ARTICLE · 05 FEBRUARY 2026

Securing Strategic Sectors: Insights From McDermott's Defense & Essential Infrastructure Roundtable

McDermott Will & Schulte

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In October 2025, McDermott Will & Schulte hosted its Defense & Essential Infrastructure Roundtable, convening leading voices from across government, industry...

United KingdomGovernment, Public Sector

Bertrand Delafaye

Romain Desmonts

Guillaume Kellner

Charlotte Michellet

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In October 2025, McDermott Will & Schulte hosted its Defense & Essential Infrastructure Roundtable, convening leading voices from across government, industry, and finance to discuss the challenges facing Europe's most sensitive sectors.

The session featured insights from McDermott partners Sabine Naugès, Bertrand Delafaye, Charlotte Michellet, Guillaume Kellner, Romain Desmonts and Romain Perray, who examined how organisations can anticipate regulatory shifts, manage information security, access financing, address fiscal constraints, and strengthen resilience in an era of heightened geopolitical and technological risk.

We were delighted to welcome Nathalie Grimbert, Head of the SME Support Office for the Defence Industrial and Technological Base (BITD) within the Directorate General of Armament (DGA) at the French Ministry of Defence, who shared valuable insights into the government's role in reviewing foreign investment applications and safeguarding national

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