Paul Hastings storms into French M&A top ten tables

Paul Hastings Janfosky & Walker has muscled its way into the top 10 French M&A league tables just over a year after entering the market.

The US firm carried out 44 corporate transactions valued at a total of €5.6bn (£3.79bn) in the first half of 2005. The figures, revealed in a survey carried out by French publication Le Magazine des Affaires, show that the February 2004 merger with Moquet Borde & Associés has paid off for Paul Hastings.

The top 10 is dominated by French independents and the UK magic circle. Corporate gems Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier, at number one with €26.7bn (£18.09bn) worth of deals, and Bredin Prat, at num- ber three with €23.5bn (£15.92bn), stand out.

However, both firms handled far fewer deals than Linklaters, Freshfields Bruck-haus Deringer and Clifford Chance, coming in second, fourth and fifth places respectively.

The figures indicate a resurgence in the Paris M&A market. Deals such as the merger between Pernod Ricard and Allied Domecq, and the IPO of Gaz de France, have energised the market.

Struggling French independent Rambaud Martel finished in sixth place, the first half having finished shortly before news came of a mass defection to US firm Proskauer Rose. Coudert Frères, in its last full half year of operation before the Paris office joined Dechert, also had a fairly good few months racking up 13 deals worth €477.7m (£323.6m).

The next six months look promising for the Paris offices of firms such as Gide Loyrette Nouel, Shearman & Sterling and Sullivan & Cromwell. All have scooped multiple roles on the forthcoming privatisations of Electricité de France and Areva, and should be able to rise up the rankings as those take place.