Profile

Nicolas is a partner in our Paris office. He is regularly instructed in complex and international disputes, and acts for leading insurers and reinsurers, brokers, major policyholders and manufacturers.

His practice includes coverage disputes (insurance and reinsurance), defence work, subrogation claims and general commercial litigation. It spans several key industry sectors (aerospace, transport, construction, real estate, tourism, finance and manufacturing), with a particular focus on product and professional liability. Nicolas has significant experience of complex court-appointed technical investigations, specifically relating to industrial risks.

Nicolas is bilingual in English and French and also speaks Italian. He is also a member of the Association Internationale du Droit des Assurances (AIDA).

Nicolas also contributed to the fourth edition of Kennedys’ Global Legal Handbook, one of our most popular guides, which outlines the main legal and procedural issues that case handlers may encounter when dealing with claims across 53 jurisdictions globally.

Qualifications

  • Qualified as a French Avocat à la Cour
  • Qualified as a Solicitor in England and Wales
Nicolas Bouckaert specialises in industrial risk and court-appointed technical investigations.

Market recognition

Next Generation Partner for 'Insurance (France)' | The Legal 500 EMEA 2023

Recommended Lawyer for 'Insurance (France)' | The Legal 500 EMEA 2023

"Nicolas Bouckaert straddles the two jurisdictions of France and England and Wales like Colossus in pinstripes. For clients dealing with cross-border issues, Nicolas is the default choice."

Recommended Lawyer for 'Aviation (France)' | The Legal 500 EMEA 2023

"Nicolas Bouckaert specialises in industrial risk and court-appointed technical investigations."

Recommended Lawyer for 'Insurance Law (France)' | The Best Lawyers in France 2023

Next Generation Partner for 'Insurance (France)' | The Legal 500 EMEA 2022

"Nicolas Bouckaert specializes in coverage disputes and defence work over such sectors as real estate, aerospace, manufacturing and finance."

Recommended Lawyer for 'Aviation (France)' | The Legal 500 EMEA 2022

"Nicolas Bouckaert is in charge of the aerospace product liability practice, and counsels to airlines, aerospace manufacturers, and insurers."

Next Generation Partner for 'Insurance | (France)' The Legal 500 EMEA 2021

"The calm, always friendly and very competent way of communicating. Nicolas Bouckaert is particularly notable."

Recommended Lawyer for 'Aviation (France)' | The Legal 500 EMEA 2021

"Nicolas Bouckaert is highly experienced with an excellent strategic vision."

Recommended Lawyer for 'Aviation (France)' | The Legal 500 EMEA 2020

Next Generation Partner for 'Insurance (France)' | The Legal 500 EMEA 2020

"Nicolas Bouckaert [is] highly skilled and knowledgeable within the area of insurance and litigation."

Recommended Lawyer for 'Insurance (France)' | The Legal 500 EMEA 2019

"Christian Bouckaert, Nicolas Bouckaert and Alexis Valençon, noted for their 'availability and clear communication' and has already become a key player in the French market."

Recommended Lawyer for 'Aviation (France)' | The Legal 500 EMEA 2019

"Nicolas Bouckaert lead[s] the aerospace product liability practice."

Work highlights

Representing a Japanese reinsurer in an international arbitration arising out of the 9/11 attacks.

Representing a manufacturer and its insurer in relation to a major chemical pollution loss, which damaged the manufacturer’s machine tools and brought its entire production site to a halt.

Representing a US manufacturer of aerospace components in a dispute relating to a loss suffered by an A380 engine.

Representing a Bahraini transport company against a state and an energy company in a dispute arising out of the damage suffered by electrical turbines as they were being transported (international maritime and road transport) to the power plant for which they were destined.

Advising co-insurers regarding the coverage of a major bank’s professional liability following a significant financial loss (in excess of €125m) that occurred in Singapore.

Representing a Scandinavian manufacturer in disputes arising out of the explosion or malfunction of several electric boats.