Crème de la crème

New York-based firm Debevoise & Plimpton takes pride in knowing the right people. Its current headcount includes former attorney generals of both the US, and England and Wales, and a former chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Not to mention the immediate past-president of the International Bar Association, David W Rivkin.

But its Paris office can also be congratulated on a prescient piece of talent spotting. One Édouard Philippe, who practised public procurement law at Debevoise between 2005 and 2007, was last week appointed France’s prime minister. At least Philippe will be able to keep an eye on the new government’s keeper of the seals (lord chancellor) and minister of justice, political veteran François Bayrou. Bayrou was a history teacher before entering politics.