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Russo, Eric

Eric Russo

Partner

ericrusso@quinnemanuel.com
Français
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Direct Tel: +33 (0)1 74 31 35 20
Neuilly-La Defense
Tel: +33 (0)1 74 31 35 22

Eric Russo heads our White Collar, Investigations, and Litigation practice in France, leading a team widely recognized for its dedication to achieving the best outcomes for its clients.

His clients praise his availability, strategic thinking, and technical expertise. With exceptional knowledge in the legal field, Eric is able to quickly mobilize resources, identify the right strategies, and provide straightforward advice and guidance tailored his clients' objectives.

Eric is a versatile lawyer who has established himself as a leading figure in white-collar defense, cross-border investigations and regulatory enforcement. He has gained recognition for his in-depth expertise in commercial and business law, shareholder disputes and civil litigation.

Before joining Quinn Emanuel, Eric served for over two decades in the French judiciary. Most notably, he was 1st Deputy Prosecutor at the Parquet National Financier (PNF), France’s premier financial crimes prosecution office, where he led several high profile investigations.  

Under his leadership, the PNF secured several landmark sanctions, including a historic €3.7 billion fine in a  tax fraud and money laundering case. Eric was also the first prosecutor to secure the signing of a € 300 million CJIP in 2017 and a € 3.6 billion fine in a corruption case in 2021 through a multijurisdictional coordinated settlement with the US DoJ and the UK SFO. His remarkable contributions earned him recognition as 'PNF’s Rising Star' by Les Echos, in 2020, his team being named “Prosecutor of the Year” by Global Investigations Review.

Eric also served as Deputy Head of the corporate restructuring and bankruptcy department and Head of the Contract law department at the French Ministry of Justice.

Eric Russo is also deeply engaged in legal education, serving as a lecturer at Sciences Po Paris, Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, CY Paris Cergy University, and in various professional training programs for attorneys and magistrates.

He is regularly recognized in leading directories such as Legal 500 EMEA and Best Lawyers.

Government investigations and internal investigations :

  • Representation of a fund manager (defendant) in a criminal investigation in France into allegations of corruption, insider trading and fraud
  • Representation of a company (defendant) in a criminal investigation in France into allegations of money laundering
  • Representation of a corporate officer (defendant) in a criminal investigation in France into allegations of tax fraud and money laundering
  • Representation of an individual (plaintiff) in a criminal investigation in Switzerland into fraud and money laundering
  • Representation of a fund manager (defendant) in a criminal investigation in France, Luxembourg, Germany and Switzerland into allegations of corruption and money laundering
  • Representation of a French company (defendant) in a criminal investigation in France into allegations of corruption, favoritism, influence peddling, and misappropriation of public funds
  • Representation of a US AI company in a criminal investigation in France (plaintiff)
  • Representation of a US company in a criminal investigation in France on money laundering of tax fraud allegations
  • Representation of a US company in a criminal investigation in France on  cybercrime allegations, fraud and money laundering (defense)
  • Representation of the French subsidiary of a US company in a joint investigation by the DGCCRF and the French public prosecutor on deceptive commercial practices  allegations (defense)

Commercial litigation and arbitration :

  • Representation of creditors in restructuring proceedings
  • Representation of a UK VC fund (plaintiff) in a shareholders dispute
  • Representation of a UHNW individual (plaintiff) in multiple civil disputes
  • Advice to a multinational aircraft manufacturer in commercial disputes with supplier
  • Advice to a UK independent financial services boutique in a commercial dispute with former partner and competitor
  • Representation of a Abu Dhabi company in a commercial dispute with a French major company
  • Representation of a French car manufacturer in commercial disputes
  • Anti-corruption expert in an ICC arbitration
  • National School of Magistrates – Ecole Nationale de la Magistrature (ENM)
    (1999-2002)
  • University of Lorraine
    (Master in Business Law and Tax, 1998)

The Hauts-de-Seine Bar

  • French
  • English
  • Parquet National Financier (PNF):
    • Deputy-Prosecutor with the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office, 2015-2020
  • Court Of Appeal Of Paris:
    • Secretary General of the Public Prosecutor's Office, 2012-2015
  • Ministry Of Justice - Civil Affairs And Sceau Directorate:
    • Head of contract law division, 2005-2011
  • First Degree Court Of Reims:
    • Investigating Judge, 2002-2005
  • Legal 500 EMEA in Compliance - Practice Heads, 2024-2025
    • ‘Eric Russo is always available, has strong expertise and in-depth knowledge of the field and very good interpersonal skills.’
    • Counting domestic and multinational companies among its key roster of clients, the team at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP is noted for its experience in conducting internal investigations, in addition to setting up anti-corruption compliance programs.
  • Legal 500 EMEA in Dispute Resolution: White-Collar Crime - Practice Heads, 2024-2025
    • ‘Eric Russo is exceptionally knowledgeable in the field and provides straight forward advice and guidance.’
    • ‘Availability, technicality and strategic thinking.’ ‘Very efficient and up to date.’
    • ‘Eric Russo, capitalizing on his experience as a prosecutor, brings exceptional strategic depth and technical expertise.’
    • 'Eric Russo knows how to identify the right strategies that correspond to clients' objectives.'
    • ‘Eric Russo demonstrates the ability to listen to needs and an understanding of companies’ challenges. The services are of top quality, deadlines are respected.’
    • ‘The team is excellent, active and professional.’
    • ‘The Paris office is a fine example of a dedicated practice focused on achieving the best result for the client.’
    • ‘Able to quickly mobilize resources. A top international team.'
  • Included in Best Lawyers in France in Corporate Governance and Compliance Practice, Criminal Defense, Regulatory Practice, 2024, 2025, 2026.
  • Trophées du droit 2023: Trophée d’or de la meilleure équipe spécialisée en Compliance et Anticorruption
  • GIR Awards 2020 – Most important development of the year (Airbus case)
  • GIR Awards 2020 – Prosecutor of the year (PNF’s Airbus case team)
  • QE newsletter, "What attitude to adopt in the face of recent developments in anti-corruption efforts in the United States?", Eric Russo, Sophie de Sevin, February 2025
  • "Negotiated justice, the new eldorado of economic and financial justice?", Eric Russo, Le Club des Juristes, 1st November 2024
  • QE newsletter, "The Court of Cassation strengthens banks' duty of vigilance", Eric Russo, Sophie de Sevin, September 2024
  • "Paris 2024: 'ethical' Olympic Games?", Eric Russo, Valentin Barbault, Droit Pénal, July-August 2024
  • QE newsletter, "The strengthening of the seizure and confiscation regime for criminal assets", Eric Russo, Sophie de Sevin, July 2024
  • QE newsletter, "The offences of favouritism and receiving favouritism", Eric Russo, Sophie de Sevin, May 2024
  • "Facing greenwashing, the EU draws the lines of fair commercial communication", Eric Russo, Sophie de Sevin – International Review of Compliance and Business Ethics, April 2024
  • "Internal investigation at the heart of compliance and negotiated justice issues: analysis of the position of the AFA and the PNF", Eric Russo, in Compliance and Rights of Defence, under the direction of Marie-Anne Frison-Roche and Matthieu Boissavy, February 2024
  • "Indepth Feature: Bankruptcy & Restructuring - Recent Developments in France and Challenges with Cross Border Proceedings", Financier Worldwide Magazine - May 2023
  • "Anti-money laundering 2023 – Indepth Future" – January 2023
  • "The responsibility of the director in the face of corruption" - International Review of Compliance and Business Ethics – December 2022
  • "Corruption: what criminal liability for the director?" - International Review of Compliance and Business Ethics – December 2022
  • "Corruption, sovereignty, compliance: challenges and perspectives in France and the United States" - International Review of Compliance and Business Ethics – December 2022
  • "Fight against corruption: a new French ambition" - Law as a factor of activity – The example of the legal place of Paris-Ile de France – December 2022
  • "From Sapin 2 law to Sapin 3 law" - La lettre des juristes d'affaires Magazine – 18th July 2022
  • "Anti money laundering trends" - Financier Worldwide Magazine – July-September 2022
  • "Developments in European anti-money laundering" – Risk & Compliance, April-June 2022
  • "CSR: good intentions now bind those who express them", La semaine juridique 9th June 2022, n°23
  • "Tax home visits: no protection for remotely stored data", International Review of Compliance and Business Ethics – n°3 June 2022
  • "Corruption: Evaluation of France by the OECD. Improving, but could do better!", International Review of Compliance and Business Ethics n°2 – April 2022
  • Featured in PNF and AFA Publish Draft Guidance for Corruption Investigations, Global Investigations Review, 17th March 2022
  • "Gauvain bill. Towards a new era of anti-corruption in France?" - International Review of Compliance and Business Ethics n°1 – February 2022
  • "The new challenges of compliance" - Cahiers de droit de l'entreprise n°1, January-February 2022
    Featured in France to Consider Tough Anti-Corruption Reforms, Global Investigations Review, 24th October 2021
  • "International corruption: the noose is tightening a little more around companies", International Review of Compliance and Business Ethics n°5 - 12th October 2021
  • "The rising star of the national financial prosecutor's office becomes a lawyer", Les Echos, 7th October 2020
  • Featured in French Airbus prosecutor to join US law, Global Investigations Review, 12th October 2020
  • Director of the annual training session for magistrates: "Strategies and methodology for white collar crime investigations" (Ecole nationale de la Magistrature)
  • Lecturer on the Magistrats-Avocats-Juristes training session about judicial negotiations
  • Lecturer – Diplôme Universitaire Compliance et Ethique des affaires – Université Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne
  • "CJIP: adjustments made by the law of 24th December 2020 and other subjects for reflection for the future", AJ Penal, February 2021
  • Lecturer at Sciences Po Paris on « Business Ethics and International Regulations” (« Ethique des affaires et régulations internationales »)
  • Lecture at the Ecole Nationale de la Magistrature (ENM) on « The corporate criminal liability and corporate resolutions under French law” (« Responsabilité pénale des personnes morales et poursuites contre les personnes morales en droit français »)
  • Lecture at the DU Compliance Université Panthéon-Sorbonne on « Internal investigations and criminal investigations »
  • Auditor of the 17th annual session of the IHEE (Institute for Advanced Business Studies), 2017

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