Lovells has boosted its Paris insolvency capacity with a tie-up with top-rated French insolvency boutique Kuntz & Associes.

The top 10 UK firm has formalised its relationship with the boutique, establishing an exclusive referral arrangement for business restructuring and insolvency work.

Lovells has worked with the two-partner Paris-based boutique for around four years, but hopes that formalising the relationship will improve service to joint clients following an increase in demand for insolvency advice due to the current economic climate.

The firm said the agreement, which was signed in July, means that Kuntz name partner Jean-Emmanuel Kuntz will handle all of the restructuring and insolvency-related court work for Lovells clients in Paris, while Kuntz clients will further benefit from Lovells' international network.

Lovells global head of business restructuring and insolvency Robin Spencer said: "Restructuring and insolvency is a busy area for us and we want to give the best service to our clients. This gives us access to Jean-Emmanuel's expertise, which is great for our clients as he is definitely one of the best practitioners in his field in Paris."

Lovells currently has no plans to take the relationship to a full merger, with Spencer pointing out that the restructuring and insolvency area is a field dominated by boutiques in the French legal market.

Lovells does not have a Paris partner with a sole focus on restructuring but the sector is led in the Paris office by local banking head Richard Jadot.

Lovells on the Legal Week Wiki