20 leading real estate and planning law lawyers in France in 2026
Impact Lawyers' editorial selection brings together twenty professionals with particularly significant experience in real estate and planning law in France. Lawyers are listed alphabetically by surname: the table order does not establish internal positions or identify one professional as superior to another.
| Lawyer | Firm | Main profile |
|---|---|---|
| Adam Haddad | De Pardieu Brocas Maffei | Construction, development and leasing |
| Alexandre Couturier | Clifford Chance | Planning, zoning and permits |
| Benoit Neveu | Lacourte Raquin & Associés | Public real estate, infrastructure and litigation |
| Christophe Cabanes | Cabanes Avocats | Real estate transactions and finance |
| David Gérard | Clifford Chance | Real estate transactions and finance |
| David Préat | Clifford Chance | Planning, zoning and permits |
| Emmanuel Fatôme | De Pardieu Brocas Maffei | Construction, development and leasing |
| Emmanuelle Mignon | August Debouzy | Construction, development and leasing |
| François Bonteil | Clifford Chance | Construction, development and leasing |
| Françoise Maigrot | Linklaters | Planning, zoning and permits |
| Geoffroy Berthon | Orrick | Planning, zoning and permits |
| Grégoire Balland | De Pardieu Brocas Maffei | Real estate transactions and finance |
| Jean Latournerie | Latournerie Wolfrom Avocats | Real estate transactions and finance |
| Marie-Caroline Fauchille | De Pardieu Brocas Maffei | Public real estate, infrastructure and litigation |
| Paul Talbourdet | De Pardieu Brocas Maffei | Construction, development and leasing |
| Philippe None | Ashurst Perkins Coie | Real estate transactions and finance |
| Pierre Gebarowski | De Pardieu Brocas Maffei | Planning, zoning and permits |
| Thierry Laloum | Willkie Farr & Gallagher | Public real estate, infrastructure and litigation |
| Thomas Courtel | Gide Loyrette Nouel | Public real estate, infrastructure and litigation |
| Vincent Brenot | August Debouzy | Public real estate, infrastructure and litigation |
How the ranking was prepared
This selection was built from scratch through Impact Lawyers’ own editorial review of professional and public information available through 2026. It does not reproduce or adapt the order of third-party directories, awards or rankings. Profiles were identified and cross-checked using current professional biographies, official law-firm information, publicly verifiable matters and transactions, publications, institutional and academic activity and international experience.
For this practice area, particular attention was paid to real estate acquisitions and finance, development, construction, leasing, planning, zoning and property disputes.
The editorial assessment combines five dimensions:
- Depth, continuity and genuine specialisation in the practice: 30%.
- Complexity and relevance of publicly verifiable matters, transactions or responsibilities: 25%.
- Technical command and ability to handle complex matters within the specialty: 20%.
- Professional leadership, independent judgement and ability to lead significant mandates: 15%.
- International profile and doctrinal, academic or institutional contribution: 10%.
Impact Lawyers' own editorial approach
Inclusion does not depend on firm size, media visibility or presence in other rankings. The selection is intended to reflect different practice models, combining major firms, specialist boutiques and professionals with a particularly distinctive individual track record. The apparent number of wins, transactions or clients is not used as an automatic measure because public information is uneven and many matters remain confidential.
How to interpret the selection
This ranking is an editorial snapshot of the market based on public information available in 2026. It does not measure fees, guarantee outcomes or claim that any included professional is the right choice for every matter. The choice of counsel should take into account the precise specialty, potential conflicts of interest, jurisdiction, availability, language, budget and relationship of trust.
Professional careers and firm structures can change. Future editions should therefore verify partner moves, new firms, changes of role and potential incompatibilities before publication.
