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Francois Tenailleau
Partner

François Tenailleau

Languages
  • French
  • English
Social media

François Tenailleau joined CMS Francis Lefebvre in 1998 and became a partner in 2010. He leads the firm’s Infrastructure & Projects practice and co-leads the Aerospace & Defence team. 

He advises on public business law issues with a focus on public procurement contracts, concessions, public-private partnerships, agreements involving the use of public property, and structuring complex contractual arrangements. He also acts for clients on other aspects of public law, including public property law, financing of public bodies, public and quasi-public institutions, social housing, and state aid. 

François Tenailleau is regularly consulted by government bodies and professional organisations on matters within his fields. He is a regular contributor to Ministry of Finance expert groups, such as those formed to draft the French public procurement code, to revise the general terms and conditions of public procurement contracts and to consult on the revision of European public procurement directives.

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Award
    Public Law - Band 2
    Chambers France 2025
  • Award
    Public Law - Band 2
    Chambers Europe 2024
  • Award
    Public Law - Band 2
    Chambers France 2023
  • Award
    Administrative Law, Project Finance and Development Practice, Public Law - Best Lawyer since 2013
    Best Lawyers

Publications

  • Les montages contractuels innovants au banc d'essai (with Kawthar Ben Khelil), Le Moniteur (11/04/2025) 
  • Partenariats public-privé institutionnalisés et tiers financement (with Pr Jean Sirinelli), AJDA 2025 (03/03/2025) 
  • Contrats de performance énergétique, Jurisclasseur 
  • Marchés Globaux, Juriclasseur 
  • Bail emphytéotique (with Jean-Luc Tixier), Encyclopédie Dalloz

Memberships & Roles

  • Membre of the board of the French delegated management institute (IGD) 
  • Lecturer, Master's degree course in public business law at the Sorbonne Law School (Université Paris I)

Lectures list

  • La spécificité de la commande publique de Défense - le cadre juridique du réarmement, Université Toulouse Capitole (10/10/2025)
  • La fin du contrat administratif, Université Paris I - Panthéon-Sorbonne (23/06/2025) 
  • La commande publique au service de la souveraineté, Sénat (19/05/2025) 
  • Le retour du financement privé dans l'achat public, La journée de l'Achat public (25/03/2025) 
  • Actualité des contrats complexes, Les journées du BJCP (Annual) 
  • Les journées de la propriété publique, EFE (Annual)

Education

  • Specialisation certificate in public law (2003)  
  • Institut de Droit Public des Affaires, Université Paris-Saclay (1998) 
  • DESS (Diplôme d’études supérieures spécialisées) in public law, specialising in urban planning, development and public works, Université de Paris I - Panthéon-Sorbonne (1996)

Insights by François

SAFE program to strengthen European defence capabilities

SAFE program to strengthen European defence capabilities

01 Jun 2026 3 min read
Complex public procurement opportunities on the horizon

Complex public procurement opportunities on the horizon

26 May 2026 3 min read
EDIP Regulation: A New European Framework for Defence Sector

EDIP Regulation: A New European Framework for Defence Sector

12 Feb 2026 3 min read
Chambers and Partners France 2026

Chambers and Partners France 2026

05 Feb 2026 2 min read
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