PARIS – In a move that significantly bolsters its presence in Paris and further strengthens its global litigation platform, Paul Hastings LLP announced today that premier white collar defense and investigations lawyer, Antonin Lévy, and his preeminent litigation and investigations boutique, Antonin Lévy & Associés, will join the firm.

The 12-lawyer team, which includes Lévy, partners Ophélia Claude, and Joris Monin de Flaugergues, and nine associates, will be folded into Paul Hastings’ global platform by 1 September 2024.

Highly ranked in both Chambers and the Legal 500 for white collar crime (Band 1) and corporate compliance and investigations, Lévy and his team specialize in white collar crime litigation, compliance, internal investigations, and business and human rights, with unique experience in investigations carried out by multilateral development banks and in high profile ESG litigation.

“We believe Antonin is the leading investigations and white collar lawyer in France,” said firm Chair Frank Lopez. “Antonin and his team represent many of our existing clients so their practice is immediately synergistic with our strong litigation platform, and those they don’t represent already will also soon benefit from their exceptional experience. Their arrival demonstrates our continued investment in Paris and commitment to building our litigation practice to serve the complex needs of our blue-chip clients worldwide.”

Known for acting on several prominent French disputes, and for his advocacy in significant trials, Lévy has represented leading global corporations, including Google, Apple, Continental Airlines, Facebook, Bouygues, TotalEnergies, and Renault. He also assists organizations, directors, employees, and high-profile individuals in France and globally. In addition to his impressive directory rankings, Lévy was named by Best Lawyers as “Lawyer of the Year” for criminal defense in 2023. He was also named as one of Forbes/La Lettre des Juristes d’Affaires’ “Top 40 Lawyers of CAC40” in 2021, 2022, and 2023, and is in the Legal 500 “Hall of Fame”.

“Antonin is a force in the legal world, with his command of litigation setting new global standards,” said investigations and white collar defense partner Bob Luskin. “His team’s impact in Paris and beyond will be immediately felt by our clients, who understand and appreciate the need for excellence in every jurisdiction.”

“Paul Hastings has a leading white collar practice globally, with which I have worked for many years, particularly Bob Luskin and his team. In the context of cross-border litigation, extraterritoriality of law (anti-bribery and corruption, anti-money laundering, compliance, ESG), and increasing cooperation between prosecuting authorities, joining such a robust global platform provides significant opportunities for our clients, many of which have existing relationships with the firm,” said Lévy. “Our goal is to become the major player in complex transnational litigation in Europe and beyond.”

Partners Ophélia Claude and Joris Monin de Flaugergues are prominent white collar defense specialists representing corporations, directors, and employees in high profile white collar crime and ESG litigation.

Lévy and his team are the latest in a series of significant hires reflecting the strength of Paul Hastings’ litigation practice globally. Notable recent hires include white collar defense partner Stuart Alford KC; international arbitration partners Oliver Browne and Garreth Wong (all London); trial and regulatory enforcement lawyer Manuel Berrelez (Dallas); complex commercial litigators Paul Genender (Dallas), Josh Berman (New York), and Susan Leader (Century City); a six-partner IP litigator team (Palo Alto and Washington, D.C); white collar and investigations partner Adam Fee (Los Angeles/Century City); investigations and SEC enforcement partner Brad Bondi; and international arbitration partner Jonathan Hamilton (both Washington, D.C.).

About Paul Hastings

With widely recognized elite teams in finance, mergers & acquisitions, private equity, restructuring and special situations, litigation, employment, and real estate, Paul Hastings is a premier law firm providing intellectual capital and superior execution globally to the world’s leading investment banks, asset managers, and corporations.