Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) has hired a seven-partner team from French independent Franklin, doubling the size of its Paris office. The move adds 21 lawyers to the firm’s Paris arm and provides new capabilities in tax, real estate, finance and renewable energy, according to BCLP.

Meanwhile, Franklin, which sets out its stall as a specialist in cross-border work, has announced a team hire of its own, with the arrival an eight-lawyer employment team, led by two partners.

BCLP’s move marks the largest team hire since the firm was established in April 2018 with the merger or US firm Bryan Cave with UK outfit Berwin Leighton Paisner.

The hires have triggered a search for new a new office in Paris, which becomes BCLP’s third largest in Europe after London and Moscow.

The firm’s other European bases are in Germany (Frankfurt, Berlin and Hamburg) and Brussels, with an additional two bases in the UK (Manchester and Southampton).

Remy Blain, Paris office managing partner, said the hires reflected the firm’s aim to be “a key player in France and continental Europe”.

He added: “This is a strong message to our respective clients who will benefit from broader and integrated service offerings."

The new partners are: Henry Ranchon and Laurent Schittenhelm (property); Christine Daric and Olivier Mesmin (tax); David Blondel and Olivier Borenstejn (finance); and Jean-Pierre Delvigne (public law).

Ranchon said: "There are many synergies between our practices in France and those across the firm, and that played a key role in our decision.”

At Franklin, the departures coincide with the arrival of employment specialists Myriam De Gaudusson and Patrick Thiébart and their teams, which represents a total addition of eight lawyers. 

De Gaudusson has joined from De Gaulle Fleurance & Associés, while Thiébart is rejoining his old firm after a stint at Jeantet, where he was co-head of employment.

Last month, Dentons hired partner Christophe Fichet and an associate from Simmons & Simmons in order to set up a Paris TMT practice.