Régis is managing partner of the Paris office and advises his clients on financing and banking regulatory issues.
Régis regularly assists lenders and sponsors on their project finance transactions, particularly in the field of renewable energies. He is also recognised for advising on corporate and real estate finance matters for both domestic and international operations, and has a strong track record assisting banks and financial institutions on their regulatory issues, reorganisations and the sale / restructuring of their portfolios.
Accolades
- Recognised as Leading individual by Legal 500 EMEA 2024 for Project Finance in France
- Recognised by Chambers Europe 2024 and Chambers Global 2024 for Banking & Finance in France
- "Régis Oréal is noted for his broad practice covering acquisition finance and debt restructuring. He advises domestic and cross-border banks, corporates and public financial institutions. "His responsiveness and commercial vision are highly appreciated." Chambers Europe 2024 - Banking & Finance
- Recognised by Best Lawyers 2025 for Banking & Finance Law (since 2013) and Regulatory Law (since 2024) in France
- Régis Oréal is noted for his broad practice covering acquisition finance and debt restructuring. He advises domestic and cross-border banks, corporates and public financial institutions. "His responsiveness and commercial vision are highly appreciated." Chambers Global 2024 - Banking & Finance: France
- "He is dedicated with a strong sense of customer service and strong business acumen. He is a true partner." Chambers Europe 2023 – Banking & Finance
- "Régis Oréal is noted for his broad practice (...). He advises domestic and cross-border banks, corporates and public financial institutions." Chamber Europe 2022 – Banking & Finance
Background
After starting his career in the Capital Markets team at Banque Paribas, Régis was admitted to the Paris bar as a lawyer in 1997. He joined the Paris office of Herbert Smith Freehills as partner in the Banking and finance practice in 2006.
Experience & expertise
Selected matters
Transactional
- Akuo Energy on the financing and project development of the Kita 50MW solar plant in Mali (2018 African Solar Deal of the Year, IJGlobal)
- ENGIE Green on the due diligence and the refinancing of some of its entities for over EUR 250 million
- Samsic on a EUR 286 million facility agreement
- Afreximbank in relation to the up to USD 350 million global facility in favour of the Office Chérifien des Phosphates (OCP) in Morocco
- A banking pool composed of Crédit Agricole CIB, BNP Paribas, HSBC Continental Europe, Natixis, Société Générale and Crédit Industriel et Commercial on the negotiation of a EUR 142,5 million Revolving Credit Facility granted to GreenYellow
- Neoen on the financing of a 33.1 MW solar farm in Jamaica
- Gaw Capital Partners on the financing of the EUR 100 million acquisition of the 5-star Four Seasons hotel in Bora Bora, French Polynesia, financed by a pool of banks led by Deutsche Bank
- Tenergie on the financing and refinancing of a portfolio of 269 renewable assets (solar, wind) financed by Crédit Agricole and Bpifrance
Financing and banking regulatory
- BNP Paribas on the regulatory aspects of the acquisition of Floa Bank, one of the leaders in fractional payments in France, from Casino and Crédit Mutuel for a total amount of EUR 258 million
- Thunes, a mobile payment FinTech, in the context of the creation of a French subsidiary and the obtaining of its authorisation as a payment institution in France
