Linklaters has named real estate lawyer Françoise Maigrot as the new managing partner of its Paris office, replacing Bertrand Andriani who will complete his term at the end of this year.

Maigrot has been with Linklaters since 1999, working her way up to partner and head of the firm’s real estate practice. She will begin her four year term at the start of next year and will lead an office that houses upwards of 200 lawyers, including 37 partners. Maigrot’s practice focuses on real estate law for French and international clients, including funds, banks and end users, advising on financial, legal and tax arrangements and transaction matters. Since 2020, she has been a member of the firm’s partnership board, which oversees its strategic operations globally. 

Maigrot said: “As we approach our 50th anniversary, we recognise that Linklaters Paris occupies a prominent place in France and within Linklaters. Reinforced integration of our offer in Europe, increasing focus on ESG issues and new technologies, pursuit of our societal commitments and of course the development of our talents, will be among my priorities as managing partner.”

Andriani, meantime, will continue to lead the firm’s financing, energy and infrastructure team in Paris and its Francophone Africa practice.
 

Linklaters has appointed a number of women to leadership roles around the world over the past 12 months. In May, it named Thai commercial lawyer Wanwisar Nakarat as national managing partner of its Bangkok office. While in December last year, it appointed funds partner Silke Bernard as head of its global investment funds practice.

The firm also beat its diversity targets for a second year in a row in April’s partner promotion round, with 17 women making the grade – 41% of the overall cohort, just above its target for 40% of promoted partners to be women.

Other firms have also been ramping up the number of women in leadership roles this year. Last month, Baker McKenzie elected Bangkok-based corporate partner Peerapan Tungsuwan and San Francisco-based commercial partner Joyce Smith on to its global executive committee. And Clifford Chance named corporate and M&A partners Valerie Kong as managing partner of its Singapore office and Katia Gauzès as managing partner of its Luxembourg office.