Gide Loyrette Nouel LLP > London, England > Firm Profile

Gide Loyrette Nouel LLP
125 OLD BROAD STREET
LONDON
EC2N 1AR
England

Finance > Derivatives and structured products Tier 3

Gide Loyrette Nouel LLP has a strong derivatives practice in both Paris and London, the latter being home to both practice head Karine Imbrosciano and lead banking and finance partner Dimitrios Logizidis. The firm handles structuring, documentation, collateralisation and regulatory issues arising from derivatives and structured products transactions across a diverse range of asset classes, among them equity, credit, fixed income, fund, commodity, energy, inflation, weather, and property derivatives, repos and securities lending deals. Its clients are investment banks, financial sponsors and corporates, among them Citigroup and Natixis. Imbrosciano and Logizidis recently assisted Europcar Mobility Group with a €450m securitisation programme, which involved the negotiation of complex hedging arrangements.

Practice head(s):

Karine Imbrosciano; Dimitrios Logizidis

Key clients

Citigroup

Europcar

Goldman Sachs International

J.P. Morgan

KGHM Polska Miedz

Meridiam

Natixis

Société Générale

Tikehau Investment Management

Work highlights

  • Advised Europcar Mobility Group in the setting-up and structuration of the securitisation program of Europcar Group UK.
  • Assisted global investor and asset manager, Meridiam, as Sponsor, and Asonha Energie, the operator in charge of the development of project as Borrower, on the hedging aspects of the financing in relation to the public-private partnership project for the generation of energy via the new hydroelectric dam of Kinguélé Aval in Gabon.
  • Advised Europcar Mobility Group in the setting-up and structuration of the securitisation program of Fox Rent A Car in the United States.

Finance > Securitisation Tier 4

Th securitisation team at Gide Loyrette Nouel LLP stands out for its 'availability, approachability and friendliness'. The firm's London and Paris offices are home to a highly regarded securitisation and asset-backed finance practice, which handles whole-business, trade receivables, mortgage, lease, and CLO transactions on behalf of financial institutions and multinational corporates. Practice head Dimitrios Logizidis and the newly promoted Samir Bensaker  are 'very professional and knowledgeable partners'. Logizidis frequently acts for Europcar Mobility Group in securitisations, a recent example being its €450m programme in the first transaction structured in England using two bankruptcy remote SPVs. Counsel Alexander Tompkins is 'a fantastic lawyer, who responds super quick'.

Practice head(s):

Dimitrios Logizidis

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘The team is excellent in so many ways. The key positives are availability, approachability and friendliness. It is vital that the people you work with are pleasant, good to talk with, and have time for you.’

‘Dimitrios Logizidis, partner, is one of the best people I have worked with in the City of London (25 years). He is a credit to the legal profession. Alex Tompkins, counsel, is a fantastic lawyer, who is always at the end of the phone when needed, and responds to emails super quick.’

‘Very strong know-how and experience combined with a drive to be helpful and commercial on complicated issues.’

‘Very good communication and relationship management with a strong sense of partnership.’

‘The partners make themselves available when needed.’

‘Dimitrios Logizidis and Samir Bensaker are very professional and knowledgeable partners.’

Key clients

BNP Paribas

CNP Assurances

EDFI Management Company

European Investment Fund

Europcar Mobility Group

PROPARCO (Société de Promotion et de participation pour la coopération économique)

Société Générale

Rabobank London

Tikehau Investment Management

Work highlights

  • Advised Europcar Mobility Group in the setting-up and structuration of the securitisation program of Europcar Group UK.
  • Advised Europcar Mobility Group in the restructuring of its European vehicles fleet securitisation programme in France, Italy, Germany and Spain.
  • Advised Europcar Mobility Group in the setting-up and structuration of the securitisation program of Fox Rent A Car in the United States.

Projects, energy and natural resources > Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables) Tier 4

The team at Gide Loyrette Nouel LLP is led by Colin Graham; he has expertise in corporate, commercial and M&A work in power. An example of the cohort’s abilities in alternative energy, it its advising EDF on large-scale nuclear projects. Counsel Matteo Matteucci has particular experience working on cross-border M&A transactions in energy and natural resources-related M&A transactions.

Practice head(s):

Colin Graham

Other key lawyers:

Matteo Matteuicci

Key clients

Delta Offshore Energy

Éléctricité de France (EDF)

Powerchina Huadong Engineering Corporation

China Railway 18th Bureau Group Company Limited

TotalEnergies

Work highlights

  • Advising EDF, the contractor, on the design of a generation III nuclear reactor in Sizewell, Suffolk, England. The value of the project is estimated to be over £20bn and will provide electricity to approx. 6m.
  • Advising Delta Offshore Energy on the development of a 3200MW gas-to-power project in Vietnam to be supplied by an integrated LNG import project.
  • Advising a consortium formed by Powerchina and China Railway in two arbitration procedures against VSH, executed between our client and the counterparty.

Projects, energy and natural resources > Oil and gas Tier 5

Gide Loyrette Nouel LLP is well known for its Africa-based transactional work in the oil & gas space, receiving praise for its bench of ‘sophisticated and industry-experienced professionals’. Practice head Colin Graham is a corporate and commercial specialist who is well-versed in international gas and LNG projects in particular.

Practice head(s):

Colin Graham

Other key lawyers:

Matteo Matteucci

Testimonials

‘The Oil and Gas practice is the home of sophisticated and industry-experienced professionals. I have always been impressed by the details of their oil & gas knowledge.’

‘Colin Graham always offers detailed knowledge of the oil&gas industry. The information and insights he maintains on the development of the natural gas industry is very impressive.’

Key clients

Delta Offshore Energy

Work highlights

  • Advising Delta Offshore Energy on the development of a 3200 MW gas-to-power project in Vietnam to be supplied by an integrated LNG import project. The gas to power plant in Vietnam will be the first project of this kind in this country which still relies heavily on coal to produce electricity.
  • Advising a France-based project developer on the contracts relating to the development of an electrolyser plant to produce green hydrogen for delivery to a co-sited chemical plant.
  • Advising a German trading company on a proposed long-term offtake of advanced biodiesel to be produced by a new-build project in Portugal.

Dispute resolution > International arbitration Tier 6

Focused on commercial and investment disputes, predominantly in relation to energy and infrastructure, Gide Loyrette Nouel LLP‘s London group has ‘very detailed knowledge of investment arbitration‘. London IDR leader Rupert Reecebrings gravity to hearings‘; and raised to partner in June 2022, Saadia Bhatty heads the investment arbitration arm of the firm’s London’s international arbitration practice. At counsel level, Hannah McIrvine acts for clients from the construction, energy, commercial, technology, and insurance sectors.

Practice head(s):

Rupert Reece; Saadia Bhatty

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

Gide’s particular attribute is its experience and knowledge of the Continental European market, and the business culture of the key players.’

‘Rupert Reece is a pleasure to work with. He has a very easygoing nature, but is extremely knowledgable.’

Rupert Reece brings gravity to hearings and is very convincing.

Its ability to work as a team across different offices (London and Paris), and to work very closely with local counsel in Mauritania has been much appreciated.

‘Very detailed knowledge of investment arbitration, especially in relation to tax and mining issues.

The team is very talented and its advocacy skills are excellent.

Saadia Bhatty is outstanding – her technical analysis, strategic thinking and advocacy skills are all excellent.

Saadia Bhatty has very good knowledge of mining and tax disputes on the African continent.

Key clients

Consortium formed between Powerchina Huadong Engineering Corporation and China Railway 18th Bureau Group Company

Work highlights

  • Acted for a consortium (formed by Powerchina and China Railway) in two arbitration procedures against VSH, a Vietnamese state-owned energy company, arising out of a contract for the design, engineering, and construction of tunnels for a hydroelectric project.

France > Dispute resolution: International arbitration

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. has a combined London and Paris-based practice that handles commercial and investment arbitration cases on behalf of some European and African state entities but predominantly for companies. The team has a strong involvement in Africa-related matters, concerning mining, oil and gas and construction issues. It has also been recently retained to handle a high-stakes case linked to Russia and another significant case opposing leading insurance companies. The practice also regularly handles exequatur cases before French courts.  Carole Malinvaud, who regularly sits as an arbitrator in ICSID and ICC arbitration cases, is noted. She co-chairs the practice alongside Christian CambouliveAlexandra Munoz and London-based Saadia Bhatty and Rupert Reece.

Other key lawyers:

Sacha Willaume; Astrid Westphalen

Testimonials

‘Gide’s arbitration department is undoubtedly among the best specialized teams on the market in international arbitration. The partners who make it up, like the collaborators, are all excellent professionals. The department has a perfect command of the technologies that allow it to work best on large-scale projects. ’

‘The teams in the UK and France are able to collaborate seamlessly and have enormous experience and knowledge of their respective markets as well as the international one. ’

‘Rupert Reece is excellent. He possesses and applies his huge knowledge and experience in a way that benefits his clients. He is also easy to work with.’

‘Christian Camboulive: detailed knowledge of files and extensive experience of arbitration practices.’

‘Saadia Bhatty is eloquent, persuasive in her answers and very responsive’.

‘Carole Malinvaud leads a diverse and brilliant team. She has terrific judgement and cuts a very authoritative figure in the hearing room. She invariably has the ear of the Tribunal and is very good at putting together and leading the best teams for any given case.’

‘Christian Camboulive, Alexandra Munoz and Astrid Westphalen stand out for their extensive knowledge of arbitration in various economic sectors and the particularities that these different sectors can represent.’

‘Alexandra Munoz is very experienced in international arbitration cases. She has a very keen sense of analysis.

Key clients

Expertise France

Zenith Energy Africa Ltd

Asmidal SPA

Egis

The French Republic

International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)

The Islamic Republic of Mauritania

Public Power Corporation

Photo Name Position Profile
Samir Bensaker photo Mr Samir Bensaker Based in Gide’s London office, Samir advises international financial institutions, investment funds…
Saadia Bhatty photo Mrs Saadia Bhatty Admitted to the New York Bar in 2010 and Paris Bar in…
Colin Graham photo Mr Colin Graham   Colin Graham is a partner in the energy group of Gide…
Karine Imbrosciano photo Ms Karine Imbrosciano Karine Imbrosciano heads the Derivatives & Structured Products group of Gide in…
Dimitrios Logizidis photo Mr Dimitrios Logizidis Dimitrios Logizidis, partner in Gide’s London office, specialises in banking and structured…
Matteo Matteucci photo Mr Matteo Matteucci Matteo Matteucci is Counsel in the Energy group of Gide Loyrette Nouel’s…
Hannah McIrvine photo Ms Hannah McIrvine Hannah McIrvine specialises in international disputes. She qualified as a solicitor in…
Rupert Reece photo Mr Rupert Reece Rupert is an English Barrister and an Avocat à la Cour. He…