Global, sector-focused law firm HFW has continued to expand its Paris office with the hire of leading international arbitration Partners Julien Fouret and Gaëlle Le Quillec.
Julien and Gaëlle specialise in international commercial arbitration and investment treaty arbitration, and join HFW on 2 May from Eversheds Sutherland together with Senior Associate Camille Dupuy.
This follows HFW’s recruitment in Paris of M&A and private equity Partner Thomas Forin, and of restructuring Of Counsel Armelle Loste.
HFW has been in Paris since 1977 and now has more than 50 lawyers advising on maritime and air transportation issues, insurance and reinsurance, industrial risks, infrastructure and construction, energy, international trade, and commodities, as well as commercial disputes, corporate, finance, and private equity.
Jean-Marc Zampa, Paris Office Head, HFW:
“This is a clear statement of our intent to continue building high-quality complementary practices through the recruitment of leading practitioners to provide a broad range of support to our clients. Julien and Gaëlle will be a great addition to our international and domestic arbitration practices. Having worked together for many years, they have considerable experience and will offer our clients depth of knowledge spanning international markets. I take this opportunity to welcome them joining our team in Paris at such exciting time in our regional growth.”
Julien focuses on investment treaty arbitration and international commercial arbitration, notably in the construction, energy, mining, and oil and gas sectors. He has been counsel, chair, and arbitrator in numerous arbitrations under the rules of most prominent arbitral institutions, and also has considerable experience in sports arbitration before the CAS/TAS.
Julien is the Secretary General of the International Academy for Arbitration Law, and is a former Vice-Chair of the IBA Arbitration Committee and former Counsel at the Secretariat of the International Court of Arbitration of the ICC. He is ranked among France’s leading international arbitration lawyers by legal directory Chambers.
Gaëlle specialises in international commercial arbitration with a particular focus on the aviation, defence, energy, construction, leisure, transport, and hospitality sectors. She also advises on investment treaty arbitration proceedings and commercial litigation, including disputes relating to commercial contracts, supply chain, sellers’ guarantees, and post-M&A litigation.
Gaëlle has significant experience as counsel in arbitrations, and is regularly appointed as an arbitrator in international disputes. She is President of the Paris Place d’Arbitrage, and a member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR, and the ICC Task Force on Arbitration of Climate Change Related Disputes. Gaëlle is dual-qualified in Paris and New York, and is a former member of the Paris Bar Council.
Julien and Gaëlle both feature in The Legal 500’s Arbitration Powerlist.
Julien Fouret, Partner, HFW:
“HFW has an amazing international platform, and we’re looking to working with all of the firm’s offices and colleagues to continue to grow the international arbitration practice, both for investment treaty and commercial disputes. We are particularly looking forward to building a truly dedicated International Arbitration group in Paris, alongside the other great practitioners in the office.”
Julien and Gaëlle arrival continues a period of sustained growth for HFW globally, with the firm adding 30 new Partners since the beginning of FY23, including team and Partner hires in Hong Kong, London, Melbourne, Paris, Perth, Piraeus, Riyadh, Singapore, and Sydney.
HFW also launched an office in Shenzhen in 2024 to support its clients in China’s Greater Bay Area.