Biography
Thomas is a founding partner of the Paris office of Signature Litigation and a leading commercial and international litigator. Previously a partner in a major international law firm, Thomas has almost 30 years’ experience in litigation.
Described as “an intelligent and clear-minded lawyer“, a “tough but excellent” litigator, “a good strategist and the best trial lawyer [the client has] seen in the French court system“, Thomas focuses on complex, bet the company litigation.
Recognised by Who’s Who Legal as the “finest product liability lawyer in the country and one of the very best on the continent“, Thomas has a seasoned, wide and multifaceted practice, spanning from contract litigation to corporate and banking disputes as well as to fraud and asset tracing. Thomas has been regarded by Who’s Who Legal as one of two ‘Global Elite Thought Leaders’ in France for Life Sciences: Product Liability, and the directory notes he is a “standout figure in the life sciences market“. Previous editions of this directory has also praised Thomas for his “tough style that is very effective.” In Who’s Who Legal’s Product Liability Defence 2022 Guide, Thomas is recognised as one of its ‘Global Elite Thought Leaders’, who is “highly respected by peers and clients alike for his extensive experience in complex product liability cases“.
Thomas has also been listed as one of the “Most Highly Regarded” practitioners in Who’s Who Legal France: Product Liability Defence, with the Guide noting that he is “a pre-eminent figure in the French market“. He is an expert in international, cross-border litigation. Thomas “is very client-focused, very pragmatic, and creative with solutions” (Acritas clients survey, 2018). In the Who’s Who Legal’s Insurance and Reinsurance 2022 Guide, Thomas is ranked as a Thought Leader with the guide noting he “has a sterling reputation in the market thanks to his experience in litigation proceedings, particularly those involving the life sciences sector” and “is a well-established name in the insurance market, held in high esteem by peers for his first-tier work on contentious matters.”
Previous Guides further describe him as “phenomenal for product liability claims and litigation proceedings” and “a tough and pragmatic lawyer” with “deep knowledge of the legal and regulatory environment”. Who’s Who Legal Product Liability Defence France also describes Thomas as “a leading expert in this area for decades” due to his “excellent” work on complex product liability proceedings. He also receives prominent credit as “a very respected practitioner with an exceptionally strong product liability practice”.
Thomas is highly ranked across the Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500 guides; he is ranked as a leading expert by Chambers Global 2023 and Europe 2023 for his litigation and aviation expertise, with sources praising him for his “invaluable” advice, experience and knowledge. The Chambers Europe and Global Guides note Thomas is “an excellent litigator with great commercial awareness” and clients describe him as “spectacularly intelligent” as well as noting that he “takes the time to understand the strategic needs of our business and beyond that he is a very pleasant individual, the full package”. Another client also adds that his “strength is to focus on the details and to be extremely closely involved in directing proceedings.”
The Legal 500 EMEA Guide ranks Thomas in its ‘Hall of Fame’ for his aviation and commercial litigation practices, and he is also recommended for insurance. The Guide notes that the aviation team “stands out through its stellar product liability work in the aviation sector“.
Thomas recently co-authored, with Counsel Claire Massiera, the “Investigative Measures: Domestic and International Legal Aspects” chapter in Private Enforcement of Competition Law in Europe, the leading book examining procedural and substantive issues in respect of private enforcement of competition law in Europe.
Thomas is a member of the Board of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC). He also serves as Chair of the Superior Appellate Commission of the French Football Federation (FFF).
Experience
- Advising a worldwide automotive manufacturer on emissions issues in France.
- Representing a commercial aircraft manufacturer in the defence of personal injury claims arising from major aircraft accidents.
- Representing an online marketplace in disputes against trademark owners (alleged liability in counterfeiting, breach of selective distribution networks, gross negligence through the websites it hosts).
- Representing a CIS bank in a high profile case against the bank’s former owner in the scope of enforcement proceedings involving piercing the corporate veil and attachment of assets located on the French Riviera and in the French West Indies.
- Representing an Austrian bank in the defence of proceedings before the French Courts in order to obtain the cancellation, based on alleged vitiated consent and fraud, of several subscriptions of subordinated participation capital bonds which amount to a total of €200,000,000.
- Representing corporate clients in defending post M&A claims made on allegations of fraudulent inducement and misrepresentation.
Publications
2023
La lenteur de la justice française : constat et perspectives – Gazette du Palais – 21 March 2023
2022
Collective Redress & Class Actions 2022 – Chambers Global Practice Guide – 05 December 2022
Antitrust Litigation 2022 – Chambers Global Practice Guide – 2 November 2022
Signature Litigation Paris promeut deux avocates – Décideurs Magazine – 8 July 2022
Signature Litigation Paris : deux nouvelles Counsels – Le Monde du Droit – 4 July 2022
Guide to Product Liability & Safety 2022: France – Chambers and Partners – 23 June 2022
2021
Signature Litigation : une belle croissance en 2021 – Affiches Parisiennes – 22 December 2021
Signature Litigation annonce une croissance de 22 % et une participation annuelle aux bénéfices de 17,6 %, fait unique à Paris – Le Monde du Droit – 21 December 2021
Signature Litigation annonce une croissance de 22 % – Jusristes associés – 15 December 2021
Partners Sylvie Gallage-Alwis and Thomas Rouhette and Associate Nikita Yahouedeou contribute the French Chapter of Chambers Collective Redress & Class Actions 2021 – Chambers & Partners – 9 November 2021
Antitrust Litigation 2021: France, Trends and Developments – Chambers Global Practice Guides – October 2021
La judiciarisation du devoir de vigilance est enclenchée – Compliances – 9 July 2021
Investigative Measures: Domestic and International Legal Aspects – Chapter in Private Enforcement of Competition Law in Europe – June 2021
CDR – Fraud, Asset Tracing & Recovery – CDR – 19 March 2021
2020
SIGNATURE LITIGATION TRIPLE SES RÉSULTATS ET ANNONCE UNE PARTICIPATION ANNUELLE AUX BÉNÉFICES DE 17,2 % – Juristes Associés – 6 October 2020
The rise of data breach litigation – Global Data Review – 18 March 2020
Thomas comments on his wishes for 2020 – Option Droit et Affaires – 8 January
Signature Litigation fête son premier anniversaire à Paris – Le Monde du Droit – 7 January 2020
2019
L’action de groupe : quelle défense pour demain ? – Option Droit et Affaires – 11 December 2019
Class Actions in France: A Unique Scheme that Requires a Tailored Defence Strategy – ICLG – 11 November 2019
French blocking statute reform: An opportunity to strengthen international judicial cooperation? – Thomson Reuters – 17 May 2019
All tied up – Global Data Review – 13 May 2019
New reform proposal to relaunch the French blocking statute raises concerns – FT’s Global Risk Regulator – 7 May 2019
Proposed reforms to French blocking statute would still leave companies “stuck between two evils” – Global Investigations Review – 18 April 2019
C’est si bon for Signature Litigation – Global Legal Post – 17 January 2019
Signature moves into Paris with Hogan Lovells hires after 35% growth – Legal Week – 17 January 2019
Areas of Expertise
Thomas Rouhette's Latest Published Articles
@SignatureLitLLP
We are delighted to announce that Partner Elliott Phillips from Signature’s Gibraltar office has been recognised in @Citywealth's Top 100 Private Client Litigation Lawyers List 2023. Find a link to his profile here: bit.ly/3MaWn90 #PrivateClient #Litigation #Arbitration pic.twitter.com/idGpVgnqJm
Signature Litigation ranked in Chambers Global 2023 Guide
16 February 2023
Signature Litigation ranked in Chambers Global 2023 Guide
16 February 2023
Signature Partners
Ioannis Alexopoulos
Ioannis is ranked in the Chambers UK 2022 Guide for international arbitration, which notes that he “consistently produces extraordinary, excellent work and he fills the client with great confidence and comfort”. He is further described as “adept at handling BIT claims” and “is very experienced and brings a wealth of knowledge to the field.” He is also recognised in The Legal 500 UK 2023 as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ for civil fraud, international arbitration, commercial litigation and banking litigation, and he is praised for his “superb commercial and practical sense.” Ioannis is also recognised in Who’s Who Legal 2022 Arbitration Guide. He has been described as “well recognised for his top-notch arbitration practice among peers who say he is “very experienced and engaging with the tribunal”.”
Paul Brehony
Paul is recognised for his commercial litigation expertise in The Legal 500 UK 2023 Guide. He has also been recommended for civil fraud and banking litigation and is commended as “a highly accomplished insolvency litigator“, who “is fantastic in highly complex insolvency cases where his knowledge and experience put him head and shoulders above others“. Previous guides have described Paul as a “notable practitioner” for banking litigation and “highly recommended” for commercial litigation. He is further praised as “charming, well organised and a pleasure to litigate with.”
Natalia Chumak
Natalia has been ranked in the Chambers UK and The Legal 500 UK Guides for her International Arbitration expertise. She has previously been praised by The Legal 500 and Chambers UK for her “fantastic experience and responsiveness“, for being an “extremely good tactical mind“, a “steely litigator with excellent litigation instincts” and she has been praised for her ability to “remain incredibly calm under pressure“.
Julian Connerty
Julian has been ranked in Chambers for Civil Fraud and the Guide notes he “has considerable expertise in international fraud cases.” Julian is recommended in The Legal 500 UK 2022 for his civil fraud expertise. The Legal 500 has noted that Julian is an “extremely experienced practitioner” and “a specialist in international fraud and asset recovery actions”. Julian is also described as “subtle and meticulous” and “inspires great confidence in all around him”.
Simon Fawell
Simon has been recognised as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ in The Legal 500 UK for his litigation and arbitration expertise and is commended as “a strong strategic thinker”, “a real team player” and “very good to work with”. He is also Recommended for insurance and reinsurance litigation.
Sylvie Gallage-Alwis
Sylvie is described by Who’s Who Legal as a “dynamic and determined litigator“, who is “a firm favourite among clients” as “she always goes the extra mile to support her clients, and is proactive in seeking commercial solutions to disputes” and is “analytical, intelligent and responsive“. The Legal 500 EMEA Guide ranks Sylvie as a ‘Leading Individual’ for Product Liability Litigation in France and she is recognised for her work on “high-profile toxic tort and product liability cases, handing a number of asbestos claims.”
Becca Hogan
Becca is recognised as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ by The Legal 500 UK 2023 for banking litigation. Becca is described as “exceptional“, with an “excellent grasp of the detail”. She is further praised as a “safe and skilled pair of hands.” She has been described, by previous editions of the Guide, as “stellar“, “calm and strategic“. She has also been praised for her “good instincts” and “commercial approach”.
Graham Huntley
Graham is consistently recognised by The Legal 500 and Chambers as one of the UK’s highest ranked commercial and banking litigators and has been involved in some of the most significant cases of recent years. Chambers UK describes him as “an intense and effective solicitor with an incredibly client-focused approach” and he has previously been described as “very bright, very hard-working, a good tactician” and “very committed and driven”. The Legal 500 UK 2023 recognises Graham as a ‘Hall of Fame’ lawyer for both banking litigation and commercial litigation, and a ‘Leading Individual’ for his civil fraud expertise. He is described as “a doyen of London banking litigation” and a “master tactician“.
Abdulali Jiwaji
Abdul is regarded as a ‘Leading Individual’ in The Legal 500 UK 2023 for Commercial Litigation and a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ for Banking Litigation: Investment and Retail. The Guide notes he is “absolutely unflappable” and that he “inspires confidence“. A commentator notes that: “One of the best litigators I have had the privilege of working with is Abdulali Jiwaji.” Abdul is further described as having “a grip of the big picture and the detail; very deft in client handling; tenacious and determined; swift, responsive and clear-thinking“. Previous Guides have noted Abdul “is always on the ball and has a good tactical brain” and recognises he “has always provided sound and very considered advice”. He is also praised for being “a steady hand during turbulent times”. Chambers Global has described him as a “technically sound, sensible and robust litigator who always finds practical solutions”.
Tsegaye Laurendeau
Tsegaye Laurendeau is recognised as a ‘future leader’ in the Who’s Who Legal Arbitration Guide. Peers and clients say he is a “brilliant arbitration lawyer” and “very adept at steering cases and handling experts”. Previous editions of this Guide note that Tsegaye is “one of the best arbitration lawyers of his generation”, “a top-notch attorney” who is “rapidly establishing himself as one of the leading practitioners, notably in Africa-related disputes”. Tsegaye also features in The Legal 500 International Arbitration Powerlist UK, which showcases the UK’s leading arbitration practitioners.
Emmanuèle Lutfalla
Emmanuèle is recognised as a ‘Thought Leader’ in Who’s Who Legal’s France 2020 Guide. She is also ranked as both a ‘National’ (in France) and ‘Global’ Leader for Product Liability Defence in Who’s Who Legal. The Guide notes Emmanuèle “excels in handling disputes at the intersection of product liability and insurance matters, representing clients from the life sciences sector in litigation and product risk management.” The Legal 500 EMEA Guide ranks Emmanuèle as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ for insurance and notes she is “very renowned in the insurance sector“. The Legal 500 also ranks the insurance and reinsurance litigation practice very highly in Paris, and also notes the department “unites an impressive bench of stellar litigators“. The Chambers Europe 2022 Guide notes that Emmanuèle noted as “the key point of contact” for insurance at the firm. Chambers ranks Signature Paris’ insurance practice as a leading firm in its Europe Guide and highlights the team’s “knowledge and ability to handle complex and difficult matters“.
Hermès Marangos
Hermès is recognised as a ‘Leading Individual’ in The Legal 500 UK 2022 for his insurance and reinsurance litigation practice. Hermès has been ranked as an expert in Chambers Global and Chambers Latin America for his Insurance expertise in the region.
Neil Newing
Neil is regarded as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ in The Legal 500 UK 2023 for international arbitration and banking litigation. He is for his “excellent arbitration experience, and excellent appreciation of the strengths and weaknesses of cases.” Previous Guides have described Neil as “a strong lawyer who stands out for the quality and thoroughness of his analysis” and noted for managing “major cross-border disputes“. The Legal 500 UK 2021 recognised him as “an outstandingly clever counsel who will go very far”. Neil is also described as being “an exceptionally talented lawyer, a strategic thinker and a pleasure to work with. The depth and breadth of his experience in international commercial arbitrations is a huge asset to the firm”. He is also ranked in the Who’s Who Legal Arbitration Guide as a ‘future leader’.
Elliott Phillips
Elliott is an internationally recognised barrister and specialises in global commercial litigation and international contentious trusts disputes. He has been recognised in The Legal 500 for his experience in dispute resolution work and is also ranked as a Band 2 individual in both Chambers Global and Chambers Europe for General Business Law: Dispute Resolution — Gibraltar. Elliott is also recognised as one of the world’s leading private client lawyers and trusts and estates litigators, and is listed in the Private Client Global Elite community. The Legal 500 EMEA Guide recognises Elliott as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ for dispute resolution in Gibraltar, and notes he “is a specialist in international trusts and estates disputes.” A referee in the Guide described Elliott as “an accomplished litigator, highly experienced, knowledgeable and great to have on your side” and another praised his “vast knowledge and experience across an array of different areas” and noted he is “the stand-out practitioner in a hugely talented team.“
Flore Poloni
Ranked in the Who’s Who Legal Arbitration Guide, Flore is described as “the most dynamic young arbitration practitioner in Paris“, “a very dynamic and multi-skilled lawyer” and praised for her “excellent communication skills and perfect knowledge of arbitration“. The Legal 500 EMEA 2021 Guide ranks Flore as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ for dispute resolution and has been recognised as a ‘Rising Star’ lawyer for International Arbitration. Flore has been praised for her “extensive expertise in international arbitration” and described as “extremely capable”.
Thomas Rouhette
Thomas is ranked as a leading expert by both Chambers Global and Europe for his litigation and aviation law expertise, with sources praising him for his “invaluable” advice, experience and knowledge. The Legal 500 EMEA Guide consistently recognises Thomas as a ‘Hall of Fame’ lawyer for his aviation and commercial litigation practices. Who’s Who Legal regards Thomas as the “finest product liability lawyer in the country and one of the very best on the continent.”
Tom Snelling
Highly ranked in the Chambers UK Guide for his commercial litigation expertise, Tom Snelling is described in the 2020 Guide as “extraordinarily good” and an “utter pleasure to work with and enormously talented, with a sixth sense for where a case is going and very sound judgement”. The Guides have also noted that Tom is “amazingly dedicated with strong credentials in international litigation” and that he is both “practical and commercial”. Tom is recognised as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ in The Legal 500 UK 2022 for Banking Litigation: Investment and Retail and Commercial Litigation.
Daniel Spendlove
The Legal 500 UK Guide describes Daniel as “hugely talented“, “with a really creative eye for litigation strategy“, “an exceptionally committed, exceptionally hard working lawyer, with a careful and thorough approach to issues” and “a really effective litigator“. He has also been described as “very smart, client focused and details-oriented” and “excellent, with great attention to detail, wide experience and excellent client care’“. He has also been praised as “highly professional”, and “a strategic thinker” who “brings real energy to cases”. He is highly ranked across the Commercial Litigation, Banking Litigation and International Arbitration categories. He was recently described, by Commercial Dispute Resolution magazine, as “one of a new breed of independent and forceful commercial litigation partners”.
Rory Spillman
Rory is recognised as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ by The Legal 500 UK 2023 for banking litigation and a commentator notes that Rory has “tremendous judgement” is “very hard-working“, and comes “highly recommended for banking disputes.” He has also been described by previous Guides as “impressive“, “excellent” and a “real authority“.
Josh Wong
Described as a “a highly experienced commercial international arbitration expert“, Josh is recognised as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ in The Legal 500 UK 2023 for international arbitration and banking litigation. A commentator remarks: “Josh Wong and his colleagues are a highly knowledgeable and intellectually-focused team that fully appreciates and acts upon all the levers within complex litigation, taking full account of the strengths and weakness of all components.” Past guides have also noted that he is “an expert in security, asset tracing and enforcement actions involving multiple jurisdictions”. He has also been ranked in Chambers Global as a ‘Foreign Expert Based in UK’ for his Chinese dispute resolution, arbitration expertise, and as a ‘Foreign Expert for China’ for UK dispute resolution.
