Europe - France

Stephenson Harwood

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The team at Stephenson Harwood is well-versed in advising domestic and foreign financial institutions on the structuring and creation of close-ended private investment funds. Working under the leadership of Julien Vandenbussche, who specialises in fund formation, the group is also home to the 'commercial, responsive and thoughtful' Ngowari Adikibi, who is dual-qualified in France and the UK and was promoted to the partnership in 2023.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘They are experts in the PE fund formation practice and are very knowledgeable as to how the regulatory framework and industry operates. They are solution-driven and practical with due regard to the client's needs and the regulatory and commercial background.’

  • ‘Ngowari Adikibi knows her stuff and delivers timely and practical legal advice. She's knowledgeable, excellent attention to detail and professional. She has proven to be a commercial, responsive and thoughtful adviser in our dealings with her over the years.’

  • ‘Very good communication between fund and tax specialists. The service provided is top notch (availability, teaching, etc.)'

Key clients

  • Eurazeo Investment Management
  • Bpifrance Investissement
  • ODDO Private Equity
  • Swen Capital Partners
  • Albarest Partners
  • Access Capital Partners
  • SPE Capital
  • Mirova
  • Andera Partners
  • AXA France
  • Founders Future

Work highlights

  • Advised AXA in its capacity as sponsor on its €100m investment in Regenerative Agri Fund, a PE fund managed by Tikehau IM seeking €300 million for its first closing.
  • Advised SPE Capital on the creation and ongoing operation of SPE AIF I, L.P. (private equity fund).
  • Advised Swen Capital Partners on the establishment of their last mezzanine debt fund, Swen Mezz Flex 3, FPCI, seeking €250m of commitments.

Lawyers

Next Generation Partners

Ngowari Adikibi

Ngowari Adikibi

Stephenson Harwood

Ngowari Adikibi acts for management companies and GPs, as well as institutional investors, in the domain of international funds creation and cross-border corporate/private equity transactions.   Ngowari’s practice involves delivering innovative solutions for the structuring, creation, negotiation and marketing of different forms of funds investing predominantly in Europe and Africa (including French fund structures, Luxembourg vehicles, English, Scottish and Channel Islands limited partnerships, Mauritius funds and hybrid structures). Ngowari also creates carried interest structures and regulated portfolio management entities for management teams. She advises fund managers on regulatory matters relating to their authorisation and their marketing, operation and management of funds. She equally assists management companies with the process and contractual framework for the distribution of fund interests. In addition, she advises private equity houses on international investments and divestments of portfolio assets in general, and secondary transfers of interests in portfolio funds. Prior to joining Stephenson Harwood, Ngowari was a lawyer in the International Funds department of a leading global law firm in international funds. Having previously obtained solid experience of complex and high-end cross-border M&A/ private equity transactions within the corporate/ private equity departments of several US law firms in London and Paris, Ngowari also gained significant emerging markets experience working in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, where she advised European investors regarding foreign investment in the Mercosur.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Julien Vandenbussche

Other key lawyers

Ngowari Adikibi