About

Among the 15 largest defence contractors in the world as of 2015, and with total revenue of €14.6bn for 2016, Thales Group is one of the most prominent and successful companies in France. The group legal team is led by Isabelle Simon, an individual with almost unparalleled business and legal credentials, having been accepted to the New York and Paris bar along with holding notable positions with corporate heavyweights Goldman Sachs. Also singled out for praise was legal director for human resources Gaspard de Tournier, who has been heavily involved with enacting the company’s drive towards greater gender equality within their ranks by encouraging young women to apply for careers at Thales. In terms of its support of corporate activities, the legal department has had achieved a number of milestones for the company in terms of M&A work. One example of this is the recent acquisition of big-data analytical company Guavas for £215m, as the company looks to grow more of a foothold in this new and exciting area. On top of this, the company achieved a record order intake of €18.9bn in 2015, marking the successful conclusion of a number of large deals that highlight the effectiveness of the Thales Group legal team’s support role.