Kamel Ben Salah, partner in the Gide Banking & Finance practice group in Paris, mainly advises banks and financial institutions on structuring, drafting and negotiating complex transactions in real estate financing, refinancing and restructuring. He specialises predominantly in real estate asset finance, corporate financing (especially involving real estate listed companies) and project financing.

Kamel Ben Salah has advised various financial institutions, whether acting as arrangers or lenders, on setting up financing for investment funds, listed companies, SIIC and OPCI. These transactions mainly concern financing or refinancing of single or portfolio assets (office buildings, hotels, logistical hubs), shopping centres and companies or groups of companies, primarily real estate listed companies. He advises arrangers and subscribers in respect of the first mortgage-structured bonds in France.

Kamel Ben Salah is regularly ranked as a leading banking and real estate finance expert in the various international legal directories, such as Chambers, Legal 500, IFLR1000 and Best Lawyers in France.

« Kamel Ben Salah acts on acquisition financings and refinancings and is highly sought after by leading French financial institutions. Interviewees describe him as a tenacious negotiator. »
Chambers Europe 2021

« Kamel Ben Salah is active in the real estate sector, within which he regularly assists with asset finance and refinancing mandates. Interviewees highlight his 'huge know-how and skills in real estate finance.' »
Chambers Global 2018

« The impressive Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. is ‘among the top law firms in Paris, comes first for large deals’, is ‘very professional, delivers on time, and gives good insights on the market’s latest developments’. The large 49-lawyer team serves many high-profile European listed property companies, French and international investment funds, developers, industrial operators, high end-users and lenders and is consistently involved in the market’s largest investment deals. [...] The firm is also second-to none for property finance work: the team is ‘excellent, commercial and always finds solutions’ and includes two of the market’s most well-known figures, namely the ‘efficient, discreet and commercial’ Kamel Ben Salah, who is ‘extremely well connected and has strong negotiating skills’, and Rémi Tabbagh. Laetitia Lemercier is also involved. »
Legal 500 EMEA 2018 | Real Estate

« Gide Loyrette Nouel ‘combines strong expertise and sector knowledge with strong execution skills’, has ‘a competent and business-oriented team’ and ‘always finds a solution’; the group is further noted for its office network outside France. Structured finance, project finance and acquisition finance are core areas of expertise, but the team also has experience in debt restructuring. The team advised HSBC France on structuring the refinancing of the public private partnership (PPP) related to the construction and maintenance of the French Ministry of Defence, involving project debt, Dailly debt and hedging agreements; and drew on its expertise in the real estate sector to act for BNP Paribas, Natixis and ING on the €550m refinancing of Parisian building complex Quadrans. In the acquisition finance space, it assisted Partners Group with the French aspects of the financing of the acquisition of the Cerba Group, and advised Europcar on its €1.5bn cross-border acquisition of Goldcar. Bank of Ireland, Natixis and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank are other clients. The ‘efficient, discreet and proactive’ Kamel Ben Salah is ‘a very experienced lawyer in real estate financing’ and has ‘strong negotiation skills’. Ben Salah jointly leads the practice with Eric Cartier-Millon, Laetitia Lemercier and Rémi Tabbagh. Thomas Binet was promoted to the partnership in January 2018. »
Legal 500 EMEA 2018 | Banking & Finance

« 'Best in class', Gide Loyrette Nouel has ‘in-depth knowledge and ability to react quickly on any competitive bid or process’ in property finance. The practice advises banks on the market’s largest transactions and assisted BNP Paribas and CACIB with the €410m financing of the acquisition of Tour First in La Défense. Rémi Tabbagh ranks among the market’s top advisers in the sector, along with the ‘extremely well-known’ Kamel Ben Salah. »
Legal 500 EMEA 2017

« Kamel Ben Salah offers particular specialism in matters involving asset and real estate finance. He receives praise from clients for being 'an expert in his field, capable of providing legal advice both oral and written in English and French.' »
Chambers Global 2017

« Described as 'very strong in this area,' Kamel Ben Salah specialises in real estate finance and is highly regarded for his work in this area. He advises on the drafting, negotiation and structuring of complex transactions; additionally, he has substantial experience in leveraged leasing and acquisitions. He represents different types of clients with particular expertise in acting on behalf of banks. »
Chambers Europe 2017

« Kamel Ben Salah is a pioneering figure for real estate finance. Clients appreciate his wise judgement, extensive experience and commercial awareness. »
Chambers Europe 2016

« Kamel Ben Salah is widely regarded as a 'fantastic' real estate financing lawyer and is frequently seen acting for lenders. He advised a group of banks on financing Olayan Financing Company's acquisition of a EUR750 million real estate portfolio. »
Chambers Europe 2015

« Gide has ‘very strong expertise and knowledge in the property and hotel fields’. The practice assisted CACIB with the financing of Blackstone’s acquisition of the Concorde Saint-Lazare Hotel. The highly experienced Kamel Ben Salah and Rémi Tabbagh are the main contacts, in the 56-lawyer team, which is known for its ‘efficient advice and swift execution’ of corporate and acquisition financing deals. »
Legal 500 EMEA 2015