French infrastructure boutique launches to 'manage the earth'

Yves-René Guillou, who was previously the sole partner at Yves-René Guillou Avocats, has promoted three associates to partner in the new firm, which will be called Earth Avocats.

Guillou and his partners Clémence Cordier, Thomas Laffargue and Florence David will focus exclusively on public law transactions and contentious issues, including planning, finance and procurement work.

He told The Lawyer the firm would act on deals and cases that helped “manage the earth”. Guillou added that Earth Avocats was aiming to become not only the leading French firm in public projects work but also the world’s leader in the area.

Earth Avocats currently has two of counsel and eight other lawyers in addition to its partners. Guillou said he hoped to open offices in Marseille and either Rome or London before the end of the year and was already talking to a team of four lawyers.

The launch is the latest in a string of independent boutique firms to open in Paris this year.