Célestine Barthout also provide key support.

Racine is particularly acknowledged for its strong expertise in the field of fintech and payment services, with the team advising key players on regulatory compliance and the development of their business offering. The team also assists major French banks, insurers, and asset management firms with regulatory work, including advising on EU directives transposition and on their dealing with the ACPR and other regulators regarding compliance audits and litigation. The practice is led by David Masson.

Simmons & Simmons runs a comprehensive practice and the Parisian team is particularly recognised for its strong fintech, crypto, and Mica regulation knowledge, as well as its ability to assist US hedge funds. The practice, which benefits from the wider expertise of the firm's London-based office, routinely assists banks and asset management firms with a wide array of mandates, encompassing compliance, licensing, transactional, and governance matters, as well as the establishment of new offerings, such as the launch of trading platforms for crypto assets. The practice is headed by Ian Rogers, and he is ably supported by Emilien Bernard-Alzias, another key name within the team.