Orrick Rambaud Martel has recruited Curtis Mallet-Prevost Colt & Mosle partner Yves Lepage to lead the firm's Paris project finance team.

Lepage, who joined Orrick earlier this month, was one of the more senior partners at Curtis Mallet-Prevost, having spent 24 years with the US firm. He transferred to the firm's Paris office in 2002, and his practice focuses on project finance in the infrastructure field.

Orrick has previously not had a separate leader for the ten-lawyer project finance group, which is part of the larger finance group. At partner level the group currently consists of three partners plus the firm's Paris-based European senior partner David Syed.

Commenting on Lepage's hire, Syed told Legal Week: "It was mainly because we think financing in infrastructure will be expanding in France, Europe and North Africa. His experience in the US and South America will be directly relevant. Plus, he has some really good client relationships."

The hire follows Orrick's April leadership reshuffle in Paris, when structured finance partner Pascal Agboyibor took over from former office head Stuart McAlpine. McAlpine relocated to London to become European managing partner.

The French arm of Orrick Herrington & Sutcliff took the name Orrick Rambaud Martel with the 2006 tie-up with a team of Rambaud Martel lawyers, which included 18 partners.

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