Legal 500 EMEA 2015/2022: Tax Law (Band 2)

De Pardieu Brocas Maffei is home to the market’s most sought after tax real estate practice thanks to practice head  Emmanuel Chauve and Alexandre Blestel who are both legends in the field. Working alongside the firm’s property practice, the duo advises leading investors on the market’s largest asset and portfolio transactions. They handle a high amount of high-end work, such as advising recently on landmark deals in the healthcare, office, hotel, retail and data center sectors. The team was also involved in a high-profile real estate M&A transaction. The tax real estate practice fits in well with the firm’s high-level M&A and private equity tax expertise. Priscilla van den Perre notably assists leading investment funds involved in large LBO transactions. Anne-Laure Drouet is another strong reference for M&A and private equity tax structuring. Counsel Arthur Leclerc is also involved. Testimonials: ‘Emmanuel Chauve has great expertise in real estate taxation.’ (2022)

De Pardieu Brocas Maffei is widely recognised as the market’s go-to-firm for property tax work, in line with the firm’s stellar reputation in the real estate sector. The tax team, which advises on the tax structuring of property transactions handled by the firm, assists many leading property funds and developers with the tax aspects of their largest property investment projects. In the group's impressive caseload are the structurings of most of the market’s recent landmark office, retail, residential, hotel asset and portfolio transactions. The practice notably advised on the sale of Engie’s zero-carbon emission future global head office. Practice head Emmanuel Chauve and Alexandre Blestel are superstars in their field. The large team also has strong abilities in other areas, particularly in private equity thanks to the excellent Priscilla van den Perre. The transactional tax practice was strengthened in 2020 following the arrivals of Anne-Laure Drouet (ex Ernst & Young Société d'Avocats) and counsel Arthur Leclerc (ex senior manager at Ernst & Young Société d'Avocats). (2021)

De Pardieu Brocas Maffei's well-staffed practice is known as a powerhouse in the market for property tax work. In recent highlights, the team assisted Carrefour and its co-investors with the €900m sale of listed property company Cargo Property Assets, as well as SNCF with the €1.5bn sale of Foncière Vesta. Practice head Emmanuel Chauve and the 'brilliant and very committed' Alexandre Blestel are well regarded for their property tax expertise. In addition, the practice has great resources for LBO and private equity transactions thanks to the promising Priscilla van den Perre, who was recently promoted to partner. The team was bolstered by the hiring of new corporate tax partner Anne-Laure Drouet, who joined from Ernst & Young Société d'Avocats. Testimonials: ‘The team is really expert and follows a straight to-the-point business approach’ ‘The best real estate tax team in Paris. They always find the best solutions, and are very professional, and very friendly’ ‘The team is available, has an excellent level of expertise and provides very relevant advice with much added value. Lawyers are practical, very efficient, very involved and have exceptional proficiency, never making any mistake’ ‘Emmanuel Chauve and his team always have everything under control’ ‘Alexandre Blestel is brilliant and very committed. His high-level tax expertise is complemented by great financial skills, providing him with a broader view of the issues faced by his clients’ ‘Priscilla Van Den Perre is an excellent tax adviser who provides highly relevant advice, has great and swift judgement, and is very commercial’ (2020)

De Pardieu Brocas Maffei has ‘in-depth understanding of its customers' business, is highly responsive, has the ability to provide a bird's eye view as well as dig into the details of a given issue, and is well connected with the tax authorities’. The 17-lawyer team is able to cover a large spectrum of tax issues. The group has leading expertise in the tax real estate space and regularly handles headline work in the market in this area. It notably assisted Covivio Hotels with the €976m acquisition of a luxury hotels portfolio in the UK, which consisted of 14 hotels; advised Henderson Park on the acquisition of Hotel Westin Paris-Vendôme; and acted for Foncière des Murs on the merger-absorption of FDM Management. ‘Trusted adviser’ Emmanuel Chauve has ‘strong technical expertise’ and is an expert in tax real estate. Alexandre Blestel, who is also highly regarded for real estate and corporate tax issues, ‘provides excellent tax advice and is very thorough’. The practice also handles the tax-related aspects of debt capital markets and banking, while litigation is another strength. It also has strong private equity and corporate tax expertise. It assisted InVivo Retail with the acquisition of Jardiland.’ (2019)

Chambers Europe 2019 / 2022 : Tax (Band 3)

What the team is known for: Well-regarded tax practice covering a wide range of matters, including the tax aspects of real estate transactions, finance mandates and refinancing operations. Clients come from different industry sectors such as insurance, retail and real estate. Additional expertise advising clients on the tax elements of private equity operations. Strengths: Clients appreciate the lawyers' commercial awareness as well as their technical competence, with one interviewee noting: "They really know their field of expertise and know what they're talking about. At the same time they remain pragmatic and understand that the goal is to make a deal, so they're good at finding solutions." (2021)

What the team is known for: Well-regarded tax practice covering a wide range of matters, including the tax aspects of real estate transactions, finance mandates and refinancing operations. Clients come from different industry sectors such as insurance, retail and real estate. Additional expertise advising clients on the tax elements of private equity operations. Strengths: "They’re very involved and do a great job," reports one impressed client, going on to describe the lawyers as "not just theoretical, but also proactive and pragmatic." (2020)

What the team is known for: Well-regarded tax practice covering a wide range of matters, including the tax aspects of real estate transactions and finance mandates. Clients come from different industry sectors such as insurance, retail and real estate. Additional expertise advising clients on the tax elements of private equity operations. Strengths: Clients praise the quality of the team's client service, noting its "extremely high responsiveness, understanding of the client's needs and the simple explanation of complex topics." Another client says: "They are very quick and always available when we need them. When there is pressure and when there is a need for urgency, you feel treated in a special way." (2019)

Chambers Europe 2014 / 2018 : Tax (Band 2)

What the team is known for: Well-regarded tax practice covering a wide range of matters, including the tax aspects of real estate transactions and tax audits in both a contentious and non-contentious framework. Clients come from different industry sectors such as financial services, insurance, life sciences and retail. Strengths: Clients are pleased with the quality of the service, reporting the team to be "very good." (2018)

What the team is known for: Highly regarded tax practice covering a wide range of matters, including tax due diligence, the tax aspects of real estate transactions and tax credit monetisation. Also advises on tax audits in both a non-contentious and a contentious framework. Clients come from different industry sectors such as financial services, insurance and retail. Strengths: Clients are pleased with the quality of service delivered, saying: "We are very satisfied. They do the work that is required, timely and effectively. They have matched all our expectations. They are reliable and responsive and close to their clients. They also make sure not to add stress or tension for the clients." (2017)

What the team is known for Varied caseload comprised of real estate, financing and corporate transactions. Assists clients with the full range of issues arising in these contexts including tax due diligence, the sale of property portfolios and tax credit monetisation. Also advises on tax audits in both a non-contentious and contentious framework. (2016)

What the team is known for Works in conjunction with the firm's other specialised departments to advise on the tax aspects of corporate, real estate and finance transactions. Also assists with tax audits and litigation, as well as negotiations with the French tax authorities. Strengths (Quotes mainly from clients) "The firm has an excellent tax team; it is practical, hands-on and goal-oriented." (2015)

What the team is known for The lawyers work with teams from other practice areas to advise clients ranging from investment funds, credit institutions and investment banks to corporates and real estate trusts. Able to assist with the tax aspects of corporate, real estate and financial transactions. Other areas of expertise include private equity transactions, tax audits and litigation. Strengths (Quotes mainly from clients) "An impressive firm for tax, with some very efficient practitioners." (2014)

Chambers Europe 2012 / 2013 : Tax (Band 3)

The team at this well-regarded French independent continues to make a strong showing on the market, serving a diverse clientele of both domestic and international players. It is notably active in three key areas: real estate and financing transactions, tax litigation and structured finance and private equity. Of late the lawyers advised 21 Centrale Partners on the disposal of its interest in the Vulcanic group. Other key clients include France Telecom, Société Générale, Carrefour and Auchan. "An impressive firm for tax, with some very efficient practitioners." (2012)

This team frequently handles big-ticket mandates for banks, financial entities, investment funds and family interests, often participating on deals in the property and banking sectors. Sources also praise the team's litigation prowess, which extends to representing clients in negotiations with the tax authorities as well as defending them in court proceedings. (2012)

Chambers Global 2014 / 2015 : Tax (Band 2)

"Emmanuel Chauve is a key contact for clients. The team advises on the tax aspects of corporate, real estate and financial transactions. Clients range from investment funds, credit institutions and investment banks to corporates and real estate trusts." (2014)

Chambers Global 2012 / 2013 : Tax (Band 3)