Mergers-Acquisitions
August & Debouzy advises on major transactions in France and North Africa where the firm has an office. Gilles August has a strong reputation and Valéry Denoix de Saint Marc and Pierre Descheemaeker are also recommended.  The team counts around thirty lawyers and acts for a wide range of industrial clients.  The firm assisted Schneider Electric Industries on the acquisition of Areva T&D alongside Alstom, and RATP on the exchange of its 25.6% stake in Transdev.

Labour Law
August & Debouzy has a stable team of around thirty lawyers and is “well-coordinated”, “accessible and very efficient”, and produces “excellent work where nothing is left to chance”.  Five partners lead the group:  Emmanuelle Barbara, Fabienne Haas, Philippe Durand, Marie-Hélène Bensadoun and Virginie Devos. The team offers wide-ranging and high-level expertise; it is always abreast of any new issues affecting labour law such as psycho-social risks for example.  The firm acts for many CAC 40 corporations, major companies and SMEs on large-scale acquisition or restructuring cases, disputed elections or complex litigation. The team is also developing its work for senior executives and managing officers.

IT, Internet and Telecoms
August & Debouzy has a “young and dynamic team” “capable of evolving and adapting to an ever-changing new technologies market”. Mahasti Razavi, Kami Haeri and Florence Chafiol-Chaumont lead the firm’s activity in this area.  They have high-level expertise on IT, Internet and data transfer protection issues.  Clients include major user companies and leading Internet and technology players such as Microsoft, Dassault Systèmes, Nokia, and Orange.

Media and Entertainment
With Mahasti Razavi, Florence Chafiol-Chaumont and Kami Haeri, August & Debouzy advises and litigates mainly in cases relating to new technologies, intellectual property law, press law. The firm acts for AFP, Lagardère, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscars), Fox Pathé Europa EIG, 20 Minutes, Canal + and TF1.

Intellectual Property
Mahasti Razavi, Kami Haeri and Florence Chafiol-Chaumont lead August & Debouzy’s IP team, which manages a portfolio of brands and advises on IP infringement issues.  It also advises on copyright, designs and models and patent licensing agreements, and issues pertaining to the new technologies sector.  The team works for a range of blue-chip clients: AFP, Nokia, Lagardère, Nike, Pernod Ricard, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscars).

Tax Law
Xavier Rhomer and Philippe Lorentz lead August & Debouzy’s tax practice.  The team comprises fifteen tax specialists who advise on the taxation of transactions and assets and also handle tax litigation.  The firm was consulted on several restructuring cases in 2009.

Government & Regulatory
August & Debouzy offers 'very responsive' expertise in government and regulatory matters based on its 'strong practical knowledge of the issues'. Dominique de Combles de Nayves' team advises a range of major clients - private companies, state-owned entities and ministries - operating in various industries including construction, transport, armament and military & aerospace.

European, Competition and Distribution Law
August & Debouzy advises major corporations on their distribution, consumer and competition law issues. Mahasti Razavi is recommended for distribution issues, and Cécile Menu-Eisenchteter for competition issues.

Commercial and Corporate Litigation
Kami Haeri and recently-promoted Marie Danis head August & Debouzy’s litigation practice.  A pool of around twenty lawyers specialise in litigation in the firm and handle a regular flow of cases on behalf of some major French companies.  In 2009, the firm handled an increasing number of pre-litigation cases, shareholder disputes and contract terminations involving high financial stakes.

International Arbitration
At August & Debouzy, Valery Denoix de Saint Marc, Marie Danis and Kami Haeri handle ICC, AFA and ad hoc arbitrations.  The team acts in pre-arbitration measures and judicial proceedings initiated alongside the arbitration proceedings.

White-Collar Crime
Kami Haeri at August & Debouzy handles some leading cases.  The firm is very pro-active in raising its clients’ awareness of criminal risks.