ZABALDANO AVOCATS > Monaco, Monaco > Firm Profile

ZABALDANO AVOCATS > Firm Profile

The firm: Zabaldano Avocats was set up by Arnaud Zabaldano, a Barrister at the Monaco Bar, practising since 2001. It is a leading Monaco based firm handling complex domestic and international litigation and transactional matters. Zabaldano Avocats represents private clients and ultra-net-worth individuals who require dedication, professionalism and commitment. Originally specialised in litigation, the firm has rapidly built a solid corporate and transactional practice group as well as consolidating a substantial real estate and construction group. The wide scope of competencies and in-depth knowledge of the team enables the firm to create a synergy between its different practices and draw from the expertise and know-how of each of its lawyers to best serve its clients on complex, cutting-edge matters, combining legal excellence, availability and innovation. The firm regularly collaborates with magic circle firms on cross-border matters.

Areas of practice: The multi-disciplinary team have extensive experience in practice areas such as banking and finance, commercial and business law, international law, real estate and construction as well as employment law and criminal law.

Dispute resolution and litigation: the team is led by the founding partner Arnaud Zabaldano and assisted by several senior associates. The firm has a first class and fully fledged litigation practice. Providing exceptional client care constitutes a major priority for the team. The key players are: Valerie Zoccola, who has an extensive track record in representing and advising clients on matters relating to family law, wealth management and inheritance, enforcement of foreign decisions, estate planning and private international law. Cecile Peltier-Gauci, who has gained solid experience and expertise in real estate litigation and construction law as well as in civil procedures. Sophie Couturier, an internationally educated lawyer who tackles civil, penal and white-collar criminal cases of both local and international dimensions. Valérie Mufraggi, an experienced lawyer acknowledged for her professionalism handling complex employment cases. Nicolas Robert, a senior lawyer who has extensive experience in Monaco and handles complex real estate and commercial law matters

Real estate and construction: the team is led by the founding partner Arnaud Zabaldano and senior associate, Cécile Peltier-Gauci. Cécile Peltier-Gauci is a leading Monaco based senior associate who has acquired solid experience in real estate issues, construction and civil procedures. They are able to provide an array of expert legal services including project support, counselling, dispute avoidance and litigation in all real estate and construction matters and offer a complete and comprehensive service handling complex cases for a broad range of clients – promoters, constructors, landowners and tenants – acting in their long-term interests.

Corporate/M&A: the team has developed a particular know-how in corporate and commercial law and transactional matters across borders, jurisdictions and practice areas. The team is best known for its ability to represent and advise institutional clients, domestic and foreign companies, ultra-net-worth individuals and other private clients, as well as family offices.

Recent hires include managing associate Fabrice Garcin who specializes in corporate governance issues (shareholders’ agreements, executive compensation…), negotiation and drafting of commercial contracts (distribution contracts, service contracts, terms of sale) and the valuation and protection of their intangible assets.

Private client, ultra-net-worth individuals and family offices practice group: the team is led by Arnaud Zabaldano and Valérie Zoccola. Valerie Zoccola is a leading Monaco based senior associate with an extensive track record in the area of family law, civil procedures and private international law. She tackles complex cases of both local and international dimensions. The firm represents and advises clients on matters relating to all the aspects of family law, wealth management and inheritance, enforcement of foreign decisions, estate planning and private international law. The team meets its clients’ specific needs on the personal, business, legal, contentious and non-contentious issues they face, through its solid experience and its broad perspective.

Lawyer Profiles

Photo	Name	Position	Profile
	Me Arnaud CHEYNUT	Arnaud CHEYNUT is Lawyer in Zabaldano Lawyers in Monaco. He is a…	View Profile
	Mrs Sophie COUTURIER	Sophie Couturier is Managing Associate in charge of the Criminal law and…	View Profile
	Mr Fabrice GARCIN	Fabrice is Managing Associate in charge of the Business Law Advisory department.…	View Profile
	Miss Pierrine GIORNI	Pierrine GIORNI is Associate in the Criminal law and Human Rights department…	View Profile
	Mrs Valerie MUFRAGGI	Valerie Mufraggi is Managing Associate in charge of the Employment law department…	View Profile
	Mrs Cecile PELTIER-GAUCI	Cecile Peltier-Gauci is Managing Associate in charge of the Real Estate department…	View Profile
	Mr Nicolas ROBERT	Nicolas ROBERT is Managing Associate in charge of the Private and Public…	View Profile
	Mrs Valerie ZOCCOLA	Valerie Zoccola is Managing Associate in charge of the Private Clients department…	View Profile

Interviews

Arnaud Zabaldano, Managing Partner, Zabaldano Avocats

Managing Partner and founder, Arnaud ZABALDANO, explains how his law firm is adapting to clients’ changing needs.

What do you see as the main points that differentiate Zabaldano Avocats from your competitors?

Commitment to excellence combined with forceful litigation. Our accomplished, multidisciplinary team offers our clients a broad range of high-quality dispute resolution services and carefully designed strategies to achieve the best outcome in high profile corporate, commercial, civil law and criminal matters.

Our team have acquired extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of Monaco and international law and is also fluent in a range of languages. In addition to French and English, our team also speaks Russian, German and Italian, allowing us to work effectively with our international clients.

Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?

Due to the ever-increasing client base and client needs, we will be extending our Business Criminal Law, Labour law, Real Estate and Construction, Private international law (family, estates and successions) and Corporate departments. The firm has been constantly growing since its inception and will continue its expansion in the coming year.

Regulatory matters, especially with respect to Anti-Money Laundering and counterterrorist financing have evolved a lot recently and this practice is likely to continue growing in the coming year especially concerning the freezing of assets.

What’s the main change you’ve made in the firm that will benefit clients?

We have built up our business advisory side and can offer clients sound advice for contract law, setting up new businesses and pushing forward business negotiations.

Our specialized teams work together to provide clients a full range of legal services providing accurate up to date advice on current legal issues.

Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?

We are constantly researching and testing best solutions to assist in our work and make due diligence processes more efficient.

We use tools specifically adapted for law firms and files management

Further to the Covid crisis, we have adapted our tools to be able to operate entirely remotely if needed, to cope with our client’s travelling constraints efficiently and effectively.

Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?

In the course of June 2021, we were required to assist one of our HNWI clients, for the acquisition of a property in London, via a civil company under Monegasque law and various offshore entities; our intervention consisted in structuring the transaction and drafting and reviewing the legal documentation relating to the financing and the related guarantees to ensure their compatibility with Monegasque Law. We helped to secure the overall transaction in the client’s best interest through tough negotiations with overseas law firms.

Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms – where do you see the firm in three years’ time?

We are confident that our firm will strengthen its position as a leader in all aspects of white-collar crime, Labour law and private client litigation and will remain the go-to firm for established corporate clients and start-ups alike, looking for first-class corporate and business advice.

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