Linklaters’ former co-head of arbitration, Pierre Duprey, has set up his own Paris boutique, ADF Avocats, becoming the latest top arbitration specialist to go it alone in the French capital.

Duprey left Linklaters in March 2020, having spent six-and-a-half years with the UK magic circle firm, overseeing its arbitration practice together with UK-based Matthew Weiniger QC.

According to LinkedIn, ADF Avocats started work in January 2021. Prior to his spell at Linklaters, Duprey spent 18 years at leading French independent Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier, eleven of them as a partner, having trained and qualified at Gide Loyrette Nouel.

Duprey’s decision to establish a boutique – thereby freeing himself of the conflicts associated with being in a large international law firm – echoes that of another Paris arbitration specialist, Catherine Schroeder-Paillard. The former Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer lawyer has left Derains & Gharavi after 15 years to set up  Schroeder Arbitration.

Last June, meanwhile, saw the launch of the all-women disputes boutique Medici Law Firm; Duprey has collaborated with Medici co-founder Caroline Duclercq on a number of French Arbitration Association (FAA) events. 

The former Linklaters partner boasts 25 years of experience as an adviser and as an arbitrator, with his advocacy experience spanning more than 150 national and international cases.

His arbitrator experience covers the Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague and London’s London Court of International Arbitration, as well as ad hoc Swedish, Swiss, and French arbitral associations. His sectoral experience includes energy, natural resources, defence, joint-ventures, pharmaceuticals, distribution, TMT and construction.

An expert in comparative law, Duprey is active in the FAA, which has done much to promote France as a post-Brexit alternative to common law jurisdictions. He also supports the Centre for Mediation and Arbitration of Paris (CMAP), alongside other vocational and academic teaching commitments.