Bird & Bird

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Géraldine Arbant

Geraldine's practice encompasses the full spectrum of transactional and advisory IP work, brand management and IP litigation.She assists clients with the protection of their intellectual property, including filing and registering trademarks, drawings and models, patents and creations covered by copyright; licence agreements, order agreements, manufacturing and distribution agreements, various consultations, audit and defending their IP against infringement, unfair competition and employees’ actions before the French courts and international tribunals. Geraldine's clients are drawn from the Life Sciences, Food & Beverages, Automotive and Tech & Comms sectors.In addition to her IP practice, Geraldine also advises clients on the implementation and development of their activities, including commercial law, data protection, outsourcing and commercial litigation and supports clients in setting up customer service provider relations.She regularly hosts conferences, teaches intellectual property at DJCE in Montpellier and at EM Lyon, and publishes articles in various specialised magazines.

Yves is renowned for his extensive experience in patent litigation. Yves is the partner who leads our Intellectual Property group in France. He is based in our Paris office. With more than 25 years' experience in IP, Yves has extensive experience in litigation. He has dealt with some of the most significant, cross border, patent cases in the fields of pharmaceuticals, electronics, telecommunications and mechanics. Yves also led the establishment of our Lyon office in 2006, making Bird & Bird the first Anglo Saxon law firm to practice in Lyon. Before joining us, Yves was an IP partner at Lamy Véron & Associés. He is a Professor at CEIPI (Strasbourg), a lecturer at Centre Paul Roubier and regularly teaches at Montpellier Law University.

Carole is a partner in the Corporate group in Paris, where she is involved in M&A and private equity transactions. Carole regularly advises French and international companies, investment funds and institutional investors on their M&A transactions. She also advises corporate funds, investment funds and start-ups on private equity transactions (venture capital, development capital).

Romain de Ménonville

Romain is a partner in the Restructuring & Insolvency department in Paris. He assists creditors and debtors at all stages of amicable and collective proceedings.

Jessica Derocque

Jessica is a partner in the Banking and Finance department in Paris. I am particularly involved in LBO and corporate finance transactions. I advise lenders (debt funds, mezzanine funds or banks), borrowers or sponsors in their LBO or corporate financing transactions, with a national or international dimension. I also have significant experience in debt restructurings where I have advised lenders on several lenders' led transactions.

Nathalie Devernay

Nathalie is an experienced employment lawyer with a clear international and client focused vision. She advises international corporations in both individual and collective French employment law matters, such as contracts of employment and internal regulations, termination procedures, post termination obligations and business protection, as well compensation schemes.Nathalie regularly advises on international mobility, transfers of employees, corporate transactions and restructuring plans, including cross border matters. She also assists clients before French courts in litigations related to employment issues.

Jil’s practice covers international business law, notably related to the Arab world and Europe, and more specifically in the field of international disputes and foreign investments. Having acted as a counsel, arbitrator and expert in about 100 cases, Jil has strong experience in managing international disputes and particularly disputes regarding shareholders and securities suits, class actions, breach of negotiations, bank guarantees. The type of business his practice includes relates to the trade of commodities, telecom markets, port concessions, construction industry and sport; etc. With a solid academic background (degrees in law, finance and political science), he is well regarded from a scientific standpoint. He is Lebanon’s UNCITRAL Representative and a member of the ICC Court. Also, he chairs the European Branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and is the vice-chair of the IBA Arab Regional Forum. A regular speaker at numerous international arbitration conferences, Jalal is the author of various articles and the co-author of Arbitration with the Arab Countries (Kluwer, 2011). He is also managing editor of the International Journal of Arab Arbitration, available on www.kluwerarbitration.com and www.intljaa.com. In 2019, he will publish a book on Arbitration Law in France, with Professor Daniel Mainguy (LexisNexis). Jalal is also a lecturer in arbitration law at the Versailles University and SciencesPo Paris (IEP).

Benjamine Fiedler

Benjamine is a reputed employment specialist with particular focus on M&A transactions, outsourcing and restructuring projects Benjamine is a partner in our Employment Group based in Paris. Since April 2000 she has led the employment department in Paris and she is also Co-Head of our International Employment Group. Focusing on employment and social security law, she generally assists her clients in both individual and collective employment law matters, particularly restructuring operations and collective negotiations. Benjamine has also developed specific expertise in cross-border transactions and their effects on employees, including outsourcing, restructuring, union negotiations and compensation strategies. Benjamine appears regularly before civil and employment courts in France. She is the author of a number of articles on employment law, notably on the subject of information technology and regularly speaks at conferences.

Anne-Cécile Hansson

Anne-Cécile has built a unique practice advising French, Swedish and Nordic clients on a broad range of corporate and commercial issues. Anne-Cécile is a partner in our International Corporate Group, based in Paris. Working with clients from the industrial, life sciences and new technologies sectors, her practice is focused on advising French, Swedish and Nordic companies on corporate and commercial law issues. Anne-Cécile has particular expertise in mergers and acquisitions, cross border transactions, investments, restructurings, as well as the negotiation and drafting of commercial agreements. Her practice also involves commercial and civil litigation, labour and employment law. Before joining us in 2014, Anne-Cécile worked for Jones Day in Paris for twelve years.

Cathie-Rosalie Joly

Cathie-Rosalie provides both legal advice and acts in regulatory litigation. She has developed solid experience in regulatory and prudential matters (licensing or exemption procedures, freedom to provide services or freedom of establishment regime, declaration of agents, distributors or intermediaries, drafting of complex contractual agreements including outsourcing, implementation of internal procedures, compliance, anti-money laundering and combating terrorist financing, internal control, management of conflict of interest intra group, banking secret, etc.). She also advises her clients concerning the payment systems (EDI, Swift net, Target II, Euro 1) and the requirements of professional rules, especially PCI-DSS, PA-DSS. With a leading position in supporting projects linked to new technologies, Cathie-Rosalie draws from more than 10 years' experience, representing both new disruptive players operating in Fintech, RegTech and Insurtech sector and banks, financial institutions or insurers in the development of innovative services (e-payment, electronic money, prepaid cards, mobile, banking, blockchain, crowdfunding, crowdlending, crowdequity, payment initiation services, account information services, investment platforms, robot advisory, online KYC, etc.). She also assists her clients in the implementation of their dematerialisation projects of contracts, electronic/biometric signature, strong authentication, cybersecurity, data protection, outsourcing, cloud computing and artificial intelligence. Cathie-Rosalie supports her clients as they develop their presence in both Europe and French speaking Africa.

Thierry Lautier

I am a partner in the Paris IP team. I am a patent litigator with a dual legal and engineering background (optics, electronics). I am qualified as both a French attorney-at-law and a European patent attorney.

Anne-Charlotte Le-Bihan

Anne-Charlotte has significant experience in both contentious and non-contentious intellectual property matters, developed over the past 15 years. While her major forte is patent litigation, notably in the pharmaceutical, electronics and telecommunications sectors, she also has vast experience in soft IP matters. Within this area she notably advises major pharmaceutical, luxury, sports and electrical goods companies on sensitive trademark and design related matters. Anne-Charlotte regularly advises clients in negotiating IP related contracts. She also advises her clients on pharmaceutical regulatory questions. Anne-Charlotte teaches Intellectual Property Law at the Universities of Paris II Panthéon Assas and Orsay Paris Sud. She is a regular speaker at major legal and industry conferences such as ABA, LESI, or ABPI. She is the author of many legal articles among which SPCs: Three new pillars buttress case-law, (Revue Propriété Industrielle, March 2014). MIP ranks her as an "IP Star".

Stéphane Leriche

Stéphane provides cutting edge, business-oriented advice on all aspects of technology transactions and partnerships Stéphane is a partner in ourCommercial and IT Groups, based in Paris. His specific interests include the drafting and negotiation of commercial contracts in the Information Technology, Communications and eCommerce sectors. His current practice is focused on high profile transactions and strategic partnerships, advising major companies in structuring their strategic alliances, joint ventures , IT and business process outsourcing deals. Stéphane has extensive experience of complex and structured contractual arrangements, particularly in regulated environments. In addition to his transactional work, Stéphane’s advises on copyright issues related to the protection of technology assets such as software and databases in both contentious and non-contentious matters. Stéphane regularly contributes to publications on information technology-related matters and is a frequent speaker at conference on such matters.

Bertrand is specialized in M&A transactions and more particularly in LBO transactions. He advises French and foreign investment funds as well as corporations for their acquisitions or divestment processes in France or abroad. Bertrand also focuses in the Tech sector and assists his clients for their M&A Tech transactions. Bertrand has been involved in very high profile LBO and M&A transactions, giving him significant expertise in the French market.

Benjamin Lichtlé

Benjamin is a partner in charge of the French tax practice, advising and assisting our clients on all aspects of taxation and has a strong expertise in group taxation. Benjamin has extensive experience of group taxation, advising on all transactions in a domestic and international context. His clients operate in a variety of sectors, including chemicals, engineering, healthcare and retail. Benjamin also manages multidisciplinary teams in different countries for large-scale reorganisations of international groups in project mode. He regularly performs audit assignments and has extensive experience in the tax structuring of acquisition transactions.

With vast experience in a wide range of transactions, Gildas specialises in mergers and acquisitions as well as private equity in France and Africa. Gildas is a Partner in our International Corporate Group. He is based in Paris where he acts as head of the Corporate Group in France. He advises both public and private French and foreign groups, from the industrial or services sectors, on their M&A operations – including sales, acquisitions, Joint Ventures, majority or minority investments, and reorganisations. Gildas heads our African Group in Paris. This dedicated team advises on the risks and opportunities related to M&A projects in Africa. The Group represents corporations, private equity investors, governments and State-owned entities.

David Malcoiffe

David is a leading corporate lawyer advising on mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures and private equity transactions. David is a partner in the Corporate Group in our Paris and Lyon offices. With training and expertise in both corporate and tax law, David has extensive experience in advising purchasers/sellers in national and international M&A transactions. He also advises investment funds and start-up companies in private equity and venture capital transactions, including the drafting and negotiation of term sheets, share/asset purchase agreements, investment and shareholders’ agreements, joint venture and merger agreements and the coordination and undertaking of (cross border) due diligence procedures. In addition, David regularly advises clients on corporate reorganisations and assists companies and managers with laws of corporation and corporate governance matters. He is a regular speaker at seminars regarding corporate and tax laws, including those held by the Chartered Accountant Association.

Boris is the partner in charge of the Banking and Finance department in Paris. As a partner in our Paris office, Boris advises funds, banks, sponsors and public authorities on the structuring, allocation and financing of infrastructure and energy projects in Europe and Africa.

Ariane is renowned for her in-depth knowledge of data protection matters and advising some of the world’s most innovative and technologically advanced companies Ariane is joint head of our International Data Protection Group and is one of the leading lawyers in personal data protection law. She is based in our Paris office. Ariane advises French and international companies and public services clients on all aspects of personal data protection and privacy, particularly international data transfers and businesses, monitoring at work and data protection issues. She also assists her clients with their relationships with the CNIL and with other national or local Data Protection Authorities. She advises clients on technologies, privacy and individual liberties and on the application of personal data protection laws, audits of information systems and compliance of data processing systems. A member of the Paris Bar since 1995, Ariane previously worked within the Legal Department of the French Data Protection Authority (CNIL) focusing on international matters before becoming an expert to the DG XIII of the European Union Commission where she helped to draft the 1995 Directive on Personal Data Protection. In 2008, Ariane was admitted as a Legal Expert to the EuroPriSe project launched by the EU Commission, allowing her to offer assessments to manufacturers and vendors of IT products and IT-based services in order to obtain EuroPriSe privacy certification. In June 2012, CNIL awarded her the "label CNIL”, for her data protection training seminar, "Loi Informatique et Libertés - le regime juridique des traitements et des fichiers". She is a frequent speaker at data protection related conferences and training seminars. She is also a regular contributor to newspapers and specialist legal magazines.

Nicolas Morelli

Nicolas advises on all stages of financial and industrial restructurings, from consensual workouts to litigation involving distressed companies.His practice covers insolvency law, both as an advisor and as a litigator. In addition, Nicolas has a strong expertise in complex commercial litigation.

Thomas specialises in competition law, having significant experience in helping clients to avoid competition law pitfalls and representing them in proceedings before the competition authorities. His practice covers both contentious and non-contentious national and European competition law, together with commercial and distribution law.Thomas has substantial experience of advising on cartel investigations and assisting companies in preparing leniency applications before the European Commission and the French Competition Authority. He helps to develop and implement competition compliance programs and provides assistance in notifications of transactions to the European Commission under the EC Merger Regulation and to the French Competition Authority.Thomas’ experience of competition law covers different angles, having worked in practice, in house and having done an internship at the French Competition Authority. Prior to joining Bird & Bird he worked for 14 years in the Paris office of a major global law firm.On the commercial side, Thomas has experience of advising clients on the structuring of selective, exclusive or franchise distribution networks across Europe, as well as advising on supplier-distributors relationships and sales regulations. He also regularly assists clients in relation to product liability issues.Thomas regularly participates in seminars and conferences and is the author of several articles on competition law.

Emmanuelle Porte

Emmanuelle is co-managing partner of Bird & Bird France.Emmanuelle advises companies and venture capital funds on fund-raising processes, M&A transactions, private placements and IPOs.She specialises in venture capital, M&A and corporate finance transactions within the Life Sciences & Healthcare sector. She focuses in particular on clients in the biotech, medtech and healthcare industries, although she also works for clients in the Tech & Comms sector. Emmanuelle's practice frequently involves advising small to mid-size corporate clients on fundraising processes, both within the French market and overseas. Her expertise includes advising start-ups and those selling new technologies on M&A, private placements and IPOs as well as general corporate and commercial matters.

Anne-Florence Raducault

Anne-Florence has a particular interest in the civil and criminal risks in industrial public firms, especially on matters related to responsibilities in these fields. Her practice encompasses public administration, government departments and private firms, on both nationally and internationally. Anne-Florence advices on litigation cases before the Courts of first degree or Appeal Courts together with civil, criminal and public issues cases before the Administrative Courts.In addition, Anne-Florence advises on tort and criminal cases together with claims for damages; commercial cases; shareholder claims and cases based on contractual links and contract law, especially related to international contract or foreign contract policies.She is a regular speaker at conferences for public and private firms on torts, risks and civil or criminal liability, Anne-Florence draws upon her experience of European issues, particularly on recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters.Anne-Florence conducts audits on criminal risks for public and private companies and works on criminal risks prevention with her clients; she wrote a book aimed to business leaders to help them understand their personal risks and the organisation of the internal prevention of risks.

Djazia Tiourtite

Djazia is a partner in our Dispute Resolution Group in Paris, taking a pragmatic approach to litigation, combined with in-depth expertise in the French rules of civil procedure in all aspects of litigation (mediation, negotiation, trial and enforcement). She has been practising as a qualified litigator since 2008, mainly assisting international companies in their disputes. Her expertise covers a wide range of commercial and liability disputes (unfair competition, distribution, breach of contract, breach of established contractual relationships, IT and industrial project failure, technical intermediary liability, e-reputation, cyber security) for clients from the IT, media, energy and utilities, and communications sectors. Djazia has a deep understanding of all the latest trends in technology and communications and a real appetite for innovation, which gives her real added value in all technology and communications-related disputes. These skills enable him to provide clients with efficient and successful assistance in their disputes.

Jean-Claude Vecchiatto

Jean-Claude is a partner in the Banking and Finance department and is responsible for the aerospace and defence practice in the Paris office. Jean-Claude has developed a rare expertise and in-depth knowledge of the defence and aerospace sector, providing legal advice on numerous projects, including satellites and communication systems. His role in the negotiation of several high-profile projects, such as the Skynet refinancing, the UK FSTA and MFTS projects and the Galileo programme, gives him a deep understanding of the specifics of such projects, including technology, obsolescence, licensing, intellectual property and defence procurement. He has also acquired a rare expertise in negotiations with the European Investment Bank and with governments in the framework of repayable advances.

Alexandre Vuchot

Alexandre’s breadth of experience enables him to provide his clients with strategic commercial solutions. Alexandre is a partner in our International Commercial Group, based in Paris. With both French and English postgraduate qualifications in commercial and corporate law, Alexandre has extensive experience of transactional matters. He is able to offer comprehensive advice on all aspects of general business law including supply and manufacturing agreements; standard terms and conditions of supply and purchase; sales; joint ventures; co-operation and collaboration agreements; strategic partnerships; and procurement and outsourcing, particularly in the telecoms, media, IT, internet and ecommerce sectors. His practice also includes advertising, marketing, sales promotion and sponsoring matters and he specialises in broadcasting and media regulation. In addition, Alexandre advises and acts on real estate matters for institutional investors, in relation to acquisition of buildings, as well as the preparation of leases and provide assistance for negotiating, renegotiating or terminating commercial leases. He has significant experience in drafting and negotiating property development agreements, agreements for delegation or assistance in project management, or general construction contracts. Complementing his commercial expertise, Alexandre leads our initiatives to support entrepreneurs in the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) sector, using this experience to assist our clients in the implementation of their CSR initiatives.

Sibylle is an experienced renewable energy specialist with a deep knowledge of the French and German market, advising developers, investors and financial institutions on all aspects of their renewable energy projects, including their financing Sibylle assists energy projects from their inception, combining legal aspects with strategic, tax and economic issues. Sibylle advises energy producers on all aspects of the development process and the contracts to be put in place, including the marketing of energy. She assists investors in the acquisition of renewable energy projects (wind farms, solar energy, biogas and biomass) and hydrogen. She is mandated by the banks on all aspects of project financing and prepares the legal documentation in French, German and English (loan agreements and securities, legal opinions). Her expertise also includes drafting corporate PPAs, preparing due diligence reports and negotiating FIDIC and EPC contracts as well as technical and commercial management contracts. Sibylle works closely with Bird & Bird's other Energy & Utilities specialists, as well as with Bird & Bird's Corporate, Commercial, Banking & Finance teams in France, Germany and internationally. Sibylle leads Bird & Bird's international hydrogen group, is a member of the Syndicat des Energies Renouvelables (SER) and France Energie Eolienne (FEE) and was a member of the steering committee of the Office Franco-Allemand des Energies Renouvelables (OFAENR). She is qualified as a lawyer in France and as a Rechtsanwältin in Germany.