Lafarge Drops Skadden Amid U.S. Terror-Funding Lawsuits

Background

• French cement giant Lafarge, currently embroiled in major U.S. litigation surrounding allegations of facilitating terror financing during the Syrian civil war, has made headlines with a notable change in its legal-defence lineup.

Lafarge’s Alleged Terror-Financing in Syria

• Background: Lafarge, a French cement manufacturer, reportedly paid between €4–5 million to armed groups, including ISIS and al-Nusrah Front, from 2012 to 2014 to keep its Jalabiya plant operating during Syria's civil war. [rfi.fr], [syriaaccou…bility.org], [ecchr.eu], [en.wikipedia.org]
• U.S. Guilty Plea: In October 2022, Lafarge and its subsidiary pleaded guilty in a U.S. court to conspiring to provide material support to ISIS and al-Nusrah. They were fined a combined $90.78 million plus $687 million in forfeiture a total of $777.78 million. [akamai-sta…ustice.gov]
• French Prosecutors: In December 2025, French authorities sought a record €1.2 million corporate fine and prison sentences of up to eight years for former executives, based on approximately €4.6 million in payments to armed groups. [rfi.fr], [business-h…rights.org]
• Legal Proceedings in France: As of late 2025, Lafarge and several executives are standing trial in Paris. The court will consider charges of financing terrorist organisations and violating sanctions. A verdict is expected April 13, 2026. [business-h…rights.org], [syriaaccou…bility.org], [ecchr.eu]

Current Legal Allegations

• The US lawsuits in question, such as Fields et al. and Goldman et al., were brought forward by families of ISIS and al-Nusrah Front victims.
• These plaintiffs allege Lafarge aided these terrorist organizations between 2013 and 2014 by making payments that enabled the company to keep its Syrian cement plant operating. [terrorismcase.com], [globalinve…review.com]
• Under U.S. law, such assistance could constitute "material support to terrorist organizations" an extremely serious charge under statutes like the Anti-Terrorism Act and federal terrorism financing laws. [terrorismcase.com], [justice.gov]

Skadden Removed as Counsel

• According to Global Investigations Review, Lafarge has now dropped Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP from its defense team across several of these U.S. lawsuits. [globalinve…review.com]
• Documents from public court records in December 2025 confirm Skadden’s formal withdrawal: motions to withdraw were filed by Lafarge across multiple cases, with the court approving these requests in mid-December. [pacermonitor.com], [pacermonitor.com]

Who’s Filling the Gap?

• A LinkedIn insight by legal practitioner Ryan Sparacino indicates that WilmerHale has stepped in to replace Skadden as Lafarge’s counsel.
• Prior to Skadden, Lafarge had initially been represented by Loeb & Loeb. [linkedin.com]

Why the Change?

• While Lafarge hasn't released an official statement, several speculation threads suggest that the switch may reflect strategic recalibration possibly to better align with counsel experienced in complex international litigation, particularly involving terrorism-support allegations and cross-border jurisdiction.
• Most law firm transitions in high-profile litigation, such as this one, stem from evolving legal strategy, expertise needs, or internal preferences for management of high-stakes, high-risk defence.

What’s Next?

• WilmerHale is now handling Lafarge’s defense in several pending U.S. cases, particularly in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.
• Courts continue to review and rule on the motions permitting law-firm changes.
• The substance of Lafarge’s legal exposure remains intense material-support allegations carry both steep civil damages and serious reputational consequences.

Source Links = Skadden Removed as Counsel

• Global Investigations Review: “Counsel Watch: Lafarge drops Skadden from terror funding lawsuits” (13 Jan 2026):
  https://globalinvestigationsreview.com/article/counsel-watch-lafarge-drops-skadden-terror-funding-lawsuits [globalinve…review.com]
• PacerMonitor dossier – Goldman et al.: Motions to withdraw Skadden (Dec 2025):
  https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/52283719/Goldman_et_al_v_Lafarge_SA_et_al [pacermonitor.com]
• PacerMonitor dossier – Fields et al.: Similar withdrawal orders (Dec 2025):
  https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/47421573/Fields_et_al_v_Lafarge,_SA [pacermonitor.com]
• LinkedIn post by Ryan Sparacino: Notes transition to WilmerHale:
  https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ryan-sparacino-54491b53_lafarge-keeps-changing-lawyers-initially-activity-7404569869771358208-C7M8 [linkedin.com]

Sources = Lafarge’s Alleged Terror-Financing in Syria

• RFI – Maximum fine sought for cement maker Lafarge over terror financing (17 Dec 2025):
  https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20251217-maximum-fine-sought-for-cement-maker-lafarge-over-terror-financing
• Justice.gov – Lafarge Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Provide Material Support… (Press Release, Oct 18, 2022):
  https://justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/lafarge-pleads-guilty-conspiring-provide-material-support-foreign-terrorist
• Business and Human Rights Centre – France: Lafarge trial… verdict expected 13 April 2026:
  https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/france-trial-against-lafarge-and-former-executives-over-alleged-financing-of-syrian-armed-groups-concluded/
• Wikipedia – Lafarge scandal:
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lafarge_scandal