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Image: Antonin  Lévy

Antonin Lévy

Partner, Litigation Department

Paris

Phone: 33-1-42-99-04-06
Fax: 33-1-45-63-91-49

Overview

Antonin Lévy is a partner in the Investigations and White Collar Defense practice at Paul Hastings and is based in the firm’s Paris office. He is one of the best-known and most highly regarded litigators in France, concentrating on complex criminal litigation and compliance work. His practice focuses on white collar crime litigation, corporate compliance, and internal investigations, with a particular emphasis on corruption, corporate criminal law, and business and human rights. Antonin’s extensive experience includes managing investigations conducted by multilateral development banks and handling high-profile ESG litigation.

Prior to joining Paul Hastings, Antonin co-founded the leading litigation and investigations boutique, Antonin Lévy & Associés, where he built a reputation for his expertise in complex legal matters. His career also includes serving as a partner at Metzner Associés. Notably, Antonin also established and led the Investigation, White Collar Crime, and Fraud practice at a prominent American law firm in Paris.

With almost 20 years as a member of the Paris Bar, Antonin has consistently provided exceptional legal representation to organizations and individuals before both French and international courts. His work in high-profile cases involving fraud, corruption, human rights, and corporate criminal law has earned him a formidable reputation. Chambers & Partners Europe (2023) recognizes him as “a strong player in this market,” highlighting his role as counsel in some of the most significant cases in these areas. In 2023, Antonin helped an oil and gas company secure a €155 million (US$170 million) settlement with France’s National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF) over suspected corruption in Africa, and assisted a Luxembourg-based manufacturing company in resolving a PNF investigation into bribery in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Algeria, Nigeria, and Libya. Having been involved in multiple joint resolutions in France, the U.S., and Germany, Antonin also has extensive experience dealing with investigations led by the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the European Investment Bank.

For trial litigation, Antonin is a vigorous litigator, having secured positive verdicts for his clients in high-stakes cases, such as the crash of the Concorde and other significant industrial accidents.

Recognitions

  • Chambers Europe – Top Lawyers in White-Collar Crime (Band 1) and Corporate Compliance & Investigations (Band 3)
  • Legal 500 – Hall of Fame and Tier 1
  • Best Lawyers® – Ranked since 2017 and “Lawyer of the Year” in Criminal Defense in 2023
  • Forbes Magazine and Lettre des Juristes d’Affaires – Top 40 Lawyers of CAC40 in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024
  • Global Investigation Review / Who’s Who Legal – Recognized as Thought Leader in Business Crime Defence – Corporates, Investigations, and Business Crime Defence & Investigations. Recognized as Recommended in Business Crime Defence – Individuals

Education

  • University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas – Master in General Private Law, 2005
  • New York University – LL.M. in General Studies, 2007
  • University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne and Sciences Po – DESS in Law and Economic Globalisation, 2003
  • Sciences Po

Representations

  • Co-counsel to a U.S. Company for reaching a resolution with the French Financial Prosecutor to resolve allegations of corruption.
  • Counsel to a Fortune 500 company for reaching a settlement in 2024 with the World Bank Group on allegations of fraud and corruption.
  • Counsel to a French industrial company for reaching a joint resolution with the World Bank Group, the European Investment Bank, and the French Financial Prosecutor on allegations of corruption and fraud; and for successfully reaching a withdrawal of Notice of Sanctions with the African Development Bank.
  • Counsel to a French transportation company for reaching a resolution with the World Bank Group on allegations of corruption in an acquired entity.
  • Co-counsel to a U.S. Tech group in reaching a US$1 billion settlement with the French Financial Prosecutor and the tax authorities on allegations of tax fraud and money laundering.
  • Counsel to a large French construction company in reaching a settlement with the French authorities on allegations of corruption.
  • Represented two Fortune 500 companies in several suits brought under the French Duty of vigilance Law.
  • Lead counsel to a French defense company in a remediation (including internal investigation and coordination of joint resolutions with the DOJ and the French and German authorities) in conjunction with post-acquisition due diligence of an acquired entity.
  • Co-counsel to a major European Internet platform for food delivery in reaching a global resolution with the French authorities and in defending allegations of concealed work.
  • Successfully defending the French railway company in reaching a non-guilty verdict in a criminal trial after a major train accident.
  • Successfully defending a U.S. Airline in reaching a non-guilty verdict in a criminal trial after the crash of the Concorde.

Engagement & Publications

  • "La cour d’appel de Paris condamne Alcatel-Lucent pour corruption d’agents publics étrangers," Revue Internationale de la Compliance et de l’Ethique des Affaires, 2020
  • "Table ronde sur la loi sur le devoir de vigilance des sociétés mères et entreprises donneuses d’ordre: premières mises en demeure et actions en justice," Cahier de droit de l’Entreprise, 2020
  • "Section on France," The Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Review, 2020
  • "L’émergence de la conformité en France," Expert Guides, 2018
  • "Dossier spécial: Regard pratique autour du dispositif de lutte contre le blanchiment," Cahiers de Droit de l’entreprise, 2017
  • "Les récents mais perfectibles développements de la comparution sur reconnaissance préalable de culpabilité en matière économique et financière," Droit Pénal, Étude n°21, October 2016
  • "Le délit de non-déclaration de franchissement de seuil: une infraction désuète," Droit Pénal, Etude n°22, November 2015

Practice Areas

Investigations and White Collar Defense

Anti-Corruption and FCPA

Litigation

Compliance & Regulatory Counseling

Data Privacy and Cybersecurity

Business & Human Rights

ESG & Sustainable Finance


Languages

French

English


Admissions

Paris


Education

New York University, LL.M. 2007

Universite Paris II: Pantheon Assas, M2 2005

University of Paris I: Pantheon-Sorbonne, DESS 2003