Viguié Schmidt & Associés > Paris, France > Firm Profile
Viguié Schmidt & Associés Offices
146 BOULEVARD HAUSSMANN
75008 PARIS
France
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Viguié Schmidt & Associés > The Legal 500 Rankings
France > Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation Tier 1
Viguié Schmidt & Associés' broad practice in this area is reflected in a caseload which includes a wide variety of matters, including disputes pertaining to Covid-19 insurance coverage, arbitration enforcement or Libya-related work. Building on the firm’s M&A practice, the team is regularly appointed to handle high-stakes M&A-related disputes and shareholder conflicts and is adept at managing bet-the-company cases. Leading corporates, foreign banks as well as insurers and investment funds are clients. Yves Schmidt and Olivier Loizon are the practice heads.Practice head(s):
Yves Schmidt; Olivier Loizon
Testimonials
‘The team is made up of talented and available lawyers. The turnover is low which allows a long term follow-up of the files. Billing is very reasonable, which makes the firm a reliable source of advice at prices that defy most of the competition.’
‘Olivier Loizon is pragmatic and rigorous.’
‘Outstanding team; very good advice, very fair billing, high-level exchanges, very pleasant.’
Key clients
AXA
EDF RENOUVELABLES
RENAULT
FIMALAC
SONEPAR
RALLYE
SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT France
ALTER EQUITY
SUEZ
CENTRAL BANK OF CYPRUS
ALLIANZ TRADE
OTCEx
ACCURACY
France > Dispute resolution: Stock market litigation Tier 1
Viguié Schmidt & Associés’ co-heads of practice Nicolas Viguié and Yves Schmidt have excellent knowledge of issues concerning publicly listed companies. The duo, who stand out for their ability to handle M&A deals and litigation, is often retained to assist in the context of public takeover disputes and AMF investigations relating to stock market abuse allegations. The team represents companies, boards and senior executives.Practice head(s):
Yves Schmidt; Nicolas Viguié
Key clients
SUEZ
AB SCIENCES
RALLYE
Work highlights
- Advising the board of directors of Suez SA in multiple legal proceedings initiated in the context of the hostile public takeover offer of Veolia.
- Successfully represented Alain Moussy, CEO of AB Sciences, who was investigated by the AMF sanctions commission for insider trading.
France > Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences Tier 1
The interdisciplinary team at Viguié Schmidt & Associés handles regulatory issues, competition, product liability, and commercial disputes for key players in the pharmaceutical market. Etienne Gouesse advises clients on pre-litigation strategy, and has experience before administrative, civil, and commercial courts. Iñaki Saint-Esteben specialises in antitrust law and indemnification requests for facts involving restriction to competition.Practice head(s):
Etienne Gouesse; Iñaki Saint-Esteben
Key clients
JOHNSON & JOHNSON
INNOVAHEALTHPARTNERS
Work highlights
- Advising Johnson & Johnson Santé Beauté France regarding a private damage claim filed by Carrefour against this company following a decision rendered by the FCA with respect to the home and personal care products industry.
- Advised InnovaHealth Partners on its acquisition of a controlling interest in Koelis, a leadership innovator in the market for image-guided systems for prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment.
France > EU, competition and distribution Tier 2
Viguié Schmidt & Associés has seen an uptick in antitrust litigation and investigation work, including follow-on damages claims. Iñaki Saint-Esteben has recently been active in a case concerning vertical restraint in a recent acquisition and also brought an abuse of dominant position action for food and beverage suppliers before the Polynesian and French authorities and courts. The team also covers investigations by the FCA and European Commission, while Virginie Viallard oversees merger control advice on acquisitions, often collaborating with the corporate team.Practice head(s):
Iñaki Saint-Esteben; Virginie Viallard
Testimonials
‘Team very available and responsive in search of solutions.’
‘Virginie Viallard: availability, responsiveness, search for solutions.’
‘This firm is distinguished by the total involvement of Virginie Viallard in our cases. This allows him to make the link between the activities of the group and current affairs.’
‘This direct and personal involvement in our activity and our files. An excellent knowledge of banking issues in competition law and extensive experience with the group.’
‘A responsive team that is familiar with the legal environment of the subjects and who are attentive. Good advice in general.’
Key clients
Epsys
Mirova/Natixis
Valade
Faurecia / Parrot
Bandai Namco
Johnson & Johnson Santé Beauté France
Domino’s Pizza France
Vinci Construction France
Vinci Energies
Groupe M6
Le Figaro
Galeries Lafayette
NextStage
Sibelco
Work highlights
- Advised Valade on an investigation led by the FCA regarding an alleged anti-competitive agreement and on an appeal against the FCA’s decision.
- Advising beverage suppliers Brasserie du Pacifique and Société de distribution de Polynésie before the Paris Court of Appeal.
- Advising Johnson & Johnson Santé Beauté Franc regarding a private damages claim filed by Carrefour against the client following a decision rendered by the FCA with respect to the home and personal care products industry.
France > Private equity: venture/growth capital Tier 2
Viguié Schmidt & Associés acts as counsel for leading venture capital funds and corporations on a range of sophisticated strategic investments, regularly working across the technology, real estate, and retail sectors. Practice head Louis Chenard works closely with the firm's strong tax team to provide a well-rounded private equity offering, and has particular expertise advising investment funds and promising startups.Practice head(s):
Louis Chenard
Testimonials
‘A team whose level of professionalism is total, seasoned lawyers, absolutely efficient, with an excellent sense of business and strategic issues so that their support is an essential, added value in the execution of deals and the support for companies.’
‘Responsiveness and availability; focus to get the deal closed; pragmatic and solution-driven, not too ‘formalistic’; taking ownership.’
‘Louis Chenard acts as a real team member of his client and takes particular ownership in ‘getting the deal done’.’
‘The team has been supporting us since the launch of our company 2 years ago, and offered us a capped amount for their services, which was essential for our start-up, in terms of predictability and cost containment. Despite our small size, the partner Louis Chenard is very present, which allows us to benefit from a high level of expertise and a personalized follow-up.’
‘Louis Chenard is always present during the calls, involved in all stages of the operation until its finalization.’
‘Louis Chenard: finesse, negotiation kills.’
‘The Viguié Schmidt & Associés team with whom we had the chance to work was perfect. Very professional, but also human, available, and aware of the subjects inherent in our world of innovation, impact and the world of startups.’
‘Louis Chenard led our project in a fantastic way.’
Key clients
IVP
Meritech
Headline (e.ventures)
Pace Capital Fund
Astanor
Alstom
Alter Equity
Caisse des dépôts et consignations
Edenred Capital Partners
Calcium Capital
LBO France
Danone Manifesto Ventures
IDIA (Crédit Agricole)
Revent
LO Capital
Educapital
Work highlights
- Advised Headline in connection with Sorare’s EUR 580m venture capital financing round.
- Advised IVP and Meritech in connection with Pigment’s EUR 70m venture capital financing round.
- Advised Astanor in connection with Umiami’s EUR 27m venture capital financing round.
France > Mergers and acquisitions Tier 4
Practice head(s):
Yves Schmidt; Nicolas Viguié; Louis Chenard
Testimonials
‘A lot of responsiveness, availability and involvement.’
‘Very responsive, intelligent and pleasant team.’
‘We were fortunate to be able to work several times with Louis Chenard. In three words: speed, efficiency and composure, qualities that were greatly appreciated at key moments.’
Key clients
CNP Assurances
Alstom
Sonepar
Nextstage AM
Geodis
Sibelco
Teneo
Caisse des dépôts et consignation
Sony Music Entertainment France
Darewise
Work highlights
- Advised Nextstage AM in the frame of their investment in EurobioNext, a joint venture with two reference shareholders of Eurobio Scientific and aiming at holding a 28.3% stake in Eurobio Scientific (listed on Euronext Paris).
- Advised the board and ad hoc committee of CNP Assurances in the simplified public tender offer of La Banque Postale, a subsidiary of Groupe La Poste, on the shares of the company.
- Advised Darewise and its shareholders on the sale of 70% of the company to Animoca Brands.
France > Tax Tier 4
Viguié Schmidt & Associés' tax team works in close cooperation with the firm’s corporate department. The practice handles a good variety of transactional tax work. It advises on standard mid-cap to complex and larger M&A transactions. The group also regularly assists venture funds with their investments as well as investment funds and managers with private equity deals. Clients include French and international companies. Practice head Christel Alberti is highly regarded. She is supported by senior associate Maxence Dubois.Practice head(s):
Christel Alberti
Testimonials
‘Technical and reliable advice, agility and responsiveness.’
‘The team is very competent.’
‘The tax law team demonstrates a great deal of professionalism and pragmatism. The team also demonstrates great technicality and is extremely available.’
‘Christel Alberti is always available, shows great rigor and responsiveness in sometimes very urgent requests and her advice is always supported by flawless technical knowledge.’
‘Christel Alberti and Maxence Dubois form a duo of formidable competence in all areas of taxation. Christel Alberti has exceptional drafting skills.’
‘Christel Alberti, beyond her broad and undeniable technical skills, has exceptional writing skills. She is also extremely reassuring. She has an excellent ability to extract from pressures that may exist’.
‘Best value for money.’
‘Availability, clarity and great quality of advice’
Key clients
Alstom
Nextstage AM
Geodis
Galeries Lafayette group
Sibelco
Teneo
Caisse des dépôts et consignation
Sony Music Entertainment France
Calcium Capital
HiPay Group (listed on Euronext)
Vendis Capital
Fimalac Entertainment
Sonepar
Alter Equity
LPCR Groupe (Grandir)
LBO France
Headline (e.ventures)
Astanor
Darewise
IVP (Institutional Venture Partners)
Media Participations
Work highlights
- Advised Headline (San Francisco based VC fund) in connection with its investment in SORARE.
- Advised Nexstage AM on its investment in a joint venture holding a significant stake in Eurobio Scientific, listed on Euronext Paris.
- Advised Alstom on the disposal of its Reichsoffen business to CAF.
Viguié Schmidt & Associés > Firm Profile
The lawyers of the firm focus on assisting their clients with their high-stakes matters.
They are experienced professionals with a particular taste for complex negotiations and disputes. They represent their clients before judicial courts, arbitral tribunals and regulatory authorities.
All of the partners are deeply involved in the matters handled by the firm; their thorough knowledge of the market, their actors and practices, adds a strategic dimension to their legal expertise.
Corporate/M&A
A cornerstone of the firm’s activity, this practice encompasses notably acquisitions or mergers involving public or private companies, private equity transactions as well as joint ventures and other strategic agreements.
The firm has a first rate experience in advising on takeovers, whatever the context and sector involved. The firm also advises issuers on a full range of topics specific to listed companies as well as on stock exchange regulation.
The team also assists our clients in matters pertaining to credit and loan agreements, either for the needs of a particular transaction (acquisition or assets financing, refinancing) or in the context of their ordinary course activities.
Restructuring
The firm regularly advises its clients on share capital increases as well as on the issuance of complex securities. It also has a strong expertise in advising its clients on corporate governance matters.
The team also advise corporate officers, shareholders and creditors in the negotiation of restructuring schemes, both amicably (“conciliation”, “mandat ad hoc”) or in the context of insolvency proceedings.
Dispute Resolution
The firm handles large and complex disputes. It has extensive experience in corporate, commercial and securities litigation, notably in shareholders’ actions and M&A-related litigation. The team also acts in commercial arbitrations under a variety of arbitral rules as well as ad hoc arbitrations.
The team advises and represents clients in connection with stock market litigations and market abuses, in particular before the Autorité des marchés financiers (French Stock Markets Authority).
Competition Law
The firm represents clients to secure merger control approval by the French Competition Authority and the European Commission, or to object to a proposed transaction.
The team also assists our clients to ensure compliance of their business practices with antitrust law (cartel and abuse of dominant position) and represent them before the competition authorities and courts.
More generally, the team advises our clients on all questions or project of interest from a competition law perspective, or that may imply restrictive practices.
Tax
The firm advises clients on all the tax aspects of their transactions, in particular in the areas of mergers & acquisitions, LBOs (including management packages) and corporate reorganizations.
It offers general advice and expertise on any aspects of company and individual taxation.
The team also provides assistance in tax audit and litigation.
Tort and Healthcare Products Law
The team advises public and private companies on tort law matters, and assists them in determining a strategy aimed at avoiding possible litigations. We also represent them before civil, administrative and commercial courts.
Our team is active in health products law, helping our clients in understanding applicable regulations and assisting them in the management of litigations and of administrative decisions affecting their activities or products.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate M&A | Louis Chenard | ||
| Corporate M&A | David Scemla | ||
| Corporate M&A | Yves Schmidt | ||
| Corporate M&A | Nicolas Viguié | ||
| Dispute Resolution | Martin Donato | ||
| Dispute Resolution | Etienne Gouesse | ||
| Dispute Resolution | Olivier Loizon | ||
| Dispute Resolution | Yves Schmidt | ||
| Dispute Resolution | Nicolas Viguié | ||
| Restructuring | Martin Donato | ||
| Restructuring | Fabrice Veverka | ||
| Competition Law | Iñaki Saint-Esteben | ||
| Competition Law | Virginie Viallard | ||
| Tax | Christel Alberti | ||
| Tort and Healthcare Products Law | Etienne Gouesse | ||
| Tort and Healthcare Products Law | Iñaki Saint-Esteben |