Gide Loyrette Nouel

Gide Loyrette Nouel is an independent French law firm with headquarters based in Paris.^[2] It is one of the rare international leading law firms to have originated in continental Europe rather than the UK or USA. Though Pierre Gide's legal practice began as early as 1920, the firm was itself founded in 1957 by Gide, Jean Loyrette and Philippe Nouel after the Paris Bar (Barreau de Paris) amended its rules allowing lawyers to form associations and practice in a collective. The firm currently employs some 1,200 people, spread out over 18 offices in 15 countries. It numbers more than 600 attorneys and legal consultants, including 100 partners, covering 40 different nationalities. The firm operates as a limited liability partnership in London and as its French equivalent, an association d'avocats à responsabilité professionnelle individuelle (A.A.R.P.I.) in France^[3] The current Senior Partner is Baudouin de Moucheron, the current Managing Partner is Stéphane Puel. Both were elected in January 2012.

International Strategy

The firm is one of the few French-based firms to maintain its independence and to develop a strong international network and brand name. From its origins, the firm and its partners have always maintained a cross-border orientation. Named partner Pierre Gide was admitted to the solicitor's roll in London. In 1967, the firm launched its international practice with an office in Brussels. The firm currently maintains offices in civil law jurisdictions (such as those in Central and Eastern Europe, North Africa and Asia) as well as in those financial centers where firm clients require legal services (New York and London).^[4] To help build its international credentials, the firm retained former French foreign minister Hubert Védrine in 2003.^[5] Gide revised its international strategy in late 2010, closing its Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Dubai offices with immediate effect. The firm announced it would also close its Prague office and Belgrade offices.

Though the firm has a large roster of foreign and multinational clients, it has also remained a French operation, representing some 38 of the CAC 40 companies.

The firm is organised into international practice groups, covering the following practice areas: Banking & Finance; Competition & International Trade; Dispute Resolution; Employment; Insurance, Industrial Risk & Transport; Intellectual Property & Telecommunications, Media and Technology (TMT); Mergers & Acquisitions / Corporate Law; Projects (Finance & Infrastructure); Public Administrative Law; Real Estate; Tax.

Gide Loyrette Nouel is a member of the international network Lex Mundi, which brings together more than 160 independent law firms.^[6]

Offices

Gide Loyrette Nouel has 18 offices^[2] in 15 different countries: Algiers, Beijing, Brussels, Bucharest, Budapest, Casablanca, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Kiev, London, Moscow, New York, Paris, Shanghai, Tunis and Warsaw.

Notable clients and transactions

• Represented Pernod Ricard in its €5.6 billion acquisition of the V&S Group including Absolut Vodka from the Government of Sweden (March 2008).
• Legal counsel to the The Linde Group as to French law in its €4 billion sale of its forklift division to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co and Goldman Sachs (November 2006).
• Counseled AIG Infrastructure Funds LLC in its $230 disposal of a stake in Orascom Telecom Algeria (April 2006).
• Legal counsel to the government of France on corporate and antitrust matters in the €73 billion merger of Gaz de France and Suez (February 2006).
• Advised the Government of France as shareholder of Air France in its €784 million merger with Dutch airlines KLM (September 2003).

References

External links

• Official site