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Vincent heads the Banking and Finance practice for the Paris office. He is head of the securitisation and structured finance practice and co-heads the financial services regulatory practice in Paris.

He has extensive experience in advising leading financial institutions, arrangers, asset managers, originators, fintech, credit insurer and investors on high-profile structured finance transactions involving a wide variety of esoteric assets, including trade receivables, equipment leases, auto loans, energy saving certificates, commodities, corporate loans, project loans, mortgage loans, loans to public sector entities and export credit receivables. He has developed an unique expertise in off-balance sheet trade receivables financing (securitisation or factoring). He advises banks on the syndication of their securitisations, the implementation of their refinancing platforms and their ABCP conduits.

Vincent has significant experience representing banks and debt funds in asset-based financing included in distressed situation. He also advises on a regular basis BPI the French public investment bank and the French State on strategic projects. He has advised on the State guarantee scheme deployed during the pandemic.

He advises banks, assets managers, investors and credit insurers on the regulatory aspects of their investments and activity.

Vincent is an active a member of the Paris Europlace organisation (an organisation in charge of promoting and developing the Paris financial marketplace) and is actively involved in several working groups on structured finance related, including the modernisation of the FCT regulation.

Accolades

  • "Vincent Hatton is available and knows his contacts very well. Philippe Desvignes is full of suggestions and finds the keys to unblocking certain situations." Legal 500 EMEA 2024 for Derivatives and Structured Finance
  • Recognised by Chambers Global 2024 and Chambers Europe 2024 for Capital Markets - Structured finance (France)
  • "Vincent Hatton is recognised for his expertise in structured finance matters, including trade receivables securitisations. "Vincent has a very personal touch, which is appreciated, without sacrificing his technical expertise." Chambers Europe 2024 for Capital Markets - Structured finance and Debts (France)
  • Vincent Hatton is "an excellent partner - very knowledgeable and highly motivated," report clients. He is recognised for his expertise in structured finance matters, including trade receivables securitisations. Chambers France 2023 (Capital Markets: Structured Finance)

Rankings

  • Recognised as Leading Individual – Capital Markets: Structured Finance – Chambers Europe 2024
  • Recognised by Best Lawyers 2025 for Banking and Finance Law and Structured Finance Law in France (since 2020)
  • Recognised by IFLR 1000 2023 as "Highly regarded" for Capital markets: Structured finance and securitisation

Background

Prior to joining HSF in 2014, Vincent worked for 12 years at another leading international firm, during which he spent 3 years in their structured finance team in London.

He holds a master's degree in Banking, Corporate, Finance, and Securities Law (Maîtrise Droit des Affaires) from Maine-Le Mans-Laval University (1998) as well as a master's degree in Banking, Corporate, Finance, and Securities Law (DJCE, DESS Droit des Affaires) from Poitiers University (1999). He also holds a master's degree in French law and English law (DEA en Droit Privé) from Poitiers and Bristol Universities (2000).

Experience & expertise

Selected matters

Trade receivables financing

  • Crédit Agricole CIB, BNPP Paris, Natixis and CIC on the syndication of a global off-balance sheet (IFRS) pan-European trade receivables ABCP securitisation programme for a French catering group (France, Spain, England and Italy)
  • Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank and BNP Paribas on the setting-up and syndication of a multi jurisdiction trade receivables ABCP securitisation program for a US electronics manufacturing company (US, UK, Singapore)
  • Crédit Agricole CIB on a global off-balance sheet (IFRS) export trade receivables securitisation arranged for a car component manufacturers (France, England, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and USA)

Whole business securitisation

  • Equitis as management company of the FCT of the Fraikin whole business securitisation
  • Hertz as originator on the setting up a pan-European and Australian whole business securitisation programme covering its vehicle fleet*
  • Crédit Agricole CIB as arranger of the Europcar European whole business securitisation*

Energy saving certificates and solar plan securitisation

  • Crédit Agricole CIB on the setting of an energy saving certificates platform and implementation of several financing for French utilities companies
  • Société Générale on several financing of energy saving certificates and capacity guarantee certificates for French utilities companies
  • A French solar energy company on the sale of energy certificates (certificats d’économie d’énergie) arranged by Sienna Investment Managers

Lease securitisation

  • Crédit Agricole CIB on their participation into a warehouse facility backed by solar receivables for Enpal.
  • Crédit Agricole CIB on a warehouse facility backed by lease receivables for FCA
  • Econocom on the modification of their strategic assets leasing contracts

Financial receivables financing and portfolio transfers included NPL

  • Orange Bank on the sale of its portfolio loans composed of consumer loans, home loans and professional loans within the context of the closure of Orange Bank (Project Norway)
  • Crédit Agricole Consumer Finance (CACF) on their GINCO public securitisation of French revolving loans
  • BNPP and Société Générale on the monetization of export credit receivables guaranteed by French ECA