Awards & Rankings

"We are generally very pleased with the very specific and practical advice we receive from CMS. We believe that the firm has very good capabilities for dealing with complex matters."

"CMS clearly is the most competent law firm in Monaco. It houses a team of exceptional analytical and creative lawyers, no other law firm in Monaco can offer the same quality."

"The legal knowledge combined with the team's practical experience are assets. The lawyers provide good follow-up of the files and quick responses to our requests."

"Their perfect mastery of the subjects and the possibility of collegial analysis between the different lawyers at the firm mean that they have a great ability to handle complicated cases."

"The team is available and attentive."

"The main qualities of Olivier Marquet are his reactivity, listening skills and pragmatism."

"Olivier Marquet is an outstanding lawyer. His knowledge and his drive to understand and cover the relevant subjects in great depth are among the best I have seen in my long career in the industry."

"Sophie Marquet is regarded as a leading individual for employment law matters in Monaco."

"Sophie Marquet is an exceptional lawyer who provides good and practical advice for the client."

"Sophie Marquet is a reference in terms of labour law in Monaco."

"Stephan Pastor is an excellent negotiator with great insight and with the necessary experience to manage sensitive cases."

"Emeline Elbaz-Mondeux is very good and is very clear."

"The team at CMS Pasquier Ciulla Marquet Pastor & Svara, praised for its 'very attentive and proactive case follow-ups', excels in assisting clients across both advisory and litigation matters."

"Unique knowledge of Monaco laws and regulations that are very specific."

"CMS have a strong and capable private client disputes team at all levels. They are responsive and incredibly knowledgeable."

"The firm provides a consistently high standard of advice on Monaco law issues across the private client spectrum."

"Christine Pasquier-Ciulla is truly outstanding."

"Christine Pasquier-Ciulla is certainly the best lawyer for individuals in Monaco. Backed by a dedicated team who won a favourable court ruling where necessary. She is fluent in English, French and Italian."

"Christine Pasquier-Ciulla is great to work with. Her advice is always clear and commercial."

"Regina Griciuc is a stand-out member of the team."

"Raphaëlle Svara is highly regarded for her work in legal protection for adults and minors."

"The CMS team in Monaco is perfectly dedicated to the client objectives."

"The individuals inside CMS firm show strong competencies."

"Working with CMS Monaco means you get a high-quality service with a wide range of specific expertise while maintaining a local approach and high availability. The professionalism within a structured and efficient organisation is particularly noteworthy."

"Quality and interaction are the two words that describe the relationship with the partners and employees of the firm."

"Sophie Marquet demonstrates in each case that she has a strong ability to analyse the issues and implement the best strategy in the interests of the case and the client."

"Each team is very competent and quick in their reply. In this practice, you can find a solution for every problem in every field."

"The people are always at your disposal, and their replies to your questions are quick."

"They have a great team which is very knowledgeable. They communicate well, are responsive and always available when you need them. They are commercial and solution-oriented, well connected and think along."

"Stephan Pastor is very knowledgeable and experienced. He is calm and always to the point. He is great in the courtroom and fights for his clients."

"Emeline Elbaz-Mondeux is smart, open and transparent."

"CMS has the commitment and flexibility to adapt to each case. The team is very responsive and has a good understanding of our issues. The lawyers are technical, pragmatic and excellent in strategy."

"CMS has the right person for every aspect of a case. The team is very professional and rapid in its turning around of the work."

"CMS has a very focused, dedicated and talented team."

"CMS consists of seasoned practitioners, capable of handling complex cases with large interests. CMS is able to handle tight deadlines, multiple developments and the ramifications of complex cases."

"Raphaëlle Svara was very efficient and attentive to the client."

"According to many, CMS is the best firm in Monaco for ultra-high-net-worth private client matters."

"The team is amazing and very professional. Lawyers manage to be creative to find solutions when dealing with complex divorce situations."

"CMS has very good experience with private client matters and it frequently handles major cross-border matters in this respect."

"The private client team have great strength in depth and instill confidence, with even the most high profile/ultra high asset clients."

"The private client practice at CMS demonstrates the highest level of professionalism and expertise in diverse cases. CMS’s private client team efficiently and professionally addresses various complex cross-border cases adhering to the utmost professional standards."

"This firm is, in my view, the leading family law team in Monaco. Lawyers work very efficiently and are completely conversant with the interaction between Monegasque family law and the system in common law countries. Their level of English is impeccable and I find them very user friendly with clients."

"I have no hesitation in confirming that Christine Pasquier Ciulla is the number one private client lawyer in Monaco, especially in family law cases. Throughout the case she provided concise, first-rate advice."

"CMS Monaco provided employment law advice that is specific to Monaco and it followed up with us closely on the progression of our case. The team was available at short notice to discuss the development of issues as they arose."

"We value our excellent relationship with Sophie Marquet. It is an outstanding practice and maybe the best in class in Monaco with regards to HR law. The firm possesses an excellent track record for legal proceedings."

"We worked with Sophie Marquet and Sophia Bernardi, who were both very professional and prompt with all their communications."

"The team has all the answers to all the questions."

"CMS offered deep analysis of the tasks and the situation. I thought the team were very good - organised and diligent."

"The firm provides excellent communication and interpersonal skills."

"Olivier Marquet is a very competent lawyer with extensive knowledge in many fields. He is always available and supportive and provides very close follow-up of the issues."

"Olivier Marquet is extremely competent, serious and reliable in his approach to his work."

"Sophie Marquet was extremely responsive and went beyond what was expected to get the case done."

"Sophie Marquet is a clear leader in her field."

"Sometimes the matters are quite urgent and Sophie Marquet is always available when needed. We appreciate her ability to support us no matter the subject."

"Beyond the excellence of the work, I would like to highlight the diplomacy of Stephan Pastor backed by a very great firmness in the treatment of the cases. Stephan knows how to find and implement rational proposals."

"Emeline Elbaz-Mondeux is one of our go-to lawyers here locally. She is excellent and I think she is first rate."

Olivier Marquet - Recommended

Christine Pasquier-Ciulla - winner

"Highly efficient lawyers, accustomed to complex and international cases. Incredible team work capabilities, including with lawyers from foreign law firms. Strong dedication to clients and no ego – just skills, dedication, and results."

"The private client team is a highly client-centred team that delivers a five-star service to clients. They work well together and really go in-depth on issues. They have brilliant understanding of client matters that is very solution-driven. Technical knowledge is delivered to a high level."

"I have always found the team at CMS incredibly helpful. They are efficient, knowledgeable and good to work with."

"Christine Pasquier-Ciulla is widely regarded as a leading light."

"I rate Raphaëlle Svara very highly. She is fantastic to work with, confident, competent and self-assured. I would not hesitate to recommend clients to her."

"The firm has an excellent handle on the Monegasque legal landscape. Lawyers are proactive in updating us with forthcoming changes in the regulatory framework in Monaco. They provide us with rounded pragmatic business-focused advice."

"One of the largest firms in the market, CMS is also one of the few international brands in Monaco, which marks it as a first port of call for cross-border matters. The group's sizeable platform enables it to field standalone offerings in several key transactional spheres."

"Stephan Pastor and senior associate Daniel Goldenbaum are excellent civil lawyers, both are forward thinking, always look for a solution to an issue and are not afraid of giving practical business advice."

"CMS are very strong on private law and family law."

"The CMS team has a very high level of expertise and is also very talented in the area of strategy-making. Very importantly too, they have high availability, flexibility and good human co-operation skills that enable them to work in harmony with teams in other jurisdictions."

"CMS have a very proactive team, and they are always responsive."

"Christine Pasquier-Ciulla is very experienced and highly qualified. She is absolutely excellent at what she does and stands out because she is very bright. She has an excellent level of dedication and is a very good negotiator."

"Raphaëlle Svara is a good lawyer, very dedicated to clients."

"I appreciate the good level of understanding of the expectations and the relevance of the answers provided."

"I am happy with their level of service and responsiveness."

"Olivier Marquet frequently advises clients from the banking industry on a range of matters, including contentious mandates and internal reorganisations. He also assists corporate clients with cryptocurrency fund-raising, as well as representing defendants in white-collar crime litigation. 'Olivier is a lawyer with an outstanding legal mind'. 'It is a real pleasure working with Olivier, he is very reactive'."

"Sophie Marquet is regarded as a leading individual for employment law matters in Monaco. She assists with contract negotiations, restructurings and employment litigation. She also has experience in real estate matters, including property management mandates and lease agreements. 'We really feel that we are in good hands with her'. 'She has good expertise and pays attention to the details'."

"Stephan Pastor assists clients with tax and corporate restructuring matters. He is also well-versed in M&A and contentious mandates. 'I am very happy with Stephan's service and impressed with his ability to break down complex issues into simple actionable points to move things forward and get deals done'."

"Emeline Elbaz-Mondeux enters the rankings this year and handles a range of commercial matters, including debt recovery and M&A transactions. 'She is excellent to deal with and answers very clearly', 'She always comes up with the best way forward, answers all questions and is easy to contact'."

"The team at CMS is known for its expertise in advising high net worth clients. An interviewee notes that they are 'first class and extremely accurate'. Another market insider comments that CMS's Monaco office is 'particularly very good'."

"Christine Pasquier-Ciulla is a founding member of CMS in Monaco. Pasquier-Ciulla is described by one interviewee as 'one of the best I have ever worked with'. Another interviewee comments that 'Christine is brilliant in every way, she's intellectual and strategically solid', adding: 'She is the best in Monaco'."

"Up-and-coming partner Raphaëlle Svara advises many high net worth individuals and runs a practice that focuses on estate planning, trusts and family law. One market insider comments: 'I like her very much. She is very reasonable and also intelligent'. Another interviewee adds: 'Raphaëlle is a rising star who is very diligent and committed to getting clients a good result'."

"A client underlines that there is 'a positive energy about the team and it can offer expertise in each sector'. Another interviewee reports that the team is 'truly impressive' and adds that the lawyers are 'slick operators'."

"Olivier Marquet frequently advises clients from the banking industry on a range of matters, including contentious mandates and internal reorganisations. He also assists corporate clients with cryptocurrency fund-raising, as well as representing defendants in white-collar crime litigation."

"Sophie Marquet is regarded as a leading individual for employment law matters in Monaco. She assists with contract negotiations, restructurings and employment litigation. She also has experience in real estate matters, including property management mandates and lease agreements."

"Stephan Pastor enters the rankings following impressive feedback, with one interviewee underlining that he is 'very good at going the extra mile', while another describes him as 'very articulate and clear in how he presents his thoughts'."

"CMS is one of the few global law firms in Monaco and can therefore offer a full-service practice to their clients. This firm has all the resources and expertise to work with international and non-French speaking clients and advise them on multi-jurisdictional issues."

"Christine Pasquier Ciulla has a very strong experience in private law and a strong charisma which is very comforting with difficult files."

"Raphaëlle Svara is a very enthusiastic and pleasant lawyer to work with. She has a very wide understanding of private law and makes her best to deliver the work within the deadlines, even in very complicated circumstances."

"CMS Monaco are the 'go-to' firm in Monaco. They achieve results, are a safe pair of hands and great to work with. Available, competent and attentive team, with pleasant and cosy offices and meeting rooms."

"Both Stephan Pastor and Emeline Elbaz-Mondeux are very able, provide clear and concise and strategic advice. They completely understand our 'end game' and go above and beyond to ensure that is achieved."

"Partner Olivier Marquet is highly sought after for banking and finance."

"They are an excellent firm; they certainly do a brilliant job for clients, says a commentator, before continuing: 'They have a brilliant understanding of client matters and are very solution-driven. They are probably my go-to law firm in Monaco'. Another commentator says: 'They are efficient in their delivery, they provide high-quality advice and their strategic input is excellent. They have a clear eye on strategy'."

"Christine Pasquier-Ciulla is 'the go-to divorce lawyer in Monaco'. One source comments: 'She is a cut above the rest. I think she is absolutely excellent at what she does. Her strategic vision is excellent, but she's not afraid to roll up her sleeves and do the hard work'."

"Up-and-coming partner Raphaëlle Svara is very knowledgeable in this field. She has a good reputation."

"A client appreciates that the lawyers are 'very reactive and ready to pounce'."

"Olivier Marquet has a strong focus on financial law matters, advising clients on bank guarantees and real estate financing, as well as representing financial sector clients in litigation."

"Commentators describe Sophie Marquet as 'efficient and responsive'. She frequently represents employers in employment law disputes. Marquet also acts on contentious and non-contentious real estate matters."

"Very professional and knowledgeable. For Monaco I felt I was dealing with a young and dynamic team. Always willing to assist."

"Christine Pasquier Ciulla is THE expert in international family law in Monaco. After many years of an intense divorce struggle with another law firm, she solved all issues with an entirely different legal approach."

"The one and only full service law firm in Monaco with an international network. If you are used to professional law firms with a client oriented approach, there is no alternative to CMS in the jurisdiction. The quality of the individual lawyers, the degree of specialisation in the different fields, the processes – everything worthy of a first tier firm in London or New York."

"The firm sticks to deadlines and presents its work in a clear logical manner. The advice is crystal clear. They are well connected to the Governmental Institutions which is important for up to date information and clarification on thorny issues. We’re operating in a multi-lingual environment and so they have the right people with excellent written and oral skills in a variety of languages. This is important."

"Olivier Marquet  is the paramount choice for commercial law. Olivier has been advising our firm for years, his strategic thinking and his legal abstraction capabilities helped us to find the most efficient structures and to solve many legal conflicts in and out of court."

"Sophie Marquet has advised us in many Monaco real estate transactions, her diligence has helped us avoid important pitfalls and saved us from unjustified claims. Her standing with important industry players opens the door for direct talks and rapid solutions."

"Stephan Pastor is excellent in all Monegasque matters contentious including regulatory matters or non-contentious – a safe pair of hands."

"Olivier Marquet (Recommended) has a very large body of knowledge, which allows him to be very efficient on different matters. One client effuses that 'thanks to his strong experience and efficiency, we always have a good chance to win'."

"They are lawyers when it comes to sophisticated work for international clients"

"Christine Pasquier Ciulla is fantastic, she is attentive in what she says and incredibly intelligent. She is very open to discuss issues with a cross-border mindset."

"One client enthuses: 'They are the best lawyers we have had', particularly highlighting that 'we never found a gap in their knowledge and they are extremely good negotiators'. Another client appreciates the team's breadth, reporting: 'The beauty of the firm is that the lawyers can deal with more or less everything'."

"Olivier Marquet represents private individuals and companies in disputes, as well as advising on real estate financing, market exits and corporate restructurings. Interviewees particularly highlight Marquet for his activity in the banking sector."

"Sophie Marquet is 'very calm, very organised and thorough in her approach'. She also assists with real estate projects and leasing contracts. Interviewees appreciate that Marquet 'will do her utmost to give clear answers or guidelines'."

"This firm is very responsive, the lawyers are excellent — it is always a pleasure to work with them. In my opinion they are the go-to lawyers in Monaco."

"Christine Pasquier Ciulla is highly intelligent, a very good strategist but with a human and practical touch. She will fight your corner all the way!"

"Outstanding quality, open-minded and high level of expertise."

"The team is composed of individuals who each have their knowledge in specific areas. It makes you comfortable to know that whatever question you have this team will be able to listen, respond and provide advice in an efficient manner."

"The individuals in charge of the project have fully understood the contractual issues, made unexpected proposals that have improved the relevance of the contract. They have been competent in qualitative and quantitative management."

"Olivier Marquet (Recommended) is a standout name for banking matters, renowned for his profound knowledge of the foundation of banks and financial institutions, as well as bank secrecy matters."