My role is to advise clients, both in France and overseas, on their shareholdings, transfers and acquisitions of French companies in different business sectors. I also assist with all legal problems relating to commercial and corporate law.

Tel: +33 (0)1 42 99 35 69
Email: pierre-emmanuel_chevalier@wragge.com

Services: Commercial, Corporate, Real Estate
Business sectors: Financial Services, Retail, Travel

Best brains in...

Clients appreciate my ability to take an overview of their transactions and the complex legal problems affecting their private equity and M&A transactions, and reconcile these with their financial and commercial situation.

Highlight of your career so far?

I have assisted a team of French directors in a leveraged buy-out (LBO) operation as part of a spin off from one of the largest steelworkers in the world. This operation required an innovative management package to be implemented, involving employees working in different countries, negotiating global commercial and partnership agreements with the assignor and its subsidiaries, as well as implementing securities under the legislation of different countries when financing the LBO operation.

Most challenging job you've ever done?

I assisted an Australian wine company in its acquisition of a French company whose main profit centre consisted of vineyards in California and Chile - that's learning to work 24/7!

What about outside France?

I spend around half of my time working for overseas clients, which includes advising Spanish or Dutch companies or private equity investment funds or foreign fixed assets.

Give an example of great client service

I am always ready to listen to the client and its commercial or financial imperatives so I can find legal solutions in as short a time as possible. By way of example, I had to draft contracts for the transfer of sharks and dolphins for one client and devise an entire price supplement mechanism depending on the health of the transferred animals.

Best example of creative legal solutions?

During an operation to take over several Dutch holding companies, themselves holding property companies in France, it was necessary to transfer the Dutch companies' head office to France. We decided to transform the Dutch holding companies into European companies and then perform the cross-border transfer of their head office into France. This type of operation had never been done before in France.

What's been written or said about you that you're most proud of?

Following a closing a client said: "Thanks for your responsiveness and the quality of your work. Without you, this operation never would have taken place".