Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance recruits leading funds expert in Paris with team

Leading international law firm, Clifford Chance, today announces the addition of Xavier Comaills to its Paris office as a partner in the firm's global Private Funds Group. With him, Comaills will bring a team of four lawyers including one counsel, Tiana Rambatomanga.

A leading Funds lawyer with over 14 years of specialist experience, Comaills' focus is on advising sponsors of international private equity funds including buy-out funds, venture, mezzanine funds, fund of funds and debt funds. Comaills joins from Ashurst where he led the Paris's Funds Formation group.

Commenting on the hire, Yves Wehrli, Office Managing Partner for Paris said, "We are delighted to welcome Xavier to lead our Private Funds Group in Paris. Private Funds require highly sophisticated advice, particularly in light of their increasing role in the financing of the economy. Xavier's expertise and reputation as one of the leading funds formation lawyers in Paris, along with his technical, commercial and leadership skills, make him the ideal candidate."

Xavier Comaills said, "Clifford Chance and its Private Funds Group, in particular, has an excellent reputation with a truly global presence, making this an exciting new chapter in my career. I'm looking forward to working with the existing team to develop it even further."

Mark Shipman, Global Head of Investment Funds, based in Hong Kong said, "Xavier will boost our leading European funds practice which is an integral part of our global capability. With regulation such as AIFMD on the rise in the investment funds space, continued investment in the European group is particularly important for us to help support our clients in their fund raising activities both in Europe and globally."

Clifford Chance has a leading global Private Funds Group, including senior partners in London, the US, Asia-Pacific and Continental Europe. It includes more than 150 lawyers drawn from across our offices and practice areas. The group advises on the establishment and operation of a whole range of private funds, including private equity funds, real estate funds, infrastructure funds, debt and mezzanine funds and funds of funds.

Recent deals include advising AEW Europe/Natixis Asset Management in the setting-up of their senior pan-European debt fund (SELF 1), advising La Française REM on the establishment of a debt fund to invest in senior mortgage loans, as well as advising Natixis and Ageas in the establishment of their partnership and co-investment/securitisation vehicle regarding infrastructure financing in Europe.