Signature Litigation has hired commercial disputes partner Laurent Martinet from Paul Hastings in Paris, bringing the office’s partner headcount to seven.
Martinet brings with him more than 30 years’ experience to his new firm, most of it gained at US law firms, including a five-year stint at Dechert and 15 years at Jones Day. He leaves Paul Hastings after just shy of four years at the firm.
He handles multi-jurisdictional, complex commercial disputes, acting for a broad range of French and international companies operating in the chemical, energy, new technologies, automotive and finance sectors.
He is impressively well networked across the French legal profession, having served as vice-chair of the Paris Bar from 2014 to 2015 before going on to become vice-chair of the Conseil National des Barreaux (CNB) – the umbrella organisation of bar associations in France – from 2021 to 2023.
He was also chairman and then deputy chairman of the Ecole de Formation des Barreaux (EFB) – the training school for all those called to the Paris Bar – from 2014 to 2018.
Thomas Rouhette, the office’s Paris managing partner since its foundation in 2019, said: “Laurent brings with him a wealth of experience in bet-the-company litigation and a wide-ranging expertise across various jurisdictions, which will also strengthen our pan-European offering to clients.”
Martinet said: “Signature’s positioning as an international boutique commercial disputes firm with few conflicts is a compelling proposition for corporate clients operating globally and which seek deep legal and sector-focused expertise from their counsel, and I am excited to contribute to this with my new colleagues.”
Other recent senior Paris arrivals include counsel Amany Chamieh, who joined in January 2025 from Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier, and who was elected last month to the Paris Arbitration Week’s (PAW’s) nine-strong organising committee.
Partner Philip Dunham, formerly of Dechert, joined in January 2024 following the spin-out of the firm’s French international arbitration team.
In 2023, Jérémie Fierville folded his own disputes boutique into Signature, joining as a partner with two lawyers.
Commenting on her role at PAW, Chamieh said: “I am honoured to join the Paris Arbitration Week Board, and I am grateful for those who have supported me on this. Alongside my fellow members, I remain committed to championing arbitration and Paris as a leading international seat to resolve disputes and look forward to PAW 2026.”
Chamieh specialises in international arbitration, particularly in cases concerning Middle Eastern and North African clients.
At Signature, she works closely with London-based partner Tsegaye Laurendeau, who was elected in July 2024 to the Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Court of Arbitration for a three-year term (2024–2027).
Last month, the ICC reported that the court registered a record 841 new cases in 2024, with a combined value of $102bn.
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