Sullivan & Cromwell’s recent high-profile recruit Dominque Bompoint is leading the charge alongside US rivals Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and Shearman & Sterling as the French Government unveils a E20bn sell-off package.

The French finance minister Herve Gaymard on Tuesday (8 February) announced that the Government is to sell major stakes in state-owned companies Areva; Gaz de France (GDF); Electricite de France; and road operator SANEF over the next year.