The 'agile, committed' team at Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. routinely assists sponsors, financing banks and management teams with small, medium and large-cap transactions. The group, which is noted by one client for its experience advising company founders and managers, is directed by Olivier Diaz, who specialises in M&A, private equity operations, securities law, and corporate governance. Additional key contacts for private equity mandates include Caroline Lan, noted for her 'exceptional professional and interpersonal qualities'; Jean-François LouitAntoine de la Gatinais, and Paul de France.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Jean-François Louit, Manon Volle-Lenoir, Paul de France, Valentin Lefebvre, Oumnia Benkirane - skills in a wide range of areas; listening; availability; quality and relevance of advice.'

  • ‘An agile, committed team with a real sense of ethics! The complementarity of Jean François Louit and Caroline Lan is the main asset of this team.'

  • ‘Gide's private equity team is particularly specialized in company founders and directors. This is a real differentiator because they know how to talk to individual shareholders. Jean-François Louit and Caroline Lan form an excellent tandem on the corporate aspects. Paul de France completes brilliantly with the tax part.'

  • ‘Gide's PE team is very efficient, reliable and responsive. Communication is very easy and the service provided is of very good quality.'

  • ‘Charles de Reals is an outstanding partner, calm but firm during negotiations, and with extensive knowledge. Corentin Charlès is also an excellent young partner, reliable, organized and calm.'

  • ‘One of the best Private Equity and LBO teams in Paris, whose partners have a rare level of investment in transactions, great technicality and an extremely efficient working method.'

  • ‘Caroline Lan: exceptional professional and interpersonal qualities, total involvement in her files with a thorough understanding of the issues of the transaction (economic, legal, tax) and an ability to go into detail about LBO models and commercial agreements, a real ability to find concrete solutions. Probably the best lawyer I have had the chance to work with.'

Key clients

  • Believe
  • Five Arrows
  • Saverglass
  • KKR
  • Flowbird
  • Vallourec
  • Gresb
  • Axdis
  • Big mamma Group
  • April
  • Primonial
  • Hysetco
  • Onestock
  • Credit Mutuel Impact

Work highlights

  • Advised Believe on a deal that values the company at €15 per share (€1.5bn).
  • Advised Saverglass and its management on the sale of the company's controlling stake by Carlyle.
  • Co-advised on the French part of the take private LBO of US listed chemical manufacturer Chase Corporation.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Olivier Diaz

Other key lawyers

Jean-François Louit, Manon Volle-Lenoir, Paul de France, Valentin Lefebvre, Oumnia Benkirane, Caroline Lan, Charles de Reals, Corentin Charlès, Antoine de la Gatinais