Mrs Sophie Scemla > Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. > Paris, France > Lawyer Profile
Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. Offices

15 rue de Laborde
Paris
75008
France
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Mrs Sophie Scemla

Work Department
Dispute Resolution - Compliance & Corporate Investigations
Position
Admitted to both the Paris and the New York Bars, Sophie Scemla’s expertise focuses on international litigation and white collar crime, with a particular emphasis on international cooperation and internal investigations.
She has managed international disputes, extensive international fraud cases, international money laundering, tax fraud and criminal proceedings. Sophie has been involved in several high-profile criminal matters and international corruption cases (some in connection with the “Oil for Food” case), in the negotiation of agreements with foreign authorities.
Regularly involved in conducting corporate investigations in France, Africa and Asia, Sophie recently coordinated international investigations involving the United States, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, China, Angola and Brazil, and has implemented compliance programs and risk-mapping for a number of French and international groups.
Sophie has assisted French and foreign companies in the context of international cooperation cases, notably to invoke the French blocking statute and trade secret regulations in order to limit the transmission of information to foreign authorities.
Career
Prior to joining Gide, Sophie was a partner within Orrick Rambaud Martel (2009-2012), Heenan Blaikie (2012-2015) and Eversheds Sutherland (since 2015). She began her career as an associate within Rambaud Martel (1997-1998) then Danet & Associés (2000-2005), before being appointed counsel by Ayache Salama (2007-2009) and Orrick Rambaud Martel (2007-2009).
Languages
English and French
Memberships
Sophie Scemla is Vice-Chair of the IBA Anti-corruption Committee and a member of the special committee on corporate investigations for the French Bar association (Comité National des Barreaux).
Education
She holds a Master’s degree in international business law (1995) and a postgraduate degree in private law (1996) from Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne University, a postgraduate degree in industrial property (1997) from Paris II Panthéon-Assas University, and an LL.M. in comparative jurisprudence from the University of New York (1999).
Lawyer Rankings
Paris > Résolution des litiges > Contentieux commercial et de droit des sociétés
Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. se distingue par la grande polyvalence de sa pratique. Le cabinet intervient dans des litiges stratégiques de droit bancaire et de droit des sociétés. Il gère aussi des litiges en matière de fusions-acquisitions impliquant le secteur bancaire en lien avec l’Afrique. Le cabinet traitant régulièrement des litiges transfrontaliers. Le volant d’affaires comprend aussi des dossiers d’exequatur portés devant les juridictions françaises, des litiges commerciaux et des contentieux de révocation de dirigeants. Bruno Quentin, Jean-Philippe Pons-Henry et Sophie Scemla codirigent la pratique.
Paris > Résolution des litiges: Droit pénal des affaires
Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. gère un volant d’affaires de nature variée. Le cabinet assiste régulièrement des banques, des entreprises et des particuliers, qu’ils soient victimes ou plaignants, dans des affaires importantes de fraude. Il assure aussi la défense de banques, d’entreprises, de dirigeants et de cadres exécutifs dans des enquêtes et des procès en matière de fraude fiscale, d’abus de confiance et de faillite. Bruno Quentin assiste aussi SNCF Mobilités dans le cadre des poursuites pénales engagées consécutivement à l’accident de train d’Eckwersheim en novembre 2015. Le cabinet intervient enfin dans des enquêtes transfrontalières, traite des affaires devant les juridictions africaines et conduit des enquêtes internes. Bruno Quentin et Sophie Scemla sont recommandés. Ils codirigent la pratique aux côtés de Jean-Philippe Pons-Henry.
Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. manages a diverse caseload. The practice regularly assists banks, companies and individuals as victims or plaintiffs with major fraud cases, and defends companies, CEOs and executives as well as banks in tax fraud, breach of trust and bankruptcy-related criminal investigations and trials. Bruno Quentin assists SNCF Mobilités with criminal proceedings initiated following the Eckwersheim train accident in November 2015. The practice also acts in cross-border investigations, handles matters before African courts, and conducts internal investigations. Sophie Scemla is also recommended. Quentin and Scemla direct the practice together with Jean-Philippe Pons-Henry.
Paris > Compliance: enquêtes et conformité
Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. assiste de grandes entreprises, banques et institutions financières dans l’établissement et la mise à jour de leurs programmes anticorruption et anti-blanchiment. L’équipe accompagne aussi ses clients lors d’audits de contrôle AFA, ainsi que dans la gestion de situations de crise, telles que des accusations émises par des lanceurs d’alerte concernant des faits se produisant le plus souvent à l’étranger et nécessitant la conduite d’enquêtes internes. Le cabinet conseille également des institutions financières en matière de conformité bancaire et financière. Bruno Quentin, Jean-Philippe Pons-Henry et Sophie Scemla sont les principaux intervenants. Olivier Bernardi qui est spécialisé dans le domaine de la réglementation bancaire et financière, et l’expert en droit de la concurrence Antoine Choffel contribuent également. Jean-Guillaume de Tocqueville a rejoint Jones Day en septembre 2021.
France > Compliance
(Leading individuals)Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. offers the full range of expertise. The firm has a strong practice advising French and international companies on the conduct of internal investigations, often in the framework of international bribery, fraud and terrorism financing allegations. Banks and companies regularly instruct the practice to advise on the setting up of French anti-corruption programmes and on AFA-audits. Finally, the team has strong know-know in anti-money laundering, an expertise widely used by French and international banks. The practice is co-headed by Bruno Quentin, Jean-Philippe Pons-Henry, Sophie Scemla and Olivier Bernardi.
France > Dispute resolution: White-collar crime
Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. is increasingly involved in sensitive international corruption, international terrorism and other human rights-related cases. The team is notably retained by leading French oil and gas companies facing criminal investigations for their overseas operations, often in Africa, acting in several key matters and in particular in one case involving both the French (PNF) and US (DOJ) authorities. Sophie Scemla is the key contact. The firm’s caseload also includes the defence of companies, corporate executives, elected officials and banks in tax fraud, breach of trust and bankruptcy-related criminal investigations and trials. The firm is also acting in a matter regarding a major industrial accident and acts for clients in cyber attack matters. Bruno Quentin and Jean-Philippe Pons-Henry direct the practice alongside Scemla.
Lawyer Rankings
- Leading individuals - France > Compliance
- Compliance - France
- Dispute resolution: White-collar crime - France
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Banking and finance: Bank regulatory
- Banking and finance: transactional work
- Capital markets: debt capital markets
- Capital markets: equity capital markets
- Data privacy and data protection
- Derivatives and structured finance
- Employment
- Environment
- EU, competition and distribution
- Industry focus: Energy
- Industry focus: Luxury goods
- Industry focus: Telecoms
- Insurance
- Intellectual property: Copyright
- Intellectual property: Patents
- Intellectual property: Trade marks and designs
- Media and entertainment: Television/radio
- Private equity: venture/growth capital
- Project finance
- Real estate
Firm Rankings
- Administrative and public law
- Compliance
- Dispute resolution: Stock market litigation
- Dispute resolution: White-collar crime
- Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences
- Industry focus: IT and internet
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Private equity: Fund formation
- Private equity: LBO
- Tax
- Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation
- Dispute resolution: International arbitration
- Insolvency