As head of legal for idverde – a European leader in landscape construction projects and grounds maintenance services based in the UK and France – Agnès Bardel regularly proves her...

CAC-listed eye care solutions provider Essilor Group is a historic French company that occupies an enviable position as a world leader in the field of ophthalmic lenses and optical equipment....

Having joined SoLocal Group, a leader in digital communication, in 2005, Alexandre De Tourtier has gained thorough experience of the company’s operations whilst also building his reputation as a highly...

Atos is a world-leading international information technology company, providing digital transformation services to clients all over the world across a wide variety of market sectors, and is listed in the...

A major global air transport player, Air France-KLM is a Franco-Dutch airline holding company incorporated under French law. In February 2018, the organisation recruited the highly regarded in-house lawyer Anne-Sophie...

Antoine Genevois began his legal career in 2000 at Thales Group, where he provided support to set up the company’s compliance program and the litigation associated with the sale of...

The provision of legal advice to historic multinational Saint-Gobain is provided by a number of different in-house lawyers with a range of specialties. Among them is secretary general Antoine Vignial,...

Arminé Ekmektchian has achieved a great deal in a relatively short space of time, making her among the brightest rising stars currently operating in the French in-house legal community. Discovering...

Arnaud Flandé joined Alten in 2012 as the group general counsel. As part of a fast growing engineering technology consulting firm, with €1.98bn of revenues and 28,000 employees, he has...

One of France’s largest telecommunications companies, Bouygues Telecom offers a diverse variety of products and services including fibre boxes, televisions, internet networks, and recharge packages, as well as recycling services....

Taking up the general counsel role at energy giant Total in January 2017, Aurélien Hamelle brought a wealth of high-level experience upon his appointment, having accrued private practice experience in...

Highly regarded by peers throughout the French legal market, it was reported by the industry press that Béatrix Laurent-Moulin was hired by ManpowerGroup France in 2011 as a response to...

CAC-listed Legrand is a French industrials group that is perhaps best known for its provision of switches and sockets where it has a large share of the global market; in...

Benoit Balmary joined the French tyre manufacturer Michelin in 2014. Reporting directly to the company’s executive president, Balmary presides over a department of more than 200 people spread across 20...

Reflecting on his career thus far, Benoit Ternon is pleased to have been able to operate in diverse roles at a number of different organisations, and places this as both...

Bernard Kuhn initiated his legal career in 1979 after attaining his Doctor in Law qualification. Following the completion of internships at law firm Clifford Chance and at the Bank of...

Bertrand Austruy’s career progression at Danone, has been nothing short of dynamic and impressive. Today, Danone has over 100,000 employees behind products that reach nine million consumers worldwide. As part...

Boubakar Dione is a legal specialist well-versed in the in-house legal sector having provided legal advice within the business world since 1991. Dione complements his deep knowledge of all relevant...

Earning over €50bn in annual revenues and with over 300,000 employees, French company Auchan Retail ranks among the largest food retailers in the world. Legal and tax director Carlos Pedreira...

Operating with a transnational remit that includes the varied regions of Africa, the Middle East, Southern Europe, Belgium and Luxembourg, Caroline Burtin is the legal director for advertising juggernaut JCDecaux....

A leading global investment company with a diversified portfolio of approximately €15bn in assets under management, Eurazeo stepped up its investment momentum in 2017 by acquiring interests in a number...

Cécile Russeil has had an incredibly long and successful time with Ubisoft, having spent over 27 years with the company which has taken up the entirety of her career. Now...

Having already gained substantial IP and international experience in Asia and Africa, Céline Bourjolay made her move in-house in 2012, joining the leading software vendor Murex as a deputy general...

Since its establishment in 1926, Publicis Groupe has developed into the third largest communications group in the world. Held in high esteem among her peers, Publicis Groupe’s general counsel Céline...

France’s second largest banking institution, Groupe BPCE has a multitude of branches, employees and customers requiring timely and accurate legal counsel in order to manage the huge range of banking...

Executive vice president and general counsel for Viaccess-Orca – a world leader in content protection, OTT technologies and data analytics, with an annual turnover of more than €78m – Christine...

In the position of group general counsel at major aerospace, defence and technology powerhouse Safran since June 2016, Coralie Bouscasse’s career began in earnest in 1985, when she became deputy...

‘Be creative and think out of the box, remain rigorous and business oriented without being too risk adverse, rely on your team which is your best asset in any case...

Didier Moutard’s private practice career prior to moving in-house was highly successful, and saw him amass a wealth of technical legal expertise in the offices of Clifford Chance for 15...

Founded over 150 years ago Société Générale is one of Europe’s biggest financial services companies. After twenty years of impressing the firm through a wide range of legal contributions, Dominique...

Éric Boré is an established corporate counsel who currently leads the legal team at GEODIS, a supply chain operator ranking among the top companies in its field in Europe. Having...

Best known under its brand name Veolia, Veolia Environnement is a historic multinational French service and utility provider in the areas of water management, waste management, transport and energy services....

Kering’s legal department is comprised of 90 individuals across the globe, each of whom provide legal support to the corporate operations and the 20 luxury, sport and lifestyle brands that...

Lagardère Group‘s Eric Thomas is a formidable corporate leader with substantial experience of managing legal processes at some of the largest organisations in France. He started his professional career in...

The multinational French automotive products supplier Valeo is a constituent of the CAC 40 Index and conducts its operations through four distinct divisions that service the automotive and aftercare markets:...

Florence M. Guéry leads the legal function at the Paris headquartered renewable energy company Neoen, and commands an impressive CV with years of experience practicing both in law firms and...

Franck Raimbault’s labour law expertise has manifested itself both academically and professionally at the highest levels. Academically, he has gained a PhD focusing specifically on labour law and has operated...

With 22 years of experience at the second largest retailer in the world and the largest in Europe, Carrefour, Franck Tassan is an accomplished counsel who occupies a prominent and...

François Graux joined world energy giant Engie in 2013 as general counsel, leading a legal team which employs 490 lawyers across more than 40 countries. Managing about 60 lawyers at...

A constituent of the CAC 40 Index, Vivendi is a leading multinational mass media conglomerate with activities spanning music, television, film, video games, telecommunications, tickets and video hosting. Having joined...

A fantastic example of an in-house lawyer showcasing commercial acumen to rise through the ranks of their business, Gadi Oron has progressed from the general counsel role of CISAC to...

CMA CGM is a leading worldwide shipping group with 445 vessels that connects with 420 ports around the world. The group employs 29,000 people worldwide and with a presence in...

Founded in 1848, BNP Paribas has grown into a leading bank in the Eurozone and a prominent international banking institution earning over €43bn in annual revenues. Georges Dirani is BNP...

Geraldine Hivert-de Grandi was appointed general counsel of Séché Environnement, a newly created position, in early 2016. Her role has been to set up and implement a business orientated legal...

An energy law specialist, Harald Knoebl held a series of senior in-house legal positions with ENGIE group companies (formerly GDF Suez) going back to 2002 when he worked for Gaz...

Since 2001, Helen Browne has been gaining an in-depth understanding of the operations of AXA, the French holding company of the AXA Group, a global insurance leader. After nine years...

One of the world’s top fashion houses and an iconic French designer brand, since 1925 Christian Dior has a track record of consistently leading the global fashion industry. With an...

Lactalis is the number one cheese producer in the world, and though its brands Président cheese and butter and Galbani mozzarella amongst others, cements its place as a global leader...

Hicham Khellafi has enjoyed an exceptional career at Fortune 100-ranked Honeywell since joining a little over a decade ago in 2007. During this time, he has progressed from the rank...

Ian FitzSimons has been the general counsel of Pernod Ricard for 16 years and is responsible for creating the legal department of the group as it stands today. In this...

A global technology leader in the aerospace, transportation, defence and security markets, Thales earned close to €15bn in 2016. Heading the legal function at this highly successful French business is...

Handling corporate matters, projects and transactions at the French automobile multinational Renault, deputy general counsel Jean-Benoit Devauges continues to impress peers both within Groupe Renault and among France’s wider in-house...

Jean-Philippe Laligand has been the group general counsel for AKKA Technologies since 2008. He started his career as an engineer in the field of artificial intelligence. During his career he...

Saint-Étienne headquartered Groupe Casino is a multinational mass retail company operating under a number of different subsidiaries, employing almost 350,000 people and commanding annual revenues close to €50bn. Jean-Yves Haagen...

Assuming the position of group general counsel at Arkema, a global leader in the specialty chemicals industry, has enabled Jérôme Gandon to implement his own vision for the management of...

Admitted to the Paris Bar in 2000, Joel Corcessin has subsequently built an outstanding legal career that has seen him practice in high profile law firms in London and Paris...

Joëlle Simon started her professional career in 1991 as a lawyer and deputy to the general economic affairs manager at the largest employment federation in France, Conseil National du Patronat...

Since 2002 Swedish national Johan Harrysson has served Maus Frères International Services (MFIS), the holding company of popular clothing brands such as Lacoste, Gant, Aigle and Tecnifibre steadily progressing through...

Johan Huizing continues to impress peers for his work at Itron, a world-leading US technology and services company dedicated to the resourceful use of energy and water. Covering the entire...

Well-known and prominent among the French in-house legal community, John Harrison is an individual fully merits recognition. He has been general counsel for Airbus and member of the Group Executive...

Formerly an associate at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, then in-house legal director for logistics operator Carrier Transicold, Joséphine Deege-Mansour took on her wide-ranging position as...

Real estate services provider SCAPRIM offers a range of products to its customers that span institutional clients, investment funds, international and French family offices, tenants and real estate owners. Ensuring...

Julien Vandenbussche joined asset management and investment group, Tikehau Investment Management in in January 2016 and has been central to creating the legal department and assisting the company in its...

Headquartered in Paris, Sanofi is a major player in the global pharmaceutical market with annual revenues exceeding €35bn in 2017. Having been at the company for almost 30 years, executive...

In 2007 Khalid El Hanbali joined Vestas Wind Systems, the Danish wind energy giant, to foster, support and facilitate the fast-path growth of the industry of renewables for the French...

Since 2012 Laurence Ballone Burrini has been the legal director at Eiffage Construction, a French civil engineering construction company and the third largest business of its type in France, and...

Present in 80 countries with approximately 65,000 employees, Air Liquide is a world leader in gases, technologies and services and one of France’s largest conglomerates. Having been the company’s general...

Laurent Pitet lists moving to an in-house role – he previously worked in private practice during the 1980s – as among his fondest memories, indicating his enthusiasm for work as...

Marc Bergmann is adept at working on major international transactions with partners all over the world, something which has helped him develop good negotiation techniques that have been recognised and...

Innovative French professional services firm Capgemini is a global leader in consulting, technology services and digital transformation with annual revenues of around €13bn and 200,000 employees worldwide. Executive vice-president and...

Mark Rollinger joined Groupe PSA – the owners of the Peugeot, Citroën and Vauxhall brands – as group chief legal officer in October 2013, and currently oversees the legal aspects...

Mathilde Mason has built the legal function at Japan Tobacco International (JTI) France from scratch since joining in 2011: ‘When I started there was no legal function at all, and...

Matthieu Peron has been at Schneider Electric, the European multinational corporation, since 2010. Now as chief legal counsel for French operations managing a team of in-house lawyers, Peron provides support...

Nicola Bonucci’s journey with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) began in 1993, but his experience with intergovernmental organisations goes back further than that, as he previously worked...

Nicolas Guerin is an exceptional France-based in-house counsel with formidable expertise in managing legal processes for one of the country’s leading telecommunication businesses. He has been executive vice president of...

Since joining the multinational plastic manufacturer Plastic Omnium in 2011, Odile Descamps has been in charge of the legal side of M&A transactions, accompanying the growth and dynamics of the...

A successful private practice lawyer with Sullivan & Cromwell, Olivier Catherine had a successful opening chapter of his in-house legal career with the E&P division Gaz de France (now Engie)...

Described by peers as ‘one of the best group legal chiefs in France’ Olivier Fauqueux is a highly praised group general counsel in the country with a ‘real sense of...

Part of the Engie Group since 2015, Solairedirect is France’s foremost renewable energy company, providing solar and other green energy solutions to a domestic and international market; India, South Africa...

“Patrick Larchevêque started his career in 1988 as an in-house specialist corporate lawyer for a real estate company, something he claims brought him the ‘rigor’ that prepared him for the...

Established in 2000 as a business unit of telecommunications firm Alcatel, Nexans has grown into the world’s second largest manufacturer of cables, boasting a presence in around 40 countries, and...

During his five-year tenure as a legal director and chief compliance officer at Clear Channel – one of the world’s largest outdoor advertising companies. Patrick Remot has successfully transformed the...

Serving for the last 17 years as the general counsel for VINCI, a global player in concessions and construction which earned over €40bn in revenue over 2017, Patrick Richard has...

Patrizia Marraghini describes the department she heads as a ‘multi-national team of different personalities’ representing the interests of major transportation company Keolis, with ten individuals based in Paris and ten...

Philippe Andrau was appointed as group general counsel at water treatment and water management business Suez Environnement in 2013, where he currently oversees some 200 lawyers worldwide, including over fifty...

Philippe Chavasse’s journey within Fives, a French company specialised in the export of equipment, plants and turnkey projects, has been extremely noteworthy and impressive. He started his career as a...

Boasting 25 years of experience serving in different public and private organisations, Philippe Clerc is widely recognised as one of the strongest legal professionals in the French aviation sector. Having...

Philippe Jutard relates an interesting story from his formative years as an in-house lawyer at ELF UK (now Total), which gives insight into his outlook and approach. ‘The first contract...

In July 2011 Pierre Minor was appointed chief legal officer and compliance officer at Crédit Agricole, the prominent mutual and cooperative group of banks and number one lender to the...

Rémi Dujon has been a feature of Orange’s internal corporate legal scene for over 20 years, holding prominent and senior positions throughout. He has seen the company develop and progress...

Founded in 1967, Rexel is a French Group which specialises in the distribution of electrical supplies, and Sebastien Thierry is the current general secretary of the company, having joined in...

Sophie Gelbert’s first move upon graduating from Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne Law University in 1984 was to COFACE where, in what would prove to be symbolic of the ultimate direction her...

Astorg Partners is a private equity group with over €4bn worth of assets under its management, and is a pan-European operation with offices located in Paris, London and Luxembourg. Group...

Ever since joining the conglomerate Mobivia as its general counsel in 2010, Stéphane Leblan has achieved notable successes on the transactional front culminating with his work on the acquisition of...

Vivet Therapeutics is dedicated to developing innovative gene therapy treatments for orphan diseases. General counsel and finance director since February 2017, Susan Coles explains the unique role in-house lawyers can...

From an early stage in his professional development, Sylvestre Dhombres had a desire to ‘be a field lawyer close to business and action’, so his decision to become an in-house...

Since its founding in 1956, Groupe Savencia Saveurs & Spécialités has grown to around 21,000 employees with an annual turnover of €5bn. Boasting a multifaceted portfolio of premium cheese and...

In 2007, Valentine Poylo joined the infrastructure legal department of SNCF Réseau, in charge of all research, innovation and development projects, industrial partnerships and trademark portfolio of France’s national state...

High fashion brand Christian Louboutin’s general counsel Xavier Ragot is responsible for the creation of the in-house legal department at the company, and now presides over two teams dedicated to...

An extremely successful and experienced general counsel, Yannick Chalmé was an in-house lawyer at Thales and Club Med before taking on group general counsel responsibilities at L’Oréal in 2001. Since...