Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.

Alexandra Munoz

Admitted to the Paris Bar in 2002, Alexandra Munoz specialises in international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution. She acts as counsel in international arbitration and litigation proceedings in various sectors including energy, infrastructures and telecommunications. Alexandra advises major French or foreign companies as well as governments in contractual disputes (joint ventures, distribution agreements, construction, public service concessions, State contracts, reinsurance) and in cases related to the protection of investments within the context of ad hoc or institutional arbitral proceedings (ICC, OHADA, ICSID). She also has experience in resolving disputes through conciliation and mediation.

Alexandre Gauthier

Alexandre Gauthier is a partner within Gide's Public and Environment Law practice group, specialising more particularly in real estate development and public law. Alexandre advises developers, property companies and investors on their development projects, as regards land control, designing urban development concepts and the legal conditions thereof (defining the required approvals, monitoring procedures and authorisations review). He has developed a recognised expertise in the conversion and restructuring of public assets, in particular via the creation of complex contractual systems in the public or private domain of public entities with a view to enhancing value. In this regard, Alexandre has assisted in a number of public asset disposal plans, namely of real estate. Additionally, Alexandre practices litigation, giving him an overall overview of stakes when structuring operations.

Alexis Pailleret

Alexis Pailleret is a partner within Gide's Mergers & Acquisitions / Corporate practice group in Paris. He acts on M&A transactions (acquisition, disposals, joint ventures) mainly in the infrastructure and energy sectors, alongside the firm's Public Law & Environment, and Projects (Finance & Infrastructure), and Banking & Finance practice groups. Within these sectors, Alexis advises investment funds, major corporates, lenders and developers, on both domestic and cross-border transactions.

Alice Bouillié

Admitted to the Paris Bar in 2002, associate Alice Bouillié specialises in environmental law. Alice works with clients in an advisory and litigation capacity in matters pertaining to industrial environment law (facilities classified for environmental protection, law related to water, soil pollution, waste), nuclear and energy law, as well as in mining and extractive operations law. She advises industrial clients on all aspects of environmental law, particularly as part of acquisition projects, and assists them before administrative, civil and criminal courts. Alice has been providing training in nuclear law at Paris Descartes University since January 2016. She conducted training in environment law at the Higher Institute for Real Estate Careers (Ecole Supérieure des Professions Immobilières, ESPI) from 2006 to 2014.

Anne Tolila

Anne Tolila is a partner in Gide's M&A/Corporate practice. She is mainly involved in M&A transactions, particularly for public entities (State or strategic companies), and  large industrial groups and also in private equity transactions, both for French and international clients (industrial companies or investment funds). Anne has also developed a particular expertise in privatisations

Antoine de la Gatinais

Partner Antoine de la Gatinais is a member of Gide's Mergers & Acquisitions / Corporate practice group. A specialist in private equity matters, he regularly acts on leveraged buy-outs and growth equity operations for French and foreign managers and investment funds. With over twenty years' professional experience, he acts on all types of transactions (M&A, joint ventures, minority or majority investments) in all business sectors (distribution, automotive, manufacturing industry, real estate etc.). Antoine headed Gide's office in Shanghai for six years.  He regularly advises Asian clients, especially Chinese companies, on French and European law issues.

Antoine Tézenas du Montcel

Antoine Tézenas du Montcel is partner in Gide Loyrette Nouel's Mergers Acquisitions practice group. His practice covers mergers and acquisitions, company law and securities law. He mainly works on mergers and acquisitions, with a focus on listed companies. He also has experience in IPOs, securities offerings and private investments in public equity.

Antoine Lelong

Antoine Lelong is a partner in Gide Loyrette Nouel's Mergers & Acquisitions / Corporate Department. He advises on a wide range of M&A transactions, including acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, equity investments, issues of equity securities and corporate reorganizations (mergers, spin offs, contributions in kind...), both in France and abroad. He also regularly advises on company law and corporate governance issues. He has developed expertise in M&A in the banking, financial and retail sectors, and has also acquired a good understanding of the specificities of M&A transactions in the real estate, energy and infrastructure sectors.

Arnaud Duhamel

Arnaud Duhamel is a partner within Gide's Banking & Finance practice group, and specialises in international capital markets and structured finance. He shares his time between Paris and London. His recent experience includes IPOs, right issues, equity-linked transactions and a number of French privatisations. His field of expertise also covers international debt financing and restructuring, ranging from medium-term note programmes to senior and hybrid securities, high yield bond offerings, repackagings as well as structured financings and products incorporating derivative instruments. Arnaud contributes significantly to the Firm's finance practice in emerging markets.

Axelle Toulemonde

Axelle Toulemonde is a partner within the firm's Mergers & Acquisitions / Corporate practice group. She headed the corporate and M&A practice of the Moscow office from 2007 to 2011. She also spent two years working in the Prague office from 1997 to 1999. Her practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions as well as joint ventures, in particular in an international context. She has specific expertise in M&A deals and investments in technology companies. She also has significant experience in energy, infrastructure and real estate M&A transactions.

Bénédicte Mazel

Partner Bénédicte Mazel is a member of Gide's Projects (Finance & Infrastructure) and Public Law practice groups in Paris. She supports industrial customers, investors and banks in these operations, including litigation. She works in all areas of public business law, with a particular emphasis on defence issues (public procurement, licensing, export control, regulatory) and has extensive experience in (i) construction, operation and financing of public facilities and infrastructures; (ii) public sector institutional restructuring operations, from the valuation of public assets to the outsourcing of services; and (iii) public sector funding.

Benjamin Krief

Admitted to the Paris Bar in 2012, Benjamin Krief is a partner in Gide's Employment Law Department in Paris. Benjamin specialises in labour law and practices in both individual and collective labour relations. He particularly assists transnational groups in the management of their strategic litigation, such as collective litigation initiated by staff representation bodies, industrial tribunal litigation concerning senior executives or sensitive issues such as harassment, discrimination or the status of whistleblowers. Benjamin is also very active in the defence of intermediation platforms with regard to litigation initiated by drivers/delivery personnel seeking recognition of employee status In addition to litigation, Benjamin also assists his clients in the implementation of their reorganisation projects (transfer, voluntary redundancy plan, etc.) and has built up a speciality in the context of information and consultation procedures with staff representation bodies. Benjamin is also a Doctor of Law from the University of Paris II - Panthéon-Assas. He wrote a thesis under the supervision of Professor Bernard Teyssié entitled "Essai sur l'émergence d'un droit européen de la représentation collective" which received the prize of the University of Paris II - Panthéon-Assas, of the UIMM and of the cabinet Voltaire. He regularly publishes articles in specialised journals and lectures in various Master 2 courses.

Benjamin Delaunay

Counsel Benjamin Delaunay practises within Gide's Investment Funds and Financial Services team. He assists management companies, credit institutions and French and foreign investors on all issues pertaining to banking and financial regulations, in particular in the areas of financial services and asset management law. His three main areas of specialisation are: - Structuring, and drafting documentation for investment funds (OPCVM, FIA), in particular in the real estate (SCPI and OPCI), private equity and infrastructure (FCPR, FCPI, FIP, FPCI, FPS, holding) sectors; - Banking and finance disputes before the French financial markets authority (Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF)) and the French prudential supervision and resolution authority (Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de resolution (ACPR)) during inspection, enquiries, and disciplinary procedures before the sanction commission; - Advising French and foreign financial entities on the regulatory aspects of their activities, in particular on issues of licence, European passport, internal organisation and control, compliance, KYC/money-laundering, marketing financial products, and implementing corporate operations (restructuring, acquisition, transformation, liquidation) carried out by these entities or investment funds.

Bertrand Oldra

Bertrand Oldra became a partner of the Paris Real Estate team in 2007, where he works predominantly on acquisitions, property development transactions, and property restructuring. He actively participates in the evolution of real estate practices (co-working, co-living, smartgrids, etc.) and has recognized expertise in resolving conflicts involving real estate assets, both in court and through mediation. He frequently acts for international clients, both in France and abroad. Recent experience includes the acquisition and sale of a number of properties (direct acquisition or acquisition of corporate shares) with a view to their restoration, leasing or sale; acquisition of real estate developers; overseeing the construction of office developments and shopping centres; drawing up crisis exit strategies; and general real estate disputes. Clients include J.P. Morgan Asset Management, AEW, , Apsys, Bouygues Immobilier, Crédit Agricole, la Caisse d'Epargne, Decathlon, Foncière Atland, Qatari National Bank, Disney. Bertrand is the author and co-author of various articles on real estate law, and is a regular speaker at conferences.

Bertrand Jouanneau

Partner Bertrand Jouanneau is a member within Gide’s Tax practice group. He specialises in French and international tax law. He regularly advises on property-based transactions, real estate tax, structuring and restructuring of real estate investment funds, mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings and tax litigation. He has recently provided tax advice to: A Middle-East investment fund on acquiring a portfolio of real estate assets Several asset management companies on creating and structuring French investment funds (La Française AM, OTC AM, etc.) Viveris Reim on acquiring several portfolios of real estate assets Casino Group on outsourcing real estate assets BNP Paribas on restructuring one of its funds Several foreign investors on acquiring and managing real estate assets in France. Bertrand Jouanneau is a frequent speaker on tax law issues.

Bruno Quentin

Bruno Quentin is a partner within Gide's Criminal and Commercial Litigation practice group. He specialises in pre-litigation and litigation work in the fields of corporate, banking and finance, corporate restructuring, contract and media law. He advises listed and non-listed companies as well as private clients on civil, commercial and criminal proceedings. He frequently represents public and political figures (ministers before the Court of Justice of the Republic, MPs and the chairpersons of local authorities).

Capucine Bernier

Admitted to the Paris Bar in 1998, Capucine Bernier is specialised in insurance law and civil liability. She works more particularly in disputes pertaining to non-life insurance (damages, civil and professional liability, industrial risks, construction insurance) as well as life insurance and mutual insurance. She advises and assists both traditional and bank insurers, and various industrial players in the management of disputes that are either sensitive or have a major strategic and economic impact.

Carole Malinvaud

Carole Malinvaud is a partner at Gide Paris where she co-heads the international arbitration activity of the firm and chairs the Gide Pro Bono endowment fund. Carole is a member of the Paris and New York Bars and has acted as counsel or arbitrator in over eighty international arbitration proceedings, both ad hoc and institutional, as well as before domestic French courts in relation to international litigation and arbitration. Specialising in international commercial law, and more particularly in international arbitration, Carole has recently been focusing on arbitrations relating to construction, energy and defence, under the rules of the ICC and ICSID. She also acts as arbitrator in several ICC and ICSID arbitrations.

Caroline Lan

Admitted to the Paris and New York Bars, partner Caroline Lan specialises in private equity and M&A. She advises executive teams in the structuring / restructuring of management incentive plans in connection with leveraged management buyouts (LMBOs), IPOs and with respect to  build-ups and takeovers. She is also involved in the implementation of employee share ownership plans. Caroline also assists clients in the governance of listed companies. Before joining Gide, Caroline Lan was a partner in the Corporate & Securities department of Mayer Brown Paris. Caroline holds a Masters in Business Law, Taxation and Accounting from the Faculty of Law of Aix-en-Provence and a Master of Laws (LL.M) from the University of Connecticut - Uconn Law School (USA).

Charles de Reals

Partner Charles de Reals is a member of Gide's Mergers & Acquisitions / Corporate practice group. He focuses on complex merger-acquisition transactions involving both listed and private companies. He is recognised as an expert on corporate governance issues and securities law, and regularly represents French and foreign companies on strategic disputes.

Charles Terdjman

A member of the Paris bar since 2012, Charles Terdjman specialises in French and EU competition law (cartels, abuse of dominance, merger control) and acts as counsel and litigator before the French Competition Authority, the European Commission and their appeal courts. Charles has developed a solid expertise in merger control, in particular in the context of major multi-filings or transactions requiring commitments and/or the opening of an in-depth investigation phase. He has developed particular experience in advising clients during dawn raid operations and their subsequent litigations before the appeal courts, as well as in complex anti-competitive practices, including cartels and abuses involving intellectual property rights. Charles also regularly intervenes in distribution law and consumer law. He has recently advised groups such as Avril, Saint-Gobain or Phoenix Pharma (merger control), Jacobs Douwe Egberts or Drouot (abuse of dominance), Nintendo or Stihl (vertical restraints). Charles is a member of the Association des Avocats Pratiquant le Droit de la Concurrence (APDC).

Charles-Eric Delamare-Deboutteville

Counsel

Christian Nouel

Tax partner Christian Nouel has extensive experience in M&A transactions and in the structuring of acquisitions for private equity funds and large companies. He advises, on a day-to-day basis, companies on their tax affairs, and entrepreneurs as shareholders of companies. In addition, he manages tax audits with the French tax authorities.

Christian Camboulive

Christian Camboulive is a partner within Gide's Dispute Resolution practice group. He specialises in arbitration, international contract law and international law. He acts as counsel and arbitrator in international arbitration proceedings, both institutional and ad hoc. He also appears before the French courts in arbitration-related matters, such as setting aside proceedings. He has acted in over one hundred arbitration disputes, conducted under various arbitration rules, including ICC, ICSID, Association For Arbitration (Association Française d'Arbitrage), OHADA, VIAC, CAS and UNCITRAL, relating notably to investment protection, infrastructure projects and construction, joint ventures and post-acquisition issues, distribution and licence agreements, in a wide range of sectors including energy and natural resources, defence, banking, public infrastructures, healthcare and consumer products.

Christophe Eck

Christophe Eck is a partner in Gide Loyrette Nouel's Mergers-Acquisitions/Corporate practice group. He specialises on mergers & acquisitions, private equity, stock exchange regulation and corporate law. His expertise covers acquisitions and mergers of public and private companies as well as restructuring transactions. He frequently works on cross-border deals in various parts of the world including Asia and Africa. Christophe Eck is highly recommended by clients for his pragmatic and business-oriented advice. His practice places particular emphasis on cross-border M&A work. Christophe is particularly noted for his work in Africa (Chambers Global). Christophe Eck is a "first rate" (Who's Who Legal). In addition, Christophe has experience in litigation relating to these practice areas and has represented clients before the national courts and arbitral tribunals as well as in infrastructure and mining projects.

Christopher Szostak

Christopher Szostak is UK- and French-qualified. He has been with the Gide real estate team since 2000. Christopher advises clients in a wide breadth of industry segments including offices, retail, residential, logistics, self-storage, hotels and serviced residential. He advises on all issues involving real estate with an emphasis on investment (acquisitions and disposals of portfolios and individual assets, joint ventures), and large-scale development work. He also has a lease and litigation practice. He acts on behalf of investors (listed property companies, funds, financial institutions), operators and end-users. Key clients include AEW, Allianz, Bluespace, Fiminco, Ghelamco, Hammerson, Humanis, Kerzner, Klépierre, Macquarie, Medici Living Group, Mercialys, Mindston, Orange, Sonder, The Student Hotel, Urban Campus, Viacom and a prominent middle-eastern sovereign wealth fund. Christopher is fluent in French, English and Polish.

Clément Vandevooghel

Clément Vandevooghel, counsel, advises financial institutions, insurance companies, French and international groups, asset managers and private equity funds on French and cross-border banking, structured finance, securitisation and asset-backed finance transactions. Clément has worked on numerous securitisation transactions (involving a variety of underlyings such as trade receivables, real estate lending (both residential and commercial), consumer credit, infrastructure finance, car loans, bank cards, insurance risks, public sector receivables), covered bond and project bond issues, debt funds as well as setting up dedicated refinancing platforms in partnership with institutional investors. Before joining Gide Loyrette Nouel in 2018 as counsel, Clément benefited from practical experience in investment banking acquired during several years at Natixis where he was legal counsel. He was previously a lawyer in the structured finance department of an international law firm, where he began his career in 2001. Admitted to the Paris Bar in 2001, Clément is a graduate of the Faculty of Law at Université Paris Descartes (Maîtrise de droit des affaires) and Université Paris-Dauphine (DESS de droit des affaires).

Constantin Miliotis

Constantin Miliotis assists French and international players with all legal issues related to the real estate value chain: investments & arbitrations, structuring of joint ventures and investment vehicles (regulated or not), real estate project set-up and development, construction, asset management and financing. He works on all types of real estate assets (offices, retail and shopping centres, hotels, residential, student, senior and nursing homes, leisure centres, etc.), for a wide variety of players in the real estate industry (real estate companies, investors, developers, fund and asset managers, first tier users, etc.). In 2022, Constantin assisted the Icawood fund with all its acquisition, development and leasing operations; AOG with the sale of a majority stake and the establishment of a partnership to develop the "Pointe Amont de l'Île Seguin" in Boulogne-Billancourt; BNP Paribas Real Estate with several of its real estate developments; and Novaxia with numerous joint ventures ("copromotions"). Constantin holds a Master's degree in real estate and construction law from the University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas.

David Jonin

David Jonin is a partner in the Employment Law practice group. He specialises in employment and social protection law. He advises French and international companies on major assignments and also represents their interests during any related litigation. David Jonin has recently advised international groups on issues of restructuring, reorganisation and working conditions. He provides legal advice and litigation services for French and foreign companies on employment law issues (company restructurings and reorganisations, staff representative bodies and trade unions, working conditions, union and employee representative elections) and social protection law (social contributions, workplace work-related accidents and illnesses, social security contributions inspections, provident schemes, pensions).  

David-James Sebag

David-James Sebag is a partner in the Mergers & Acquisitions group, and shares his time between Gide Loyrette Nouel's New York and Paris offices. David-James practice focuses primarily on M&A, Venture Capital, Growth and Private Equity with a concentration on cross-border transactions. David-James represents a large number of international companies and private equity funds for their French investments, and advises companies in their numerous operations (acquisitions, partnerships, or financings) in France and in the US. He regularly counsels private equity investors, corporate clients and entrepreneurs on successful M&A, VC and growth transactions, with an focus on technology, healthcare and foreign-investment sensitive industries. David-James Sebag is Co-Head of Gide's VC global practice group and Head of the New York office.

Didier Martin

Didier G. Martin is a partner in Gide Loyrette Nouel's Mergers-Acquisitions/Corporate Department. His practice covers mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, securities law and corporate governance. He mainly works on mergers and acquisitions, including listed companies, and frequently advises on cross-border transactions. He also handles disputes. He is listed as "leading individual" in the Mergers & Acquisitions section of several legal guides (Chambers Global, EMEA Legal 500). He recently advised URW for a joint venture with Predica and La Française, Accor for the transfer of its activity Hotel Invest to a joint-venture controlled by an investors' pool, Zimmer Biomet for the acquisition of Medtech, followed by a takeover bid, Nexity for the acquisition of the property developer Edouard Denis, Caisse Centrale de Réassurance (CCR) for the hive down of part of its activities, Accor in connection with the transfer of 85 hotels to a Joint-venture with Eurazeo, Deutsche Bank on the sale of 5% of the share capital of Renault to the French State, Unibail on the transfer to Wereldhave of a portfolio of companies holding shopping malls, Econocom on the exchange offer on Osiatis, Tikehau on the take over of Salvepar, Silic on its combination with Icade through an exchange offer. His recent assignments in M&A include advising: - URW for a joint venture with Predica and La Française, - Accor for the transfer of its activity Hotel Invest to a joint-venture controlled by an investors' pool, - Zimmer Biomet for the acquisition of Medtech, followed by a takeover bid, - Nexity for the acquisition of the property developer Edouard Denis, - Caisse Centrale de Réassurance (CCR) for the hive down of part of its activities, - Accor in connection with the transfer of 85 hotels to a Joint-venture with Eurazeo, - Deutsche Bank on the sale of 5% of the share capital of Renault to the French State, - Unibail on the transfer to Wereldhave of a portfolio of companies holding shopping malls, - Econocom on the exchange offer on Osiatis, - Tikehau on the take over of Salvepar, followed by a takeover bid, - Silic on its combination with Icade through an exchange offer.

Dimitri Dimitrov

Dimitri Dimitrov is admitted to the Paris Bar and is a member of Gide's Competition & International Trade practice group since 2002. He acquired an extensive experience, in both litigation and advice, in all fields of economic law (competition and distribution law, defective products, consumers' protection, advertising etc.). He is notably experienced in the field of cooperation agreements and distribution, in France and abroad, and represents companies in litigation proceedings before French and EU authorities (vertical practices, cartels and abuse of dominant position) and courts (claims for compensation, agency law, sudden termination of established commercial relationships and other restrictive practices). Dimitri advises on a regular basis French and foreign companies for the implementation of compliance programs and merger control. He has handled over the recent years several complex multijurisdictional merger control cases. He has developed an activity dedicated to Life Sciences, which covers all needs in this domain (regulatory assistance, ethics rules and interactions with medical practitioners, product liability etc.). Dimitri has recently been involved in cases for reference clients such as Phoenix Pharma, Volvo Constructions Europe, Stihl, Total, Ajinomoto, BMW, Giesecke+Devrient (G+D), Michelin, Total etc.

Elizabeth Gautier

Counsel Elizabeth Gautier joined Gide's Competition & International Trade practice group in 2009. She specialises in French and European competition law (cartels, abuse of dominant position and merger control) and represents French and foreign companies, in both a litigation and advisory capacity before the Competition Authority, the European Commission and appeal courts. She also regularly acts as counsel on major multi-filings and has developed an expertise in merger control in Africa. Elizabeth acts also as counsel before French Courts in compensation actions brought by companies impacted by anticompetitive practices following convictions or commitment provisions handed down by competition authorities. She is highly experienced in providing advice and assisting in litigation, on economic law issues as part of commercial relations between economic operators (structuring of distribution networks, writing and negotiation of commercial contracts, restrictive practices, unfair practices, etc.), as well as with their consumer customers (unfair terms, misleading trading practices). Elizabeth has developed a specific knowledge of the agribusiness, consumer goods, banking and entertainment (online games and gambling, sport, e-sports) industries. She is a member of the "Association des Avocats Pratiquant le Droit de la Concurrence" (APDC) - (French Association of Lawyers Practising Competition Law)

Emmanuel Reille

Partner

Emmanuel Larere

Emmanuel Larere is a member of the Intellectual Property, Telecommunications, Media & Technology department. He joined the Firm in 1993 and has contributed towards the development of intellectual property law within the Firm, especially patent law litigation. He became partner in 2003. Emmanuel Larere's practice relates mainly to non-contentious and contentious patent and trademark matters. He is an acknowledged specialist in trademark law and has defended and advised some of the world's leading brands in the luxury goods, cosmetics and sports apparel sectors. In patent law, he has participated in the Firm's most significant cases, particularly those requiring co-ordination of several national legal teams. He has been involved in several cases regarding declarations of non-infringement of patents.

Emmanuel Vital-Durand

Emmanuel Vital-Durand is a member of Gide's Public Law and Environment, Real Estate Transactions & Financing, and Projects (Finance & Infrastructure) practice groups. He specialises in regulatory and operational urban planning, the development of the public domain, and institutional issues. He advises public and private authorities on developing and carrying out their real estate and planning projects: feasibility analysis, instructing and obtaining authorisations from the relevant authorities, land acquisition terms and conditions, urban planning participations. In these fields, Emmanuel also draws on significant expertise in dispute resolution on behalf of public and private bodies throughout France.

Eric Cartier-Millon

Eric Cartier-Millon is a partner in the Banking & Finance practice group of Gide Loyrette Nouel. He specialises in structured finance and project finance. He has experience in the following sectors: - Structured finance: representing senior lenders and/or mezzanine lenders in LBO finance transactions; he also has wide experience in structured finance, whether or not associated with securitisation transactions; - Project finance: advising a number of lenders or sponsors in a variety of finance transactions in France, including a paper factory in Golbey, a Daimler-Benz factory in Sarreguemines, the Stade de France and the A 28 motorway; - Debt rescheduling agreements: advising creditors or the borrower in a number of debt restructuring transactions on behalf of major French listed and non-listed companies; - Arbitration: representing clients in arbitration proceedings before the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Paris.

Eric Martin-Impératori

Eric Martin-Impératori has been a member of Gide's Real Estate Transactions & Financing practice group since 1990. He specialises in real estate investment transactions and development, town planning law, construction law, and acquisitions and project financing. Well versed in all aspects of real estate deals, Eric Martin-Impératori has a wide and solid experience in large-scale projects. Thus, Eric assists clients with the construction, development and commercialisation of shopping centres, and investors from the design through to the commercialisation of office buildings. He regularly advises a sovereign fund from the Middle East, Générale Continentale Investissements and its partners, SMA, Société de la Tour Eiffel, Altaréa Cogedim and Goldman Sachs.

Franck Audran

Franck Audran is a Partner within Gide's Competition & International Trade practice group. He joined the firm in 2007, and began his career in Gide's Bucharest office before integrating the Paris office European and Economic Law team. Franck was also seconded to the firm's Budapest office, which he co-headed over the 2014-2015 period. He specialises in French and European law on competition (cartels, dominant position, merger control), and works with our clients on litigation proceedings, both before supervisory bodies (cartel and abuse of dominant position) and commercial courts (compensatory remedies, restrictive competition practices, etc.). Franck has also acted on complex merger operations, some of which required commitments and/or the initiation of an in-depth investigation phase before the French Competition Authority, the European Commission, the national competition authorities of both EU member states (Romania, Greece, Poland, etc.) and non-EU countries (China, Korea, Brazil, Serbia, Bosnia, Turkey, etc.). Franck has also acquired significant experience in providing assistance to our clients in the solving of issues pertaining to the management of their distribution and franchise networks, both in France and in an international context. Franck has gained particular expertise in the digital economy sector, working with major digital industry players in their development phase, and institutional clients in the adaptation of their activities to new online consumption methods (luxury goods industry, hotel industry, etc.). Lastly, when working in our Bucharest and Budapest offices, Franck advised clients on conducting their investments through the implementation of cooperation contracts, joint ventures or acquisition operations. Franck is a member of the Desk in charge of our firm's activities in Central and Eastern Europe.

Franck Guiader

Gide 255 director Franck Guiader is an expert in advanced technologies, digital finance and the regulation of innovations (marketplaces, blockchain, security tokens, ICOs, stablecoins, roboadvisors, crowdfunding, AI). In this capacity, he advises both public and private institutions and companies on their development projects requiring the integration of technology-related specifics in their legal structuring. Franck is also a key player in the development of the Paris financial market, for which he has established several working groups on financial regulation and developing attractiveness. Franck has in particular steered the work of the "FROG" group for the development of asset management, and "UNICORN" for the development of digital assets in France.

François Voiron

Admitted to the Paris Bar in 2014, François Voiron specialises in criminal and commercial litigation. François is instructed on a number of business criminal law matters, throughout all stages of the procedure (preliminary investigation, instruction, judgment). He also assists the firm's clients in pre-action claims and during litigation, in a wide variety of civil and commercial disputes, involving financial law, corporate law and private international law. François handles complex cases with multiple procedures, whether criminal and/or commercial, which require an overall strategic approach. He assists and advises major French and foreign companies and their directors. François joined Gide in 2014 and was promoted as Counsel in 2022.

Frédéric Nouel

Frédéric Nouel specializes mainly in M&A, real estate and financing transactions for both listed and non-listed operators on the European hotel and real estate markets and on investment funds. Frédéric advises on headline deals for Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Accorhotels, ADEO (Leroy-Merlin), Icamap/Icawood, Swiss-Life, Domus-Vi, BNP-Paribas, KKR, EDF, Eurazeo, Aermont, SFL, Engie, Goldman Sachs and PSA Peugeot-Citroën. He played a crucial role in the creation in France of non-listed REITs named OPCIs, which now represent around 90 billion euros of assets. He has developed significant expertise in investment fund creation and development of professional alternative investment funds (FIA) in all sectors of the real estate and hotel industries. A Gide partner since 1994, Frédéric Nouel is the firm's Senior Partner and chairs the firm's Executive Committee since January 2021. Frédéric holds a postgraduate degree (DEA) in Business Law (University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, 1985) and an honours degree (Maîtrise) in Management (University of Paris-Dauphine, 1983).

Frédéric Mion

A graduate of the Institut d'études politiques de Paris, and a former student of the Ecole normale supérieure and the ENA (French National School of Administration), Frédéric Mion began his career by joining the Conseil d'Etat in 1996 as an auditor and then as maître des requêtes. In 2000, he joined the Ministry of Education as an advisor to the Minister's office, and in 2001 he joined the Ministry of the Civil Service as deputy to the Director General of Administration and the Civil Service. He became a lawyer in 2003 with Allen & Overy LLP. In 2007, he joined the Canal+ group as Secretary General, a position he held until 2013. Later that year, he was elected Director of Sciences Po and held this position for eight years, before returning to the Conseil d'Etat in 2021.

Gabriel Hannotin

Admitted to the Paris Bar in 2011, and Barrister (England & Wales) since 2018, Counsel Gabriel Hannotin specialises in commercial litigation and white collar crime. He regularly assists the firm's clients at pre-litigation stage (negotiations, mediations and conciliations) and throughout procedures before criminal, civil and commercial courts. Having spent nearly 3 years at Gide's London office, Gabriel acts in particular in international disputes for major French and foreign groups, and regularly works with lawyers established abroad. Since joining the firm, Gabriel has handled a wide variety of cases, be they of a commercial nature (shareholder disputes, banking and finance disputes, contractual liability, professional liability, construction, etc.) or of a criminal nature (French anticorruption proceedings, internal investigations, white collar litigation in the field of  libel / defamation, works accidents, misappropriation of corporate assets, fraud, etc.) . He is regularly instructed on issues relating to the execution of French and foreign court decisions, as well as of arbitral awards. Gabriel has graduated from ESSEC Business School (MBA), Cambridge University (BA, MA (Cantab)) and Université Paris II - Panthéon Assas (M2 Droit des affaires).

Guilhem Richard

Admitted to the Paris Bar, Counsel Guilhem Richard is a member of Gide's Banking & Finance practice group. He specialises in capital markets, corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions. He mainly advises issuers and lead managers on a wide range of market transactions (IPOs on French and/or foreign markets, in particular Nasdaq, rights issues, pipelines, private placements, block sales, OCEANE, ORA and high yield, etc.) and in a variety of sectors such as energy, medtech and biotech, tech, e-commerce and real estate. His practice also covers external growth and business transfer transactions and issues related to the governance of listed companies.

Guillaume Navarro

Admitted to the Paris Bar in 2004, Guillaume Navarro specializes in employment and labor law.  In particular, he focuses on labor law litigation (civil, criminal and administrative), covering all aspects of individual and collective work relations. In this respect, he advises and assists companies and groups of companies in the handling of sensitive litigation cases (e.g. litigation relating to the managing director's criminal liability) and cases with high strategic (e.g. litigation linked to company restructuring operations) and economic stakes (mass litigation) at all stages of the dispute (risk assessment, management of crisis situations, amicable procedure or settlement). Legal 500 EMEA 2021 defines him as "an excellent lawyer and perfectly represents the firm".

Guillaume Goffin

Admitted to the Paris Bar in 2009, partner Guillaume Goffin specialises in financial services law and regulation, with a particular focus on investment funds (UCITS and all types of alternative investment funds including real estate funds, infrastructure funds, private equity funds and debt funds). Guillaume acts for investment managers, banks and fund promoters, insurance companies and other institutional investors in connection with the structuring, setting up and distribution of investment funds and investment mandates. His areas of expertise cover transactional and regulatory matters, including local business licensing. Guillaume also represents financial institutions in investigations and enforcement actions by regulatory bodies.

Hubert Merveilleux du Vignaux

Hubert du Vignaux is a partner within Gide's Banking & Finance practice group, specialising in capital markets and structured finance. Hubert acts on a wide range of capital markets transactions and on all types of debt securities (Bonds, MTNs, Commercial Paper), with particular emphasis on structured or innovative products and operations (EuroPP, high-yield, subordinated bonds, covered bonds, mortgage bonds, restructuring, buy-backs) as well as on equity (IPOs, share capital increases, etc.) and equity-linked securities. He is frequently consulted by Market Authorities and teaches at the University of Paris I and Sciences Po Paris.

Hugues Scalbert

Hugues Scalbert is a partner within Gide's Mergers & Acquisitions / Corporate practice group. He specialises in domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, and has developed particular expertise in M&A transactions in the insurance, distribution, higher education and defence sectors, as well in as operations in the Gulf region (particularly Saudi Arabia).

Hugues Moreau

Partner

Jean-Baptiste de Martigny

Jean-Baptiste de Martigny is a Partner in Gide's Mergers & Acquisitions department. Member of the Paris Bar, he specialises in mergers and acquisitions and securities law. He frequently advises listed and unlisted companies, family groups and private equity and infrastructure funds.

Jean-François Louit

Admitted to the Paris Bar, Jean-François Louit specialises in M&A transactions, private equity and capital markets. In these fields he has over twenty years of experience, working in leading UK and French law firms. In particular, he supports directors, entrepreneurs and managers in these areas, particularly with regard to issues of access to capital, management incentives and governance. He has recently been involved in major corporate transactions, such as the spin-off of Accor Invest, the CVC bid for April and the acquisition of IPH by Advent. He is involved in the implementation of employee share ownership plans.

Jean-François Levraud

Legal Contact

Jean-Gabriel Flandrois

Jean-Gabriel Flandrois is a partner in Gide's Mergers & Acquisitions /Corporate practice group. He has gained extensive experience in the coordination of cross-border transactions in Europe and the MENA region and in the acquisition and restructuring of banks and other financial institutions. In France, Jean-Gabriel is regularly advising on private equity transactions and is also involved in transactions in the FinTech sector. Jean-Gabriel recently advised Société Générale on the sale of its subsidiary in Georgia, BNP Paribas Cardif on various transactions including the acquisition of Icare, a subsidiary of Europ Assistance, VimpelCom on the EUR 1 billion sale of its 51% holding in Orascom Telecom Algérie (Djezzy) to the Fonds National d'Investissement FNI, the Algerian National Investment Fund. He also advised German media group ProSiebenSat.1 on its acquisition of a stake in Deezer, various banks and other investors in a new "blockchain" initiative and private equity group Investindustrial on various transactions including the buy-out of Selective Beauty as part of a global financial restructuring of a private equity transaction and DFDS in connection with the sale of Eurotunnel shipping activities (SeaFrance).

Jean-Hyacinthe de Mitry

Partner

Jean-Nicolas Clément

Jean-Nicolas Clément provides advice as well as assistance in litigation matters pertaining to industrial environmental law (installations classified for the protection of the environment, water, waste), nuclear law and energy law (regulation of the electricity sector, renewable energies: wind, solar, hydro, etc.), mining law and mining activities. Prior to joining Gide, Jean-Nicolas was a partner at law firm UGGC since 2002 as head of their Environment-Energy department. He had also practised with law firm Lafarge-Flécheux for over 12 years as an associate and partner, and began his career as a legal consultant within EDF's equipment department.

Jean-Philippe Pons-Henry

Admitted to the Paris bar in 2004, partner Jean-Philippe Pons-Henry specialises in pre-action claims and litigation cases, more specifically in financial markets, corporate and business criminal law. Jean-Philippe acts in particular in finance-dominated disputes before civil, commercial and criminal courts. He also assists clients in the implementation of internal investigations or in the context of enquiries, inspection or disciplinary proceedings initiated by financial regulators. His main fields of expertise are: In civil and commercial law: - Post-acquisition litigation and shareholder disputes - Liability of banking and financial institutions - Liability of auditors and accountants In law enforcement: - Market abuse (insider trading, price manipulation, dissemination of false information) - Property crime (fraud, breach of trust, misappropriation of company funds, money laundering) - Liability of issuers - Disciplinary liability of investment service providers

John Crothers

John Crothers specializes in project finance, PPPs, banking transactions and privatizations, both in the developing and developed world. John has over 35 years' experience in large-scale projects, legal transition work, legislative drafting and assistance to governments, IFIs, lenders, sponsors and equity investors, from initial feasibility analysis to international bidding processes and financial closings, where he ensures a clear and early identification of legal issues with a view to proposing the most suitable contractual schemes. A dual U.S. and France-qualified lawyer, John is fluent in both English and French and has extensive experience working in both civil and common law jurisdictions. He has advised international financial institutions, concession companies, operators and bidding consortia in infrastructure projects around the world including the following sectors: motorways, airports, ports, solar power, energy, water treatment and desalination facilities and telecommunications. He frequently advises national governments, local governments and other authorities granting concessions or setting up Public-Private Partnerships. He has also drafted international ?best practice? concession and PPP laws in the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe. Before joining Gide, John Crothers was a counsel in the Office of the General Counsel of the EBRD in London. As such, he was involved in over forty projects in fifteen different Eastern European countries and in the CIS. John Crothers is consistently ranked as a Leading Individual in Project Finance and Energy by international legal guides Chambers Global, Legal 500 and IFLR1000. He has been inducted into the Legal 500 Hall of Fame, which highlights individuals who have received constant praise by their clients for continued excellence.

Laetitia Lemercier

Laetitia Lemercier was admitted to the Paris Bar in 2001 and specialises in structured finance. She is a member of Gide's Banking & Finance practice group and has significant experience in real estate finance, project finance, acquisition and corporate finance, as well as in debt restructuring. She regularly advises financial institutions or borrowers and investors at all stages of the structuring or restructuring, drafting and negotiation of complex financing transactions. Laetitia Lemercier co-authored the model Euro PP credit agreement and is an external speaker at Science Po Paris. She holds a postgraduate degree in business law and taxation and a master's degree in business law from the University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas, as well as a master's degree in management sciences in finance from the University of Paris IX Dauphine. Laetitia Lemercier is recommended in banking and finance law by the international legal guide Legal 500 EMEA.  

Laura Castex

Admitted to the Paris Bar in 2006, Laura Castex specialises in European and French competition law as well as distribution law (distribution networks, commercial agreements, etc.) and consumer law, both in an advisory capacity and as a litigator. As regards merger control, Laura advises major French and foreign firms for their investments and divestments, including in non-EU jurisdictions. As regards anticompetitive practices, Laura has extensive experience in investigation proceedings and the design of bespoke compliance programs (private enforcement). She also assists our clients in private enforcement litigation. Lastly, as regards distribution and consumer law, Laura regularly advises our clients in the formalisation of their commercial relations and in litigation arising from them, as well as in the context of investigations carried out by the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Prevention of Fraud (DGCCRF) and its local branches.

Laurent Modave

Laurent Modave is a member of Gide's Tax practice group. He specialises in French and international tax law. His practice mainly concentrates on property-based transactions, mergers and acquisitions and group reorganisations. He has developed significant expertise in asset management issues and investment funds, including structuring real estate and private equity funds. Since 2004, he has conducted the discussions with the French tax authorities on the design and the implementation of the OPCI, the newly-created French non-listed REIT. He is also very active on transactions involving listed REITs (SIIC). Recently, Laurent Modave advised Solvay on the tax aspects of its proposed Euro 3.4 billion acquisition of Rhodia. He also advised UFG Rem on the purchase of a portfolio of hotels from the Accor group for a sale and leaseback transaction, Casino Group on an outsourcing of real estate assets, as well as Natixis on the split-up of a real estate investment fund and BNP Paribas bank on the restructuring of two of its funds. Laurent Modave is a frequent speaker on tax law and investment fund issues. He is a member of the Institut des Avocats Conseils fiscaux. He regularly authors publications on tax issues.

Laurent Vincent

Admitted to the Paris Bar in 2008, Laurent Vincent specialises in capital markets and structured finance and has recognised expertise in structured products. He regularly advises financial institutions and French and foreign corporates on their issuance, investment, debt-rating and liability management transactions. Laurent also has a strong expertise in derivatives, structured products and related regulatory and post-market issues. He notably assists financial institutions and commercial companies with the structuration and documentation of their derivative transactions, repos/stock-lending transactions and on the regulatory and documentation issues associated with clearing. More generally, Laurent advises on a wide range of securities issues and on various aspects of stock markets and financial regulations. Laurent Vincent is recommended in Capital Markets and Derivatives by international legal guides Legal 500, Chambers Global / Europe, Best Lawyers in France and IFLR1000. Prior to joining Gide's Capital Markets team, Laurent worked for seven years within the International Capital Markets team of a Magic Circle law firm. He holds an LL.M. in Commercial and Financial Law (2008) from King's College London, a Master's Degree in Banking and Financial Law (2006) and a Master's Degree in Business Law (2004) from the University Paris II - Panthéon-Assas. Laurent also holds teaching positions in various master degrees of Sciences Po Paris, Paris I - Panthéon-Sorbonne University and Paris II - Panthéon-Assas University.

Louis Oudot de Dainville

Admitted to the Paris Bar in 2008, Louis Oudot de Dainville specialises in corporate law and mergers and acquisitions, and particularly in matters related to venture capital and private equity, notably in the new technologies sector. He assists both investors (Allianz, Demeter, Samaipata, Raise, BlackFin, Eurazeo, LocalGlobe, Heartcore, Sinovation, Headline, 360 Capital, etc.), and growth companies (Blablacar, Meero, Sensory Odyssey, Leeway, Cala, etc.), in fundraising, restructuring, external growth operations and exits. With several years of experience in Gide's Beijing and Shanghai offices, Louis has also acquired solid experience in foreign direct investment in France and China.

Magali Buchert

Partner Magali Buchert specialises in tax law. She draws on recognised expertise in transaction tax (private and public mergers and acquisitions, complex restructurings, private equity operations). She also advises companies during tax audits and disputes, as well as on incentive schemes for their managers. Magali has also acquired specific expertise as regards the taxation of non-profit organisations.

Marcus Billam

Marcus Billam is a Partner at Gide M&A Department. He specialises in mergers and acquisitions and securities law and essentially advises listed and unlisted companies and family groups in their strategic and cross-border projects. He has worked with industrialists and investment funds on many market transactions. Marcus Billam also advises listed companies regarding corporate governance issues. Before joining Gide, Marcus Billam was a partner at Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier from 2015, after being a partner at Allen & Overy (2010 – 2015). Prior to that, he was a partner at Clifford Chance (2000 to 2010) and Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier (1998 to 2000). He is a graduate of Paris II – Assas (1982-1986).

Marie Bouvet-Guiramand

Marie Bouvet-Guiramand, joined Gide Loyrette Nouel in 2002 and is partner since Jan. 1, 2017. Specialized in project finance, she represents all players of the infrastructures, public facilities sector and energy, be they sponsors (investors and industrial groups), lenders or public administrations. She deals with all issues (project and finance) relating to project structuring or tender preparation, negotiating project and finance agreements and their implementation during construction and operation. Marie also advises on sales and acquisition project companies, industrial groups or projects portfolios and assets refinancing. In France and abroad (Africa, and also South America, Eastern Europe and Asia), Marie advises on PPP/concessions and adhoc projects as well as innovative financing structures in many sectors: transport infrastructures (urban transport, roads, railway lines, tramways, airports, ports), energy (renewables, offgrid and storage, hydropower, oil & gas, mining), water and waste (production, irrigation, desalination, treatment, distribution) and public facilities (stadia, entertainment venues, prisons, administrative and industrial facilities, public lighting, urban heating, telecommunications networks, hospitals, universities, schools, military equipment/facilities). Marie Bouvet-Guiramand holds a Magistère in business law, a DJCE from the University of Paris II ? Panthéon Assas and is a graduate of Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC). Marie Bouvet-Guiramand is recommended in Project Finance and Energy by international legal guides Legal 500 and IFLR1000. She is well recognized for her work on the African continent and is regularly listed in the rankings of Jeune Afrique and Décideurs - Africa Desk.

Marie Robert-Schmid

Admitted to the Paris Bar in 2015, Marie Robert is an associate within Gide's Dispute Resolution practice group. Marie assists the firm's clients in banking and financial litigation, in particular disciplinary proceedings, as well as in contractual and corporate law disputes. She advises and represents clients in the framework of: - regulatory inspections and enforcement proceedings, before banking and financial regulators (AMF and ACPR) in matters of market abuse and compliance by regulated institutions with their professional obligations (investigations, controls and sanction procedures); - civil litigation in particular shareholder and stock market litigation; - criminal, in particular on issues likely to concern financial institutions (market abuse, suspicious transaction reports, etc.). She also advises financial institutions in complex cases involving several jurisdictions or regulators, including in an international context. Marie holds a Master II degree in Economic Litigation and Arbitration from the Law School of Sciences Po Paris and a Master II degree in International Trade Law from the University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne. Marie speaks both French and English.

Marie-Ange Pozzo di Borgo

Admitted to the New York and Paris Bars, Marie-Ange Pozzo di Borgo is an associate of Gide's Intellectual Property practice group since 2013 and appointed counsel in 2022. She advises French and international clients on industrial property matters (patents, trademarks and designs), as well as copyrights and unfair competition. She has a strong focus on patent disputes. Her recent experience includes advising clients in the pharmaceutical and aeronautic industries on multi-jurisdictional cases, involving patent or SPC invalidity and/or infringement claims, preliminary injunction and saisie-contrefaçon preparation, product clearances, and regulatory issues.

Melinda Stege-Arsouze

Melinda Arsouze is a U.S. qualified partner specializing in international capital markets. A fluent French speaker based primarily in Paris, Melinda works in close coordination with Gide's capital markets teams throughout the international network and has extensive experience in EMEA practice, including in Turkey, North Africa and Asia. With over ten years of experience in this area, she has advised on numerous major cross-border securities offerings, including block trades, initial public offerings, privatisations, high yield transactions and debt issuances, in the context of public offerings and privately placed transactions in Europe and the United States.

Nadège Nguyen

Nadège Nguyen is a partner in Gide's Mergers & Acquisitions/Corporate practice group.  Her practice covers domestic and cross-border acquisitions and corporate matters, in particular in the industrial, hotel and agribusiness, food & beverage sectors, as well as private equity transactions.

Nicolas Planchot

Admitted to the Paris Bar in 2006, Nicolas Planchot specialises in real estate and planning law, construction law, acquisitions and real estate financing and commercial leases. Well-versed in all aspects of property deals, Nicolas Planchot enjoys extensive experience on large-scale projects, in particular in public-private partnerships including real estate, shopping centre and high-rise building projects from creation through to completion and marketing. He advises leading companies active in the construction and public works sectors, institutional investors, investment funds, major operators and chains, as well as landholding corporations, management companies and financial institutions. Recent experience includes advising on the refurbishment of the Parc des Princes football stadium, the financing of real estate developments around the French MoD's new location, the sale to a sovereign fund in Middle East of a building located on the Champs Elysées for over 500 million euros, the structuring for an insurance company of three OPCIs to hold assets exceeding 600 million euros, and their sale to real estate investors.

Olivier Loizon

Admitted to the Paris Bar in 2003, Olivier Loizon is a recognised expert in business litigation. He advises and assists his clients - companies, managers and shareholders - in managing and resolving the complex and sensitive disputes they face. Prior to joining Gide, he practised for nine years with Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP (2003-2012), before founding SLVF in 2012 and merging with Viguié Schmidt & Associés in 2017.

Olivier Dauchez

Partner Olivier Dauchez is experienced in business and corporate law with a special emphasis on domestic and international tax law, particularly in relation to mergers and acquisitions and corporate reorganisations, real estate, structured finance, and project and asset financing. He also advises on personal tax matters and is active in tax litigation for both individuals and companies, assisting in tax audits and litigation before tax courts. Consistently ranked among the leading professionals in tax law, Olivier has been cited as a 'remarkable' lawyer, who shows 'impressive skills in managing high-level strategy' (Legal 500 EMEA 2017).

Olivier Diaz

Admitted to the Paris Bar in 1990, partner Olivier Diaz has over 25 years' experience in complex mergers and acquisitions, private equity operations, securities law and corporate law. His practice covers a wide variety of transactions, in particular public and private acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, joint ventures and corporate restructurings. During his career, Olivier has worked with clients on the largest and most complex M&A transactions in France, particularly in industrial fields, such as telecoms, energy, financial institutions and the food industry. He also assists companies on complex governance issues and is regularly consulted by regulators on securities and corporate law issues.

Olivier Bernardi

Olivier Bernardi is a partner within Gide's Banking and Finance practice group in Paris. He specialises in banking and finance law, with particular focus on financial services. Olivier advises credit and financing institutions, as well as investment firms, payment institutions and electronic money establishments on the legislation and regulations applicable to their activity. He assists and represents these financial bodies in dispute proceedings before the French supervisory authorities (French Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority (ACPR) and French Financial Markets Authority (AMF)), as well as before ordinary courts of law. In this regard, Olivier handles issues pertaining to the structure of financial institutions, bank operations, investment services, payment services, new banking technologies and the distribution of banking and financial products. He also advises regulated financial institutions on the implementation of their internal procedures (internal control and compliance, risk management, AML/CTF issues, international economic and financial sanctions). He has extensive expertise in payment systems and services, and works with a number of companies in the sector. He is regularly involved with the French (Ministry of Finance, ACPR, AMF) and European authorities (European Commission, European Parliament) as regards the drafting of banking and financial regulations, or certain specific topics.

Paul Jourdan-Nayrac

Paul Jourdan-Nayrac was admitted to the Paris Bar in 2010. Prior to joining Gide's Mergers & Acquisitions / Corporate practice in 2013, he was an associate within the M&A / Private Equity / Venture Capital practice group of US law firm Morgan Lewis & Bockius' Paris office for three years. Paul specialises in mergers, acquisitions, venture capital and private equity matters, acting primarily in the technological sector, on complex operations or deals with an international dimension. He acts more particularly on venture capital, capital investment and private equity issues with a French or international dimension, especially in the technological sector, advising both investors and issuing companies. He works with investors and growth companies during funding rounds, restructurings, external growth operations and exits. Paul was actively involved in creating the Gide Venture legal platform dedicated to start-ups. He is also a member of the team working in partnership with the Raise Foundation, offering free legal advice to start-ups. Lastly, he works on LBO and OBO operations for investment funds and managers.

Pierre Karpik

  Pierre Karpik is a partner in Gide's Mergers-Acquisitions/Corporate practice group. He specializes in mergers and acquisitions, private equity and corporate law. Pierre is more specifically involved in venture capital and capital investment transactions, particularly high-tech, and is counsel both to investors  (Eurazeo/Idinvest, Isai, 360, Ventech, Accel, BlackFin, BpiFrance, etc, to corporate entities interested in the starup companies (Legrand, CNP, CMA, Société Générale...) and to issuing companies (Doctolib, BlaBlaCar, Meilleurs Agents or Younited Credit, as well as, in the past, Fortuneo, Price Minister,, etc.).  He advises investors and growth companies on their funding rounds, restructuring, external growth transactions and their exit. Pierre Karpik has maintained close ties with the Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC) business school, where he provides training on venture capital. He has from day one be regularly listed as a Leading Individual in the Private Equity - Venture Capital section of the Chambers Europe and Legal 500 directories, as well as in the rankings of French magazines Décideurs and Option Droit & Affaires.

Rémi Tabbagh

Rémi Tabbagh is a partner in the Gide Banking & Finance practice group in Paris. He specialises in structured finance, particularly in real estate structured finance transactions. He advises clients (mainly French and foreign credit institutions,  private equity funds) on structuring, drafting, negotiating and restructuring complex debt transactions. Rémi Tabbagh has broad experience in all types of assets and real estate structured finance transactions, including acquisition financings, construction and development financings,  hotels financings, portfolio and pan-European financings, SIIC and REITs financings, Shariah-compliant financings, real estate financings to be refinanced through the issue of Pfandbriefe, mezzanine financings, restructuring of real estate structured debts, transfer of real estate debts portfolio, and financings of sale & lease-back transactions.

Renaud Baguenault de Puchesse

Partner Renaud Baguenault de Puchesse is a member of Gide's Real Estate Transactions & Financing practice group. He has widely acknowledged experience in advising on acquisitions of buildings (offices, retail outlets, businesses) and companies with underlying real estate assets. Over the last ten years, he has been instructed in connection with more than 100 transactions, each worth at least 15 million euros. He is the regular advisor to several German investment funds as well as French and international institutional investors in the structuring of complex transactions. His practice includes construction and planning law, commercial leases and legal and tax structuring for asset acquisitions and financing in France. In 2019, Renaud was involved in two major transactions which are worth in total 1 billion euro. He in particular advised BNP on the sale and lease of their future headquarter in Boulogne-Billancourt and Bouygues Immobilier in the sale of a large office building in Issy-les-Moulineaux rented out to Canal + and sold to Sogecap.

Richard Ghueldre

Partner Richard Ghueldre is in charge of Gide's Insurance, Industrial Risk & Transport practice group. He specialises in French and European insurance and re-insurance law, as well as in tort law. He has in-depth advisory and litigation experience of insurance contract law (life and non-life), regulatory issues concerning insurance companies and intermediaries (establishment, operational aspects and restructuring), as well as setting up insurance programmes and distribution schemes, both in France and abroad. Richard has developed an expertise in solving (pre-litigation, disputes and arbitration) and managing claims, in particular as regards industrial risks. He can also draw on broad experience in class actions and dispute resolution, particularly before the French Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority. In 2021, Richard has been recognized "Lawyer of the Year" in Insurance in Best Lawyers 2022.

Rupert Reece

Rupert is an English Barrister and an Avocat à la Cour. He specialises in international arbitration and dispute resolution proceedings relating to joint ventures, construction contracts, aerospace and international commerce. He acts as counsel in both common law and civil law arbitration proceedings in English and/or French. He has experience of the major institutional rules, particularly ICC and LCIA. Rupert is also regularly appointed as an arbitrator.

Sacha Willaume

Admitted to the Paris Bar in 2011 (Paris Bar School 2011 class valedictorian), Sacha Willaume specialises in international arbitration and dispute resolution. He regularly acts as counsel and secretary to the arbitral tribunal in international ad hoc or institutional arbitration proceedings (ICC, ICSID, SIAC, CCIG, PCA) in the sectors of energy, joint ventures, distribution, intellectual property and construction, applying the laws of several jurisdictions. His experience also includes French court proceedings related to arbitration (challenge or enforcement of international arbitral awards, claims for breach of contract against arbitral institutions). Sacha holds two Master's degrees from the University of Paris I - Panthéon-Sorbonne in international economic law (in partnership with Columbia Law School) and business law, as well as a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from King's College London (with First Class honours). A member of the ICC Young Arbitrators Forum and the CFA-40, and a co-winner of the Best Award prize in the 2016 Young Arbitrators Match, Sacha is also recommended by Legal 500 EMEA. He has taught French contract law as a teaching assistant at the University of Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense and published several articles about French case law.

Sophie Scemla

Admitted to both the Paris and the New York Bars, Sophie Scemla's expertise focuses on international litigation and white collar crime, with a particular emphasis on international cooperation and internal investigations. She has managed international disputes, extensive international fraud cases, international money laundering, tax fraud and criminal proceedings. Sophie has been involved in several high-profile criminal matters and international corruption cases (some in connection with the "Oil for Food" case), in the negotiation of agreements with foreign authorities. Regularly involved in conducting corporate investigations in France, Africa and Asia, Sophie recently coordinated international investigations involving the United States, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, China, Angola and Brazil, and has implemented compliance programs and risk-mapping for a number of French and international groups. Sophie has assisted French and foreign companies in the context of international cooperation cases, notably to invoke the French blocking statute and trade secret regulations in order to limit the transmission of information to foreign authorities.

Stéphane Puel

Stéphane Puel heads the Investment Funds & Asset Management team. He advises French and international financial institutions on all regulatory matters, and in particular on structuring, setting up, documenting and distributing regulated and non-regulated French and foreign law open-end and closed-end investment funds, such as hedge funds, REITs, private equity funds, infrastructure funds and distressed debt funds. Stéphane is in regular contact with the French Financial Markets Authority (AMF) on all matters relating to licensing management companies, setting up investment funds, and distributing French and foreign investment funds and structured products. Stéphane also advises these entities on the conduct of business rules applicable to them and assists them with court or disciplinary proceedings linked to their activity. He is a member of the Gide team which assisted the ASPIM since 2004 on the revamping of the regulations applicable to French real estate funds (OPCI).

Stéphanie Philippe

Stéphanie Philippe joined as a financial forensics expert in January 2022. She has a strong background in both accounting and investigation. She worked at the AMF as an investigator, then as a financial expert for investigating judges in the financial department of the Paris criminal court, and finally as a controller at the H3C, the high council of statutory auditors in France. It is a very innovative move for a law firm to hire a financial expert, which aims at providing our clients with the complete span of both legal and financial expertise.

Thierry Dor

Thierry Dor is the partner in charge of information technology and personal data law in Gide's Intellectual Property, Telecommunications, Media & Technology practice group. He advises the firm's French and international clients with regard to IT projects, the Internet, e-commerce, social networks, software and database protection and marketing, implementation of personal data processing and international data transfers. Thierry Dor spent eleven years as General Counsel for major international groups, and therefore has a good knowledge of companies' expectations. He also assists clients of the firm in their IT-related litigation. He is member of ADIJ (Association for the Development of Legal Information), ITech Law Association and IAPP (International Association of Privacy Professionals). He is a frequent speaker at conferences on new technology law. Thierry Dor advises the firm's French and international clients on all issues with regard to information technology law including Internet law and, more particularly e-commerce; software and database protection; and implementation of personal data processing and international data transfers. He assists clients in drafting and negotiating contracts relating to outsourcing, hosting, integration, licences, maintenance and development. He also assists clients of the firm in their IT-related litigation. Before joining Gide as partner, Thierry Dor spent eleven years as General Counsel for major international groups, ensuring he is able to offer sound and practical advice to the firm's clients.

Thomas Courtel

Thomas Courtel specialises in two main fields: infrastructure and public companies. As regards infrastructure and public facilities, his team offers a comprehensive service, from the contractual structuring and financing of projects, operational support, through to asset disposals and refinancing. As regards public companies, Thomas works on the nationalisation, privatisation and reorganisation of groups and supports their development: industrial partnerships, debt restructuring, public procurement.

Thomas Urlacher

Thomas Urlacher is a partner and member of Gide's M&A / Corporate practice group, with first-class expertise in complex acquisitions, strategic alliances (joint ventures) and corporate structuring. His practice covers a wide range of industries, in particular service industries (banking and insurance, IT and telecommunications), energy and manufacturing (automotive, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage). He is active in the service sector (bancassurance, telecoms, IT), energy and industry (automotive, pharmaceuticals, food processing). Thomas also has extensive expertise in complex real estate joint-ventures and M&A transactions. Thomas spent three years at Gide's Casablanca office and managed Gide's Beijing office for five years. There, he developed unique experience in international, cross-border M&A. He has advised, for example, many Chinese investors on their acquisitions in France and Africa. Member of the Paris Bar, Thomas is a graduate of the Ecole Supérieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales (ESSEC) and holds a DJCE-DESS in Business Law from the University of Strasbourg. Thomas is referenced in China in the latest Legal 500 Asia Pacific and mentioned in Projects & Infrastructure in China by Chambers Asia-Pacific 2013.

Victor Grandguillaume

Admitted to the Paris Bar in 2009, Victor Grandguillaume is a member of the Projects (Finance & Infrastructure) practice group where he focuses on projects in the energy, infrastructure and natural resources sectors. He acts in particular on thermal and renewable energy power plants, and on mining and infrastructure projects (ports, airports, roads, water treatment plants). Victor advises sponsors, financial institutions and public authorities on all aspects (development phase, drafting and negotiating project and financing documents) of projects located in Europe and Africa. He has developed specific expertise in the field of renewable energy projects in Africa, and advises leading sponsors, financial institutions and public entities on the development and financing of wind, solar and hydro power plants in Sub-Saharan Africa. He is a graduate of ESCP-Europe (Master in Management, Finance, 2007) and Paris XI University (Master 2 Professionel, Business Law, 2007).

Xavier Lecomte

Xavier Lecomte is a senior associate within Gide's Mergers & Acquisitions / Corporate practice group in Paris. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, investments (both domestic and international), joint ventures and general corporate law. Xavier has extensive experience advising clients in emerging countries and spent four years practising in Gide's office in Algiers. Prior to joining Gide, Xavier worked six years at Cleary Gottlieb. Xavier is admitted to the Paris Bar and graduated from the ESSEC business school.