Top 30 UK law firm pledges sustained growth in French practice

Stephenson Harwood has nearly doubled its Paris office with the hire of a five-member team from Norton Rose.

Norton Rose Paris shipping finance head Alain Gautron and tax partner Stephane Salou joined yesterday (1 September) with two associates and one paralegal.

Salou, previously managing partner of the Paris offices of both Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe and Watson Farley & Williams, becomes the first tax partner in the Paris office.

Gautron, the former head of banking in Orrick's Paris office, adds to Stephenson Harwood's existing asset finance practice.

Stephenson Harwood's Paris managing partner Richard Pearson said the team hire comes as part of a bid to grow the Paris office, including plans to launch a French corporate practice.

Prior to the hire, the office had one other partner, aviation finance specialist Edward Campbell, as well as three associates and one paralegal.

"The addition of a tax practice is a real plus for us and this team hire builds a solid foundation for our plans to build a French corporate practice, which we are currently working on," said Pearson.

Chief executive Sharon White added: "Clients are attracted to Stephenson Harwood because we are an international firm – and we need to reinforce our offering through a deeper, broader international presence in Europe and Asia."

Stephenson Harwood first launched in Paris in April 2001, when Pearson set up shop in the offices of French association firm BTCG & Associes. The firm has had standalone offices since 2006 but still operates the association.

Norton Rose has appointed Christine Ezcutari as head of its Paris shipping finance practice while the office's tax practice continues to be headed by Laurence Toxe.