About

Cécile Russeil first joined video game developer and publisher Ubisoft in 1990, as personal assistant to the CEO. Without a legal background or training she started working on all major business transactions, involved with the CEO, including acquisitions and contract negotiations. Over time Russeil officially took charge of business and legal affairs and now acts as chief legal officer, with continued partnership with the CEO. As a result of this partnership, Russeil created a department of 25 professionals based in Europe, North America and Singapore. Demonstrating her excellent operational skills, Russeil was able to lead over 40 transactions in 12 months leading up to October 2015. The transactions were completed in a number of countries, including Canada, Brazil, France and other European jurisdictions, Russeil noting that ‘a knowledge of all local laws is vital’. With self-taught working knowledge in contract, copyright, privacy and e-commerce laws, Russeil is closely involved with Ubisoft’s major developments, including having supported the Initial Public Offering (IPO) in 1996 and managing all litigations worldwide. As CLO for the first games company in Europe and their ventures into music and mobile phone apps, Russeil has a clear focus on how to support Ubisoft as it grows in a fast moving and complex environment driven by technological innovation. She claims her goal is ‘to help [the company] develop. I have to understand its new business areas, which implies more compliance especially with privacy laws’.