Stéphane BONIFASSI

International litigator Stéphane Bonifassi directs actions in the areas of complex white-collar crime and asset recovery. Over nearly 30 years representing individuals, corporations and states victimized by economic crimes, he has often acted as a strategist behind the scenes in high-stakes litigation.

Who’s Who Legal: Asset Recovery 2019 recommends him as “one of the premier figures in the European asset recovery market, known for his remarkable ability when it comes to criminal investigations requiring asset recovery.”

Valued for his progressive and creative approach to international parties and complex, cross-border issues, Stéphane regularly assumes a leading role in cases of business crime and fraud, economic sanctions, corruption, forfeiture and confiscation, as well as transnational enforcement of judgments and internal investigations. The Best Lawyers in France© 2020, in partnership with Les Échos, highlights his criminal defense practice.

Who’s Who Legal: Asset Recovery 2015 described Stéphane as the “dean of the Parisian Bar.” He is also knowledgeable about the United States’ Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar laws of other nations. His peers described him as “experienced, pragmatic and responsive – a brilliant analyst,” in Chambers Europe (White-Collar Crime) 2019.

Demonstrating his commitment to the war against financial crime, Stéphane co-founded The International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators. The Academy is a collaboration of experienced litigation professionals and distinguished academics working to generate solutions in economic crime cases.

Stéphane received Plume D’Or awards from Les Plumes De L’Economie & Du Droit in 2015 and 2016 for his written contributions to Le Monde on international corruption and on the benefits of Deferred Prosecution Agreements to France’s legal system, respectively.