Dispute Resolution - Compliance & Corporate Investigations

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.

Prior to joining Gide, Sophie was a partner within Orrick Rambaud Martel (2009-2012), Heenan Blaikie (2012-2015) and Eversheds Sutherland (since 2015). She began her career as an associate within Rambaud Martel (1997-1998) then Danet & Associés (2000-2005), before being appointed counsel by Ayache Salama (2007-2009) and Orrick Rambaud Martel (2007-2009).

English and French

Sophie Scemla is Vice-Chair of the IBA Anti-corruption Committee and a member of the special committee on corporate investigations for the French Bar association (Comité National des Barreaux).

She holds a Master's degree in international business law (1995) and a postgraduate degree in private law (1996) from Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne University, a postgraduate degree in industrial property (1997) from Paris II Panthéon-Assas University, and an LL.M. in comparative jurisprudence from the University of New York (1999).