Hogan Lovells Paris Litigation Team Strengthens Disputes Practice Team in Paris
Hogan Lovells Paris Litigation Team Strengthens Disputes Practice Team in Paris
Global law firm Hogan Lovells has strengthened its Paris Disputes Practice by hiring a five-strong team led by renowned White & Case prosecutor Jean-Pierre Picca. The team, also comprising partner Jean-Lou Salha, counsel Arthur Merle-Beral and two associates, will focus on investigations and compliance work.
Des Hogan, global head of Hogan Lovells' disputes practice, warmly welcomed Jean-Pierre and Jean-Lou to the firm.
“Their addition aligns well with our strategy to build out our global disputes team across our key markets,” Des Hogan stated.
“Jean-Pierre brings decades of experience within government and representing clients in high-profile investigations and cross-border complex litigation. Likewise, Jean-Lou has extensive experience representing clients in investigations and actions, brought by French and US authorities. They are a formidable team,” Stephanie Yonekura, global leader of the firm’s investigations, white collar and fraud practice, added.
Jean-Pierre Picca, a legal heavyweight with 30 years of experience under his belt is renowned as a skilled prosecutor and defence lawyer. His career also shines with high-profile roles within government, including senior liaison legal advisor to the US Department of Justice (2002-2007) and senior legal advisor to former French president Nicolas Sarkozy (2010-2012).
From demystifying complex financial investigations to navigating cross-border legal conflicts, Picca has been a trusted advisor to French banks facing major probes by French and US authorities. His recent portfolio showcases his proficiency in internal investigations, navigating international sanctions, tackling multifaceted compliance issues, and addressing concerns related to corruption prevention, ad-hoc compliance program implementation, and French Anti-Corruption Agency controls.
Jean-Lou Salha comes to Hogan Lovells after an eight-year stint at White & Case, where he became a partner in 2020. He advises financial institutions and corporate clients on criminal investigations by French and foreign authorities, covering offences like corruption, tax fraud laundering, misleading practices, and cybercrime. Salha also possesses extensive experience in conducting internal investigations and ensuring compliance with anti-money laundering, anti-corruption, consumer protection, and duty of vigilance regulations.
This latest move strengthens Hogan Lovells' Paris litigation practice, bringing its total lawyer count to over 40. The Chambers-ranked practice, praised for its diverse expertise, handles complex disputes across sectors like life sciences, banking, fraud, and enforcement, and represents prominent clients in the IT and pharmaceutical fields.
“We’re so happy to welcome both Jean-Pierre and Jean-Lou to the Paris office. They are recognised for representing clients in many of their most challenging and complex matters, and their experience fits well with our position in the market,” Xenia Legendre, Paris office managing partner said.
