Charles Russell Speechlys LLP — France

About

The firm: Charles Russell Speechlys is an international law firm with a focus on private capital, at the intersection of personal, family and business. The firm offers a broad range of skills and collective legal expertise and experience with an international outlook across the full spectrum of business and personal needs. The firm is built on trusted, personal relationships with clients, guiding them through their most pressing challenges and rewarding opportunities. Charles Russell Speechlys achieves this by getting to the heart of clients’ needs to bring them the best-fit solutions – based on years of experience, collective legal expertise and global reach. Being personally invested has made the firm a leader in the world of dynamic growth and family businesses, and among the world’s leading creators and owners of private wealth and their families. Major corporates and institutions benefit from their personalised approach as they embed themselves in the teams of their clients. Working alongside them and connecting them with the right people across the firm to help them excel in new opportunities. The firm is headquartered in London with offices across the UK, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. When working with individuals and businesses that operate in a single country or across borders, the firm will put together the perfect team – pulling from their sector and geographical expertise and partnerships with the best law firms across the world covering 200 legal jurisdictions. From our Paris office, we offer a comprehensive range of legal and tax services. We can advise companies, investors and family groups, as well as executives, management teams and private individuals. Offering French business law and tax advice, we can help with the national and international structuring of operations and protection of personal and business assets. We currently advise: private and listed companies on their national or cross-border transactions and on French and international taxation private investors and family groups on their investments and the creation of legal entities to manage and protect those investments wealthy individuals and families on the full range of personal legal needs - from wealth planning to family matters - private and listed companies and their managers on the resolution of disputes companies and large international groups on all issues related to French employment law concerning their operations in France, on both an individual and organisation basis. We provide clear analysis, responsive and practical advice and, above all, we put our client's needs first to deliver a truly personal service. Our legal skills, commercial awareness and teamwork will ensure their commercial and legal needs are fully covered. - Types of work undertaken Corporate: Our corporate team offers a comprehensive range of legal services. We work with both public and privately owned companies, entrepreneurs and family groups, as well as their shareholders, executives and management teams. Our advice in M&A and private equity covers the full scope of corporate activities, from structuring, growth capital and acquisitions to reorganisations and sales. Our team's M&A work encompasses French and cross-border acquisitions and divestments, complex reorganisations and restructurings, corporate rescues and distressed transactions. Our highly experienced private equity team has an in-depth knowledge of advising on legal, tax and financing aspects of private equity transactions including MBOs, MBIs, secondary buy-outs and exits. Their experience includes advising French and international investment funds on the acquisition and disposal of their investments as well as management teams, on both legal and tax aspects, in such transactions. Other areas on which we advise include: - corporate governance, commercial contracts legal, tax structuring and due diligence advice in relation to the acquisition of companies and assets (including real estate) contentious issues arising out of commercial contracts, licensing agreements, competition issues, and the establishment and tax structuring of entities including private equity, venture capital and real estate funds. Corporate tax: Our corporate tax team helps create tax frameworks which stand the test of time, adaptable to changes within our client's business or outside it. From large scale projects to bespoke advice on discreet matters, our team has the expertise to support them. We advise on the tax implications of company transactions such as the acquisition or disposal of businesses, reorganisations and the use of innovative structure to hold assets. We also advise on tax disputes with tax authorities, VAT matters and the taxation of real estate. Our team advises on changes in tax legislation and reforms that may impact the sectors that our client is active in. Bringing together experts in our UK, Luxembourg and Swiss offices we can also advise on international tax matters, working closely with other trusted advisers. We like to build partnerships with our clients. We treat all of our clients in the same way, starting with getting to know them thoroughly. This means our solutions are tailored for each client's needs. Corporate restructuring and insolvency: Our team in Paris offers pragmatic solutions to the operational and financial legal issues one may face, both nationally and internationally, by assisting in deciding between various options available. With the support of a global network of well-known professionals and an in-depth knowledge of cross-border bankruptcy proceedings and jurisdictions, our team can provide our client with the best advice to manage complex situations. Our team advises and assists debtors, creditors, shareholders and managers on all legal issues related to corporate restructuring, in a contentious or non-contentious context: Restructuring of companies or groups: acquisitions and disposals of businesses and assets, implementation of exit strategies, optimisation of legal structures, etc Debt restructuring: renegotiation of debts, purchase of receivables under a continuation plan, assistance in securing loans through appropriate guarantees Assisting and presenting takeover bids for shares, business assets of companies in difficulty or assets - Assisting shareholders, individuals or investment funds Assisting creditors, banks or suppliers with debtors: debt collection, property claims, declarations and challenges to claims, assertion of liability, etc - Assisting managers in the implementation of successful turnaround strategies Assisting guarantors and managers, sued for sanctions or contributing to the liabilities of bankrupted companies Employment: Our employment team advises on formulating business strategies as well as at each step of their implementation. Our priority is to respond to our client's requirements at the same time as maintaining the highest degree of legal certainty. Our team becomes involved mainly in one-off operations that involve structural problems, in particular in situations that are stressed or conflictual, working both with French and international companies. We also work alongside our corporate and M&A teams in the context of sales, mergers and acquisitions and outsourcing. We advise clients on the following issues: business reorganisations and collective redundancy exercises undertaken for economic reasons - collective bargaining and employee relationship management - salary based saving schemes - individual employment relationships - individual and collective employment disputes - IT charters and whistleblowing systems, and delegation of powers. Litigation and dispute resolution: We advise and represent French and foreign clients before French courts, and in internal and international arbitration. We also regularly advise on pre-litigation or settlement negotiations, preferring ADR to keep disputes out of formal proceedings wherever possible. In the corporate arena, we regularly advise on commercial disputes arising out of corporate contracts or transactions including acquisitions, investments and re-organisations, shareholder arrangements, directors' duties and corporate finance transactions. Private wealth: Present in the four major European investment and wealth management marketplaces – London, Luxembourg, Paris and Switzerland – as well as in the Middle East, we are one of the few firms able to provide comprehensive advice in the management of private wealth. From our Paris offices, we work on the legal and tax aspects of cross-border transactions or investments into France. We advise clients whose interests span multiple jurisdictions, in particular Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia, South America, India and Asia. In Paris, the private wealth team is led by two highly experienced and renowned partners. Under their leadership, the team is able to provide clients with an integral service, to help them manage the complex and constantly changing tax, financial and legal problems they face. We advise managers, families and individuals (including, where applicable, their family office) who own companies, helping them find an optimal tax structure for their business and personal assets both in France and overseas. In terms of wealth and inheritance taxes, we work on all types of transactions involving the development and diversification of assets (in particular acquisitions and sales of assets, equity stakes, transfer operations, settling shareholders’ agreements and family agreements, etc). The private wealth team works closely with the corporate private equity teams and the firm’s foreign offices to assist private clients and their families in establishing appropriate vehicles for structuring and managing their assets and their activities in France and abroad. We are also able to manage entrepreneurs, directors and shareholders in private groups, both in France and abroad, all the legal and tax aspects of: - holding property or financial assets (works of art, vehicles, etc) international wills, tax and estate planning, including transnational structuring where family members or assets are located in multiple jurisdictions optimal cross-border structuring of financial assets, depending on the professional and private assets held by its clients, and preventing conflicts between members of a family group or between private investors, using our experience and expertise drafting family agreements and/or agreements between shareholders. Structured and project finance: We are able to provide our client with a personable, highly responsive specialist service, suited to the needs and requirements of their specific business and projects. Our team advises on the entire range of domestic and cross-border financing transactions as we have significant experience in structuring, negotiating and restructuring all types of financing and refinancing transactions worldwide. We can advise French and foreign arrangers, agents, participating lenders, mezzanine funds and borrowers. Our team has the expertise to assist funds, institutional and private investors and management companies in their structured finance and debt restructuring transactions. Our team operates through our offices in all types of financing including corporate financing, acquisition financing (listed and unlisted companies, LBOs, MBOs, MBIs and other leveraged buyouts), syndicated loans, and asset financing, providing clients with hands-on, practical and tailored support that their needs. Our team has a specific focus on the energy and infrastructure sector and therefore can work both in the legal and financial structuring of financing transactions and in the drafting and negotiation of the documentation specific to this type of transaction (credit documentation, security interests and guarantees, etc.). Other offices: Cheltenham, Doha, Dubai, Geneva, Guilford, Hong Kong, London, Luxembourg, Manama, Milan, Singapore, Zurich. ### Staffing Figures - 12 Partners - 7 Of Counsels - 19 Associates - 8 Members of staff

Office locations

Practice areas

Lawyers in this office

Auberi Foy

Auberi is an of counsel who advises international groups on all aspects of French employment law. With nearly 10 years’ experience, Auberi provides guidance predominantly to international firms and corporate groups on the intricacies of French employment law as it applies to their French ventures. Her international background gives her insight to provide guidance that is both strategic and sensitive to the nuances of global operations and international dynamics. She offers her expertise to clients involved in both judicial and extrajudicial proceedings. Auberi is also adept at handling a range of human resources matters, addressing both individual employee concerns and broader collective employment issues. Auberi is admitted to practise in France. · French Employment Law

Frédéric Dereux

Frédéric has over 25 years’ experience and a proven track record of resolving complex contractual, commercial cross-border, and domestic disputes for both French and international companies. He is particularly well-known for his expertise in the automotive industry and is regarded as a leader in the sector, having acted for numerous Tier 1 companies, industrial, and component suppliers to major automotive manufacturers on issues relating to the negotiation, performance, and termination of contracts and commercial relationships. Frédéric has extensive experience in dealing with all aspects of distribution and commercial relations, from drafting contract to annual negotiation between producer and distributors and its performance, until the termination of established commercial relations. In addition, Frédéric is particularly involved in the resolution of disputes relating to defective products of which he has developed in-depth expertise, as well as distribution law and cases involving uncompetitive practices before competition agencies and other courts. Frédéric represents clients before all French courts and is a mediator at the French Mediation Centre for the Automotive sector (Centre de Médiation de la Filière Automobile). Prior to joining Charles Russell Speechlys, Frédéric worked at various international law firms, one of which he was the managing partner at. Frédéric is admitted to the Paris Bar. · Litigation

Frédéric Jeannin

Frédéric specialises in commercial litigation and arbitration. He assists French and foreign clients in high value and complex disputes before arbitral tribunals, French courts and alternative dispute resolution bodies. He advises and assists investors in investment disputes and particularly in the enforcement of guarantees, breach of negotiations, officers' liability and disputes between shareholders. Frédéric has extensive experience of pre-litigation and litigation in the banking area as well as liability suits against investment services providers. He also devotes a significant part of his time to liability disputes (industrial risk and contracts). Frédéric is admitted to the Paris Bar. · Commercial Litigation

Guillaume Ferrand

Guillaume is a Partner in the Corporate, Private Equity, and Venture Capital practice group at Charles Russell Speechlys. He advises private companies and investors on their strategic capital transactions in France, including mergers and acquisitions, LBOs, and venture capital deals. Guillaume also assists his clients with governance matters, shareholder disputes, the structuring of complex financings, and the implementation of management packages. Admitted to the Paris Bar, Guillaume holds a Master 2 in Business Law from the University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne. He began his career at Charles Russell Speechlys in 2015 and was promoted to Of Counsel in 2023. · Corporate

Kim Campion

Kim leads Charles Russell Speechlys' Employment team in Paris. He advises mostly international companies or groups of companies on all aspects of French employment law relating to their French operations (whether on individual or collective matters), and in particular, in connection with restructurings or M&A. Kim also represents his clients in their in-court and out-of-court proceedings (litigation and settlement negotiations). He has recognised expertise concerning collective employment issues including negotiations with trade unions, works councils and staff representatives, definition and implementation of collective redundancies, and negotiation of collective agreements. He assists his clients in connection with their day-to-day human resources issues, such as recruitment, employment contracts and dismissals, staff representative elections or drafting of collective agreements. Kim is admitted to the Paris Bar. · Employment

Marguerite Brac de La Perrière

Marguerite Brac de La Perrière is a recognised expert in Data, AI and IT contracts, with a leading and well‑established practice in Digital Health. Marguerite specialises in Data Protection & AI, as well as IT contracts, in highly regulated sectors such as Healthcare and Life Sciences. With nearly 20 years’ experience, Marguerite acts as a strategic business partner to international stakeholders in the Digital, Healthcare, and Life Sciences sectors. She is recognised as a pioneer and leading figure in Digital Health. She provides strategic support throughout the entire products and services lifecycle, with particular expertise in: Data protection (GDPR) and sector-specific requirements applicable to Digital Health services Artificial intelligence (AI) Secondary use of data, including Health Data Warehouses (HDW) IT contracts: drafting & negotiation (SaaS, General Terms of services, distribution, outsourcing, IaaS, PaaS contracts) Platforms and marketplaces, e-commerce Cybersecurity Regulatory compliance and feasibility analysis She also acts as Data Protection Officer (DPO) for several players in the healthcare and industrial sectors. Marguerite is ranked as a leading partner in Digital Health. She is the author of numerous publications, especially on AI, and the secondary use of health data. She is also member of several scientific committees (e.g. AI for Health, Tech for Health). She regularly speaks at the Digital Health major conferences, such as AI for Health (“The untapped potential of health data reuse”), Tech for Health, Santexpo, where she shares insights on AI and the strategic reuse of health data. She also teaches at Paris 8 University (Master 2 “AI and Digital Health”), Paris Dauphine (Master 2 “Digital Marketing”), EHESP (training dedicated to Health data secondary use for healthcare leadership), as well as at the Institute for Smart Health (INeS). Marguerite is a graduate of the Paris Bar. She holds a Master II in Medical Sciences Law from Paris 5 University and a Master I in Private Law from Paris Panthéon-Assas University. · Data Protection

Renaud Ferry

Renaud specialises in corporate law, focusing on domestic and international M&A transactions, particularly leveraged buyouts and other private equity transactions alongside private equity funds, entrepreneurs, business founders, family and private groups and/or managers in their acquisition, fund raising and disposal transactions. He has experience in management packages, corporate group reorganisations, debt restructurings and the setting up of joint ventures and commercial partnerships. Renaud is a native French speaker, is fluent in English, is a member of the Paris Bar and holds a DEA in business law (Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne). Renaud is admitted to the Paris Bar. · Corporate Law

Simon Le Wita

Simon is a partner in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution group of Charles Russell Speechlys in Paris, specialising in domestic and international commercial, banking and financial litigation and arbitration as well as in debt restructuring insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings, particularly within the framework of international transactions. He advises French and foreign corporations, in all industry sectors, credit institutions, investment funds as well as insurers, property companies, lease-finance and factoring institutions and suppliers. Simon is regularly involved in shareholders and post-acquisition disputes as well as in enforcement and asset recovery cases. Simon has also an active practice in alternative dispute resolution and litigation avoidance, assisting his clients with risk management and strategic advice. Simon is a graduate from ESSEC and holds an advanced degree (DEA) in business law and economics from the University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne. Simon is admitted to the Paris bar. · Litigation

Thibaut Caharel

Thibaut Caharel specialises in corporate law, with a particular focus on leveraged buyouts and other private equity transactions. Thibaut advises financial investors and management teams on leveraged buyouts transactions, growth capital, disposal, and assists industrial groups with their internal reorganizations and acquisitions, as well as asset disposals. He also has experience in reorganisation of corporate groups and in establishing joint ventures and commercial partnerships. Thibaut is admitted to the Paris bar. · Corporate Law