5 November 2009 - Gide Loyrette Nouel named "France Law Firm of the Year" at the Lawyer's European Awards 2009:

Gide Loyrette Nouel has been named "France Law Firm of the Year" at the inaugural European Awards held by the Lawyer magazine.  The ceremony took place in Barcelona on Wednesday 4 November and senior partner Pierre Raoul-Duval was present to receive the award. 
  
Capturing the firm’s excellent performance in France last year, the judges observed:  "A great year showed how Gide Loyrette Nouel has become the largest law firm in France. The 60-lawyer M&A practice acted on the biggest deals of the year, including Group Caisse d’Epargne’s merger with Banque Populaire, Groupama’s takeover of OTP Garancia and a complex $1.1bn (£990m) offer by SNCF for Geodis. The finance practice acted for the French banks in the government’s rescue package, while the project finance side was involved in all the country’s major PPPs. Gide upped the stakes even higher this year, making it a clear winner."

Commenting on the accolade, Pierre Raoul-Duval said: “I am delighted that we have been given this award which is testament to the quality of work undertaken by my colleagues this year.  Despite the credit crisis, the firm has been rather busy, and we look to the future with confidence.”

In addition to the above, Gide Loyrette Nouel was shortlisted for two other awards: "Law Firm of the Year: Eastern Europe & The Balkans" and "Law Firm of the Year: Russia & the CIS".