Team size: 55

What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

Some of the most significant cases and transactions we have been involved in recently include the major M&A operation in India (> 1 billion €) and associated restructuring; the phase two in-depth analysis following a merger notification in France; the improvement of the compliance programme; and the tender processes and negotiations for major concessions contracts within airport facilities.

What are some of the main trends in the industry sector you work in in France?

The main trends in the airport industry are related to dealing with all the significant environmental impacts of such an industry and how to take part in the technological changesets it must face. The airport industry has to take part in innovations in terms of jet fuel (such as hydrogen or SAF), new means of transport (VTOL) and all the latest threats, such as cyber-attacks and drones; this a fantastic opportunity for the in-house lawyers to support their company and their industry in all these new challenges and to participate in the improvement and adaptation of this industry to enable it to be more attractive.

How do you suggest in-house lawyers build strong relationships with business partners?

The particularity of the in-house lawyers compared to the lawyers in law firms is that they are fully integrated into the daily business of the company. They must, therefore, be agile to adapt their proposals accordingly to the ongoing projects, business oriented and at the exact time guarantee compliance with the intern procedures and the legal framework.

Thus, the in-house lawyers are the strategic crossroads of many constraints of the company. They must use this specific role to deliver the best solutions to their business partners. Moreover, they should not hesitate to stay in contact with their operational colleagues to learn and to understand their business in-depth and thus to understand their expectations.