The top 20 tax lawyers in France in 2026
Gauthier Blanluet is among the professionals included in the ranking compiled by Impact Lawyers.
| Lawyer | Law firm | Main profile |
|---|---|---|
| Gauthier Blanluet | Sullivan & Cromwell | International corporate tax |
| Pierre-Henri Durand | Bredin Prat | Transaction tax |
| Vincent Agulhon | Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier | Transactional tax |
| Stéphane Austry | CMS Francis Lefebvre | Tax litigation |
| Laurent Borey | Mayer Brown | Corporate tax |
| Anne-Sophie Coustel | Cleary Gottlieb | International tax |
| Sébastien de Monès | Bredin Prat | M&A tax |
| Julien Gayral | Bredin Prat | Corporate tax |
| Bruno Gibert | CMS Francis Lefebvre | Transfer pricing |
| Nadine Gelli | Kirkland & Ellis | Private equity and tax |
| Olivia Rauch-Ravisé | Latham & Watkins | Transactional tax |
| Yves Rutschmann | Bredin Prat | Business tax |
| Édouard Chapellier | Ropes & Gray | Fund and transaction tax |
| Emmanuel Chauve | De Pardieu Brocas Maffei | Corporate tax |
| Antoine Colonna d’Istria | Norton Rose Fulbright | International tax |
| Eric Meier | Baker McKenzie | Cross-border tax |
| Magali Buchert | Gide Loyrette Nouel | Corporate tax |
| Niels Dejean | McDermott Will & Schulte | Transaction tax |
| Caroline Silberztein | Baker McKenzie | Transfer pricing |
| Laurent Olléon | Orrick | Tax litigation |
How the ranking was compiled
This ranking does not replicate the order of any directory. Impact Lawyers has cross-referenced individual recognitions from Chambers France, Legal 500, Leaders League, and other professional sources, subjecting them to its own editorial weighting. The baseline industry source can be consulted here.
The assessment combines cross-recognition and directory continuity (30 %), complexity and relevance of verifiable practice (25 %), technical specialization in corporate and international tax, transactions, transfer pricing, and tax litigation (20 %), professional leadership and independence (15 %), and international, academic, or institutional profile (10 %).
Impact Lawyers' proprietary methodology
External bands and tiers are used as evidence, not as an outcome. Recognition of the firm does not automatically transfer to the lawyer, and prominence does not substitute for specialization. The capacity to personally lead matters, build a distinctive practice, and work across domestic and international contexts is also valued.
This methodology explains why the list and ranking order do not fully align with Chambers, Legal 500, or Leaders League. Directories typically rank law firms, group professionals without internal ranking, and depend on submission processes. Impact Lawyers translates those signals, together with editorial review, into an individualized selection.
Highlighted professionals
Gauthier Blanluet stands out for the balance between track record, specialization, leadership, and sustained recognition. Pierre-Henri Durand and Vincent Agulhon are also among the highlighted professionals in this selection. Differences between closely ranked profiles may be narrow.
How it should be interpreted
The ranking expresses a general assessment based on public information available in 2026. It does not measure legal fees, does not guarantee outcomes, and does not claim that an included professional is the best choice for any given matter. The specific selection should take into account the dispute, industry sector, jurisdiction, availability, language, budget, and relationship of trust.
Professional trajectories may change. Before publishing future updates, it is advisable to verify partner movements, new structures, and potential incompatibilities. The 2026 edition functions as a reasoned snapshot of the French market, not as a permanent certification.
