A partner in the Corporate group, I have 20 years' experience in advising international clients on purchasing French companies and businesses. My particular expertise is in the real estate, retail and manufacturing sectors.

Tel: +33 (0)1 42 99 35 75
Email: simon_lowe@wragge.com

Services: Commercial, Corporate, Real Estate
Business sectors: Aerospace and Defence, Life Sciences, Retail, Travel

Best brains in...

Advising international clients in simple, direct terms how French law operates and knowing what is negotiable and what is not.

Highlight of your career so far?

I suppose everyone remembers their early transactions, and I really enjoyed advising on the set-up of a high-profile American restaurant chain in France in the 1990s. Highlights also include acting on major commercial property and industrial acquisitions and, most recently, the strategic acquisition of a French manufacturing company for a major Indian industrial group.

Most challenging job you've ever done?

A three-week due diligence exercise involving a portfolio of 63 French property companies to be relied on by the client to make a binding sealed bid.

What about outside France?

One of the fascinating features of international work is negotiating a transaction where the parties come from different legal backgrounds and cultures. Examples have involved parties from jurisdictions such as Korea, India, Sweden and of course the US and UK. An insight into the cultural differences of the various parties involved in a transaction can be a key element in its successful conclusion.

What's your definition of going the extra mile?

I think that all lawyers in today's world have to be responsive in ever shortening timelines. In our team everyone is committed to meeting clients' expectations.

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

After a series of round-the-clock email exchanges with a US client, I was really flattered to receive the following email from the client: "Thanks for all your efforts, responsiveness and intelligence. I work with so many attorneys across the world and you truly are the best and are my favourite!"