Firm Profile > Villechenon > Paris, France
Villechenon Offices
5 RUE DE LA BOÉTIE
75008 PARIS
France
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Villechenon > The Legal 500 Rankings
Private equity: venture/growth capital Tier 2
French boutique Villechenon has an established practice in the space. In addition to its original focus on advising companies and managers, the group has an impressive track record handling investor-side matters and benefits from its wide network in the French venture capital space. The team handles the life cycle of deals, from development - including seed fundraising, and fundraisings rounds - through to potential company sales or an initial public offering. The presence of an in-house tax team adds another string to the practice's impressive bow. Isabelle Burel-Blasoni, Morgan Hunault-Berret, Erwan Tostivint and Alexander Kotopoulis are practice heads. Tristan Segonds is also recommended.
Testimonials
‘The team provides a high quality of service. The team can expertly and rapidly handle both significantly sized and smaller transactions, whether exclusively domestic or international in nature. The team’s experience and its knowledge of the market practices are excellent.‘
‘Beyond her technical skills and the customer service she provides, Morgan Hunault-Berret has extensive experience in complex transactions, with an ability to quickly assess the global perspective, and with the foremost goal of meeting the needs of her clients. In both national and international transactions, she is proactive and truly a deal maker who quickly grasps a transaction’s business issues. She is also well connected within the venture and growth capital ecosystem.‘
‘Tristan Segonds possesses great knowledge and an excellent understanding of the stakes involved for corporate investors when investing in start-ups alongside investment funds.‘
Key clients
Axa Venture Partners
CM-CIC Investissement
Cathay Innovation
Crocus
Ekinops
Gimv
Orange Digital Ventures
Prime Ventures
Serena Capital
WildBunch
Villechenon > Firm Profile
The firm
Villechenon was created in 1979. It is a niche business law firm focused on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, venture capital, tax and employment law.
It is consistently ranked by specialist publications as a leading firm in M&A, private equity and venture capital and, in the past year alone, has advised clients on more than 50 deals (including leveraged buyouts, growth capital and venture capital transactions).
The firm of eight partners and 18 other fee earners advises French and international investment funds on their transactions as well as a wide range of companies, from startups in the technology or biotech space to more traditional industrial groups.
Its expertise ranges from advising on venture capital and private equity transactions (including equity and debt fundraisings, mezzanine financing and leveraged buyouts) to mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and initial public offerings (IPOs).
Villechenon accompanies clients on transactions from deal structuring (with its specialist tax and employment teams in particular) to execution, but it also follows clients with their day-to-day issues, such as commercial contracts, human resources or specialist advice on VAT and other indirect taxes.
Areas of practice
Venture capital/growth capital/leveraged buyouts (LBOs): this is the area where Villechenon’s expertise and reputation are the strongest. Recent highlights include acting for Siparex and Crédit Agricole on their LBO on Apside, existing shareholders and management on the Theradial MBO led by UI Gestion and EPF partners on the sale of independent private equity firm EPF to Apax.
Mergers and acquisitions/cross-border transactions: the firm is consistently ranked as a market leader for mid-market transactions, both French and cross-border. The firm’s international experience is particularly valued by clients. Recent highlights include acting for group Hachette on its takeover of IsCool Entertainment and group CNIM on its acquisition of Group Winlight.
Tax: the firm regularly advises clients (funds and managers) on deal structuring issues, including real estate-related transactions, and day-to-day tax management for international groups, small and midcap companies, as well as for major publicly listed entities. The tax department has developed a specific expertise in private equity-related tax issues, and wealth planning. The firm is also recognised for its VAT expertise and other indirect taxes in all sectors of activity. In this framework, the firm assists clients in matters relating to French and international law during tax audits, and before judicial and administrative courts.
General corporate: Villechenon assists clients on day-to-day issues and, as such, provides company secretarial services to hundreds of companies, from startups to listed groups. It also regularly advises clients on the implementation of French or international incentive plans (including employee stock-option plans, warrants, share purchase or free share plans, etc).
Securities/capital markets: the firm acts on initial public offerings (IPOs) and on subsequent financial transactions (including shares, hybrid securities or debt issuances) but also on de-listings. It also advises public companies on their obligations throughout their lives as listed companies. Recent highlights include advising Ekinops on market transactions in connection with its acquisition of OneAccess.
Employment: the firm advises clients on employment law issues for day-to-day HR management issues including redundancies, collective bargaining agreements, and setting up works councils or staff representatives. The firm also assists clients in connection with employment law related audits and before labour and administrative courts.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private equity/venture capital/ M&A/capital markets | Isabelle Burel-Blasoni | ||
| Private equity/venture capital/ M&A/capital markets | Morgan Hunault-Berret | ||
| Private equity/venture capital/ M&A/capital markets | Francis Pinot de Villechenon | ||
| Private equity/venture capital/ M&A/capital markets | Gilles Roux | ||
| Private equity/venture capital/ M&A/capital markets | Tristan Segonds | ||
| Private equity/venture capital/ M&A/capital markets | Erwan Tostivint | ||
| Tax | Eric Hebras | ||
| Employment | Catherine Nahmias Ferrandini |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
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Mme Isabelle Burel-Blasoni | View Profile | |
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Mr Eric Hebras | View Profile | |
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Mme Morgan Hunault-Berret | View Profile | |
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Mr Francis Pinot de Villechenon | View Profile | |
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Mr Gilles Roux | View Profile | |
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Mr Tristan Segonds | View Profile | |
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Mr Erwan Tostivint | View Profile |