Herbert Smith has acted on its first major deal for HSBC since being appointed to its French panel earlier this year, advising the banking giant on the financing of the €218m (£146m) takeover of financial information company Fininfo by Financiere Jeulin.

Paris-based corporate partner Frederic Grillier led the Herbert Smith team alongside local head of finance and HSBC relationship partner Georges Dirani.

The Paris office of Herbert Smith was added to HSBC's formal panel last month but has acted for the client in the past, advising on a €2bn (£1.34bn) financing for Areva and defending HSBC from a €24m (£16m) negligence claim.