Holder of a Master’s degree in Business Law from the University of Aix-Marseille, she has worked as a legal consultant in advisory firms in France and China.
With solid professional experience, she assists companies of all sizes — multinationals, state-owned enterprises, public groups, and local players — in the areas of personal data protection, cross-border data transfers, and regulatory compliance.

Holder of a Master’s degree in Law, Economics and Management (European and International Affairs) from Sciences Po Rennes and a Bachelor’s degree in Literature (French Language) from the University of Shandong, Faculty of Foreign Languages.
She joined the DS Shanghai team in 2022, providing support in document drafting and coordination for the outbound team.

A graduate of Shanghai International Studies University, YOU Xing continued her studies at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies and Paris V René Descartes University, where she earned a DEA in Humanities.

She subsequently built her career between Japan and France, working for organizations such as Shinko Research, JRDC, JTM, and Ernst & Young in Paris-La Défense.

Since 2005, she has been contributing to Choose Paris Region, promoting the international attractiveness of the Paris Region. In 2017, she was appointed General Representative for China for both Choose Paris Region and the Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In 2021, she was awarded the title of Chevalier of the National Order of Merit.

In 2024, she joined DS Avocats as Director of Business Development, leveraging her deep expertise in Franco-Chinese economic relations to support French and Chinese companies in their cross-development projects.

Marlon Belhocine is an attorney specializing in insolvency and restructuring law. His practice focuses primarily on advising companies in the prevention of financial distress, as well as on counseling and litigation relating to insolvency and collective proceedings.

A graduate of the ALED Master’s program at the University of Lyon III, he passed the judicial representative exam in 2022 before training as a lawyer.

Prior to being admitted to the bar, Marlon spent three years working in a judicial representative firm, followed by one year in judicial administrator firms, thereby gaining a comprehensive and practical understanding of insolvency proceedings, both from the perspective of companies and of the court-appointed officers involved.

He subsequently joined the law firm Fidal in 2024, before moving to DS Avocats in September 2025.

Lawyer specializing in corporate and commercial matters, Josemaría Ecclefield B. practices in Chile and Italy in commercial and corporate law with over 15 years’ experience. He is able to provide ongoing advice to clients in all areas, both in Chile and abroad. Josemaría has solid expertise in the field of contracts in general and offers comprehensive advice on corporate governance. He provides support for foreign investment, the creation of foreign or domestic companies, legal representation in Chile and comprehensive legal advice on corporate law.

Josemaría has also acted as legal adviser to foreign clients. He has extensive experience in tenders and commercial contracts for Chilean and foreign clients.

Finally, he specializes in the study and management of civil and commercial matters, administrative and judicial claims relating to company law.

Yan Danti manages the legal affairs of a portfolio of companies, handling matters such as company formation, approval of financial statements, statutory amendments, governance changes, as well as restructurings, contributions, mergers, dissolutions, and liquidations.

He is involved in corporate restructuring and reorganization transactions, as well as the issuance of complex securities. He also advises companies on capital transactions, fundraising operations, and more broadly, on all matters related to corporate law.

Prior to joining DS Avocats, Yan worked for two years at Lamartine Conseil, a law firm specialized in private equity, and for two years within an audit and accounting group.

Lisa Heizmann is an Avocate admitted to the Paris Bar and the Stuttgart Bar.

Lisa Heizmann has extensive experience in Franco-German contract and commercial law. She advises businesses and individuals on all aspects of cross-border contract drafting. Additionally, Lisa has particular expertise in intellectual property law, especially in the protection of intellectual property rights, as well as in data protection law.

Memberships / Offices:

• German-French Lawyers’ Association (Deutsch- Französische Juristenvereinigung e.V. – DFJ)

Mathieu Abdoul-Quinque spent four years advising corporate clients at Parisian law firms, primarily assisting Asian businesses. He then joined a leading firm in Vietnam, where he built a client base of foreign investors.

With over six years of experience in corporate advisory services across France and Vietnam, he understands international business environments. He joined DS Avocats as Country Manager for Vietnam to strengthen the firm’s presence in the region.

Alexandre Pous joined DS Avocats following several experiences in corporate law, litigation, and white-collar crime at both French and international law firms, in France and abroad.

As an associate at DS Avocats since 2025, Alexandre assists clients in both advisory and litigation matters, on all aspects of customs law, international trade, and regulatory compliance, with a particular emphasis on economic sanctions, export controls on dual-use goods and technologies, and military equipment regulations.

He also provides strategic counsel on compliance with France’s Sapin II law, particularly in third-party due diligence and the prevention of terrorism financing, money laundering, and foreign public official bribery

After several experiences working for international law firms, Auriane Boutillier joined the Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Financing department at DS Avocats in 2025.

Auriane’s practice focuses on corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, and private equity transactions.

Auriane holds degrees from Paris II-Panthéon-Assas University and New York University School of Law.

With a distinguished career in tax law, Erika brings extensive expertise in international tax advice and tax litigation. Her professional career began at Rousaud Costas Duran, Legal and Tax Advisors, where she acquired foundational experience in legal and tax matters. She later advanced her career at KPMG Abogados Barcelona, expanding her practice to include international taxation, corporate restructuring, and tax reviews in the context of financial auditing.

As a founding partner of Laways Legal and Tax, Erika practiced as a tax lawyer until 2024, consolidating her position as trusted advisor on Spanish and international tax law.

Areas of Expertise:

• Spanish and International Taxation: Providing ongoing advice to individuals and businesses.
• Corporate Restructuring and Acquisitions: Management of complex operations with a focus on tax efficiency.
• Tax Procedures and Inspections: Representation and defense of clients in proceedings before the authorities.
• Tax Litigation: Successful management of disputes before the courts.

Thanks to its in-depth knowledge of tax law and its client-oriented approach, Erika offers strategic solutions tailored to the needs of companies and individuals in a globalized economic environment.

Marie-Charlotte has been a practicing lawyer since 2011. She began her career at a leading Parisian business law firm before joining Léa Duhamel‘s team at Cloix & Mendès-Gil. In 2017, she established her own employment law practice, and in 2024, she became part of DS Avocats. Based in Paris, she provides advisory services and represents clients in litigation.

Marie-Charlotte’s expertise covers a range of employment law issues, including working hours, variable compensation, and psychosocial risks.

With a background in general public law and drawing from an experience in the legal affairs department of the Ministry of Ecological Transition, Salomé Le Goff joined DS Avocats in July 2024.

She works alongside public and private sector actors in issues related to urban planning, both as a consultant and in litigation, within the Urban Planning department.

Alfonso González Moreno is a dedicated legal professional with extensive experience in corporate law. Currently serving as a lawyer at DS NAVARRO CASTEX Abogados since January 2020, Alfonso González Moreno has demonstrated a strong commitment to providing exceptional legal services.

Alfonso González Moreno combines a solid academic foundation with practical experience, making him a valuable asset in the legal field. His bilingual proficiency further enhances his ability to serve a diverse clientele effectively.

Alejandro LAJE is a seasoned expert in privacy law, freedom of expression, and digital platform regulation. With extensive experience in Consumer Law, Tort Law, and inheritance rights, Alejandro has been a key player in prominent law firms since 2001. He has successfully defended cases before the Supreme Court of Argentina and other appellate courts.

In addition to his legal practice, Alejandro is a distinguished academic. He is a professor in the Doctorate in Law program at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), the University of Business and Social Sciences (UCES), and the University of the Argentine Social Museum (UMSA). Alejandro is also a tenured professor of Philosophy of Law in the Law degree program at the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences of the Inter-American Open University.

From 2007 to 2021, Alejandro served as the Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences at the Inter-American Open University

Alberto Navarro (b. Montevideo, 1961) is Buenos Aires based DS Navarro Castex founding partner (www.dsnavarrocastex.com). His area of expertise is Corporate Finance, M&A, VC and Closely Held, Family-owned companies. With both Uruguayan and Argentine citizenship, Mr. Navarro is also admitted into practice in Uruguay where his Firm counts with an office covering international clients’ needs, mainly in the cities of Montevideo and Punta del Este.

Mr. Navarro graduated as a lawyer from Universidad de la República, Montevideo, and was admitted into practice in Uruguay (1985) and Argentina (1988), respectively. He also holds an MBA degree from IAE Business School (Buenos Aires, 1987) and a Master in Laws (LLM) from Harvard Law School (Cambridge, Mass., 1989).

Among other professional activities, between 1990 and 1996, Mr. Navarro served as in-house counsel for Cargill –US leading commodity trader, and then as internal counsel / general counsel of Acindar -Argentine major non-flat Argentine steel producer (currently Arcelor Mittal Group). In 1996 he set up his own legal practice until today.  

Among his academic curricula, Mr. Navarro founded the Legal Issues in Doing Business area at IAE (1992), where he was a part-time Professor at said business school management programs until 2009. Also, and for the past 25 years he has been visiting professor at several, local and international, universities and academies (i.e. Universidad de San Andrés , Universidad Di Tella, UCA and UBA, in Buenos Aires; Instituto de Empresas (IE), Madrid; Queen Mary Law School, at both London and Paris branches), as well as actively participated in several international panels and fora, mostly at the International Bar Association (IBA), the American Bar Association (ABA), the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA), the Association Internationale de Jeunes Avocats (AIJA), the Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA), and Vistage, in most of which he presented papers and acted either as panellist or panel chair for approximately 25 years.

Since 1998, and among other prestigious affiliations, Mr. Navarro has been an active member of the IBA, and as such he served as Chair of its Closely Held and Growing Business Enterprises Committee (Legal Practice Division, 2008-2009), Chair of its Professional Ethics Committee (PPID/SPPI, 2015-2016), IBA Council Member on behalf of Colegio Público de Abogados de la Capital Federal, Argentina (2012-2022), and Officer of the Bar Issues Commission (BIC; 2017-Dec. 31, 2022).

Mr. Navarro is fluent in Spanish, English and French and also manages basic skills on Italian and Portuguese.

International social memberships: Harvard Club of NYC; Cercle de L’ Union Interalliée, Paris.

More information about DS Navarro Castex: Click here.

Florencia Cavazza is a lawyer who graduated from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1995. She specialized in business law, earning a postgraduate degree from the Argentine Notarial University in 2000. In 2001, she expanded her knowledge by studying the U.S. legal system at the International Law Institute in collaboration with The George Washington University Law School (Washington, D.C., USA).

Florencia has developed a distinguished career in the legal profession, focusing on corporate law as well as mergers and acquisitions. She advises local and international clients with businesses in Argentina across various industries.

Her extensive experience allows her to navigate complex legal environments with precision and strategic vision. Florencia specializes in designing corporate and contractual structures, providing comprehensive legal services in these areas, and advising clients on the negotiation, planning, and drafting of corporate governance rules.

Additionally, she acts as a director appointed by shareholders or as a representative of local or foreign shareholders. This is what makes her a trusted advisor to her clients.

More information about DS Navarro Castex: Click here.

He joined Navarro Castex Abogados in 2008, where he worked as a lawyer in the Department of Corporate and Company Law until 2010. After developing his professional activity in recognized law firms in Buenos Aires and as Director of Commercial Loyalty of the Secretariat of Domestic Trade (2017-2020), was appointed partner of the study in 2020, in charge of the Department of Competition Law.

He graduated as a lawyer with a Diploma of Honor from the Faculty of Law and Social Sciences of the University of Buenos Aires in 2008. In 2009 he completed an Update Program in Jurisprudence in the matter of Societies at the Foundation for Research and Development of Sciences Legal (“FIDAS”). In 2012 he completed the Master’s Degree in Law and Economics at the Universidad Torcuato Di Tella. In 2013 he completed his postgraduate studies at Chicago-Kent College of Law of the Illinois Institute of Technology (Chicago, Illinois, United States of America), in an international exchange program focused on Antitrust Law, Unfair Competition, Trademarks and Entertainment Law.

More information about DS Navarro Castex: Click here.

Catherine HILGERS brings experience to companies and individuals facing complex tax issues, with a particular focus on international taxation and tax audits. With a robust background that spans tax administration, legal practice, and corporate roles, Catherine offers unparalleled expertise in navigating the intricacies of tax regulations.

Catherine specializes in:

• Tax Audits and Disputes: Providing strategic advice and representation during tax audits and resolving disputes with tax authorities.
• Growth and Restructuring Operations: Advising on tax-efficient strategies for corporate growth, mergers, and restructurings.
• Transfer Pricing: Assisting with the implementation and documentation of transfer pricing policies to comply with international standards.
• Day-to-Day Tax Monitoring: Offering continuous support to manage and optimize clients’ tax positions.

Catherine Hilgers is fluent in French, English, and Spanish, enabling her to effectively serve a diverse clientele. She is also an active member of the Iberian Desk, facilitating cross-border tax matters between France and Spanish-speaking countries.

A graduate of Sciences Po Paris and the Ecole Nationale des Impôts, Catherine combines academic rigor with practical experience to deliver top-tier tax advisory services.

Graduated in Law from the University of Barcelona in 2019, Master’s in Business and Corporate Law from the same university in 2021, and completed his training with the Master’s in Access to the Legal Profession in 2023. Member of the Barcelona Bar Association.

Specialized in commercial, corporate, mergers and acquisitions and real estate law, he regularly advises national and international clients on a wide variety of matters related to these areas.

Additionally, he has experience in real estate transactions, M&A, venture capital/private equity, and advising start-ups, especially in various investment rounds and shareholder agreements, enabling him to offer comprehensive and strategic solutions to his clients.

Nuria Sanjuán Sánchez is a tax junior jurist who recently embarked on his professional journey on the legal field. Her undergraduate experience and internship solidified her interest in fiscal matters and its impact on businesses and individuals, steering her towards that specialisation.

Born and raised in Barcelona, Nuria developed an early interest in international relations. Her multilingual abilities, including fluency in Spanish, English and French, enable her to engage effectively with clients and colleagues from a diverse cultural background.

In her role, she supports senior partners in advising both national and international companies and individuals, as well as ensures the fulfilment of their fiscal obligations.

Maria Nieves has professional experience in private enterprise, financial, tax and labour management in the construction sector, media and advertising agencies and family-owned companies.

She is specialized in tax advice, tax optimisation, tax assessments for individuals and legal entities.

As a practicing lawyer since 2001, she is specialized in tax advice covering all national and international operations of Spanish companies and individuals.

Since 2006, her career as a lawyer has focused on providing tax advices to companies in tax procedures and their relationships with the Spanish Tax Administration in all types of inspections, appeals and claims, up to the contentious administrative procedure before the Courts.

Alongside her activity as a tax advisor, she taught courses for more than 20 years at Pompeu Fabra University and Esade, in the courses of law, business administration and labor relations, specializing in both in tax procedures as well as on corporate taxation and personal income tax in Spain.

After starting her professional life at the Pompeu Fabra University, she later joined a firm specialized in tax advice for professional individuals, alternating both activities.

Judith Riera is a lawyer in the Barcelona office of DS Avocats. After graduating in Law, she completed the Master’s Degree in Legal Practice and became a member of the Barcelona Bar Association (ICAB).

She began her professional career doing internships in the corporate departments of national law firms with international scope. She then consolidated her experience working as a junior lawyer, providing advice to companies at all stages, from creation to dissolution, and actively participating in the drafting and review of commercial contracts and contracts in the healthcare field. In addition, she has experience in issues related to foundations and associations.

Her training was expanded by completing the Advanced Master’s Degree in Legal Sciences in Barcelona and Mannheim (Germany), thus enriching her legal perspective internationally. In addition, Judith plays the role of coordinator and legal advisor at the Legal Clinic of the Pompeu Fabra University, where she provides legal advice to people without resources.

In 2024, she is participating in the Young European Lawyers Academy in Trier (Germany) and Luxembourg, after being nominated as a candidate by the Barcelona Bar Association. At DS Avocats, Judith is part of the corporate, foundations and acquisitions department, actively participating in advising on these matters, as well as in the review of contracts.

Lawyer specializing in civil and commercial litigation, as well as extrajudicial and preventative counseling. Cristina brings extensive experience across various sectors including retail, healthcare, construction, and industrial.

Based in Barcelona, Cristina is part of the litigation department, enthusiastically advocating for clients’ interests in the Courts of Justice. She has also participated in national and international arbitration proceedings.

Cristina’s expertise lies in civil and commercial litigation, with a focus on contract breaches, civil liability for damages.

Moreover, Cristina has a wealth of experience in regulatory compliance, adeptly developing and implementing compliance plans. She excels in establishing and managing whistleblowing channels and protocols to prevent any criminal activity.

As a member of the commercial department, Alejandro specializes in commercial contracting, providing services to a wide variety of clients, primarily in the technology sector. His work focuses on assisting companies dedicated to the development and implementation of software and technological solutions, helping them navigate the complex legal and contractual environment of their industry.

His experience ranges from drafting detailed contracts to protecting intellectual property and advising on regulatory compliance. He has had the privilege of collaborating with some of the most innovative technology companies, providing legal solutions that facilitate their growth and success in a highly competitive market.

In addition to his focus on the technology sector, Alejandro also advises companies in other sectors such as retail, energy, industrial, food, etc. Furthermore, he provides advice on data protection and compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). With specific training as a Data Protection Officer (DPO), he is equipped to help companies implement privacy policies and procedures that ensure compliance with current regulations. His goal is to protect his clients’ personal and sensitive information, minimizing risks and ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.

Juliette Halimi is a lawyer in the Tax department with experience in both corporate and personal taxation. She advises companies and individuals on French and international Tax law issues.

She works on business structuring and transfers issues, as well as the tax aspects of audits, restructuring and mergers & acquisitions.

She assists companies and individuals in their relations with the tax authorities and represents them before courts. She is also involved in tax rescripts procedures.

Mahaut is a member of the Paris and Colombian Bars. Member of the Iberian Desk and the Latin America Desk, she mainly advises Spanish and Latin American companies, assisting them with their investments and disputes in France in connection with industrial and commercial projects, as well as financial and banking restructuration. Mahaut assists her clients with both advice and litigation. 

Mahaut has solid expertise with Spanish-speaking clients thanks to her experience in France and Colombia in Franco-Hispanic law firms and in the LATAM regional legal department of a major group.

Mahaut is a member of the Association des Juristes Franco-Colombiens (AJFC).

Olivier Fedon has been a partner at the Rennes Bar since 2004. With a postgraduate degree in business law, he specializes in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and corporate law.

He assists companies in their growth and development projects, particularly in the sale and transfer of businesses, on both the buy and sell sides.

Olivier has also completed his training in trust law and holds a university degree from the Faculty of Law in Orléans. He regularly advises settlors and beneficiaries of management and security trusts.

Olivier has held the position of Treasurer of the Rennes Bar and was a member of the Bar Council. He currently sits on the regional disciplinary board for lawyers in the Rennes Court of Appeal. He is also a member of MEDEF 35, demonstrating his commitment to the economic and professional fabric of his region.

Graduated from Aix-Marseille University and Bordeaux School of Law, Jorel Weber joined the corporate team of DS Avocats Bordeaux in late 2022.

He now supports businesses and startups in their growth journeys, focusing on corporate law issues, particularly in the fields of medTech and sportTech. Jorel provides expertise in fundraising, collective procedures, as well as sales and acquisitions. Additionally, he advises self-employed professionals on business succession planning.

Bringing two years of experience from Parisian law firms specializing in Labor Law, Maud Riflade joined the Bordeaux office in 2024. She assists businesses and associations of diverse scales, addressing both individual and collective legal matters. Maud also represents clients in social litigation across all judicial forums.

Manon Colombin-Ollivier specializes primarily in corporate law, with a focus on fundraising activities.

Having earned a Master’s degree in International Business Law, Manon completed her final traineeship as a legal intern at DS Avocats in 2021.

She was admitted to the bar in 2022 and joined the corporate team at DS Avocats Bordeaux in 2023.

A lawyer since 2012, Charlotte Dumont began her career with a leading Parisian business law firm before joining the employment practice of Cloix Mendès-Gil in 2014, then DS Avocats in 2024. She was promoted to Counsel on July 1, 2021.

She is based in Paris, where she advises and litigates on individual and collective labor relations issues.

She also handles collective and high-stakes individual litigation.

Alexandre Clément advises and litigates for DS Avocats clients in the following areas: contract law, commercial law, criminal business law, competition, distribution and consumer law.

He joined DS Avocats’ Commercial and Competition Law department in 2024, after a number of experiences in leading business law firms and at the French Senate.

Alexandre holds a Specialized Master in International Law and Management from ESCP Business School and a Master 2 in International Business Law from Université Paris Cité.

For over 25 years, Léa Duhamel has been a trusted advisor to companies on their social strategies, including growth, downsizing, mergers, and diversification. Her expertise spans reorganization, collective bargaining, and crisis management.

Léa is renowned for her practice in both collective and high-stakes individual litigation, particularly involving protected employees and discrimination cases.

In addition to her legal practice, Léa has extensive teaching experience at Université de Paris I and Université Paris-Dauphine. She now offers targeted training for clients, management teams, and HR operational staff.

Léa holds a doctorate in law and has earned double distinctions in labor law and social security law from the Paris Bar.

Nana Anastasia Sulaiman is currently in charge of corporate governance for clients founded under DS International Corporate Services (DSICS) and DS Avocats Singapore (DSA).

Having commenced her journey with DSICS and DSA in 2023, Nana brings a wealth of expertise, boasting 7 years of invaluable experience in corporate governance. In her pivotal role, she collaborates seamlessly with her team of adept lawyers, contributing significantly to the expansion and sustained growth of DSICS’ extensive clientele and portfolio.

Nana takes pride in providing meticulous legal administration and support to her firm’s esteemed partners. Beyond her integral role at DSICS, she actively nurtures a robust network of professional connections. Her efforts extend to sourcing and managing legal documentation in alignment with the Singapore Companies Act of 1967.

Aymeric Marie Dit Roulland joined DS Avocats in 2023 after gaining experience in customs law at Arsène Taxand and KPMG Avocats.

He advises and litigates in both French and English, with dual expertise in general tax law and customs law – international trade.

Aymeric Marie Dit Roulland is based in Paris, where he works closely with multinational companies and SMEs, professional organisations and the relevant administrative authorities. His practice covers a wide range of areas: customs law (customs valuation & transfer pricing, tariff classification, origin, special regimes, AEO certification), economic sanctions and export control of dual-use goods and defence equipment, environmental taxation, energy and excise duties, import VAT.

Marianne joined DS Avocats in September 2023, after initial experience as an associate in a law firm specializing in urban planning law.

She advises and litigates within the urban planning team of the firm’s Urban Strategies Department.

Marianne advises and assists public and private project developers in setting up their operations.

Years of experiences both in law firms and in company as paralegal have given her a good understanding of cross-border investments issues and the day-to day problems associated with the operation of foreign companies.

She has gained experience in tax optimization, equity transfers, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, liquidations, labor disputes, distribution and commercial leases.

Her expertise in tax law, business law and EU law allows her to assist clients in expanding into the French and EU markets and to find the most pragmatic solutions.

Matthieu Benoit-Cattin joined DS Avocats in 2023. He advises energy producers and suppliers, energy network and transmission companies, investors and industrial groups on the development of their energy, industrial and construction projects.

Matthieu Benoit-Cattin advises on regulatory, contractual and transactional aspects in the energy and infrastructure sector.

He completed his final internship with the project finance team (energy & infrastructure) at CMS Francis Lefebvre.

Mehdi MOUNIR, lawyer, has extensive expertise in real estate and criminal business law. He currently works in the Urban Strategies division of the Real Estate department, applying his in-depth knowledge to meet the specific needs of public-sector clients.

His area of expertise covers a variety of operations linked to land development in the public interest, including the amicable or compulsory acquisition of real estate (including setting compensation, commercial eviction, urban pre-emption rights, and rental issues). He is also involved in projects for the creation of transport facilities, ZACs and land reserves.

He also has significant experience with the 15th Correctional Chamber of Nanterre, a chamber specializing in economic and financial offenses, as well as experience in rental litigation (residential and commercial leases). He has developed a rigorous and efficient work methodology, based on an in-depth understanding of the issues at stake.

This diversity of expertise enables him to take a comprehensive approach to each case and provide full support.

Fabio Herlent works both as an advisor and in litigation on behalf of local authorities, public institutions, semi-public companies (SEM), local public enterprises (SPL) within the Urban Strategies Department.

Across the board, he is involved in both public and private law issues relating to the implementation of development and construction projects (creation of transport facilities, ZACs, land reserves, etc.).

Its main activities concern land management (administrative and judicial phases of the expropriation procedure, pre-emption, amicable sales and acquisitions, eviction, commercial eviction, etc.) and development law, including the management of public and private domain.

With over 25 years of experience in employment law, Béatrice POLA advises large French companies from various sectors, supporting them in all aspects of employment law. Her expertise is particularly distinguished in the fields of company restructuring and reorganization, mainly in adressing psychosocial risks and workplace environmental factors.

As a litigation specialist, Béatrice POLA represents her clients before social and common law courts, in both individual and collective matters. She is regularly called upon to handle complex cases involving discrimination, harassment, and breach of contract, whether individual, collective, or negotiated.

In addition to her advisory and litigation activities, Béatrice POLA is also a trainer and speaker, sharing my expertise with experts. She co-hosts, with Les Éditions Législatives, a monthly breakfast meeting called “Le Cercle RH”. This event brings together HR directors from major companies for in-depth discussions on jurisprudence and current topics.

Counsel in the Employment Law department, Estelle Coulombel has a wealth of experience in managing complex litigation and pre-litigation cases (union/ethnic/gender discrimination; moral and sexual harassment; psycho-social risks; suicide in the workplace).

She offers diversified expertise in labor law, including the management of international mobility and transnational secondments, as well as the conduct of internal investigations following an employee alert.

Estelle Coulombel is also involved in training (lectures at the University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne; participation in the seminar of the Association Française de Droit du Travail). She is the author of many specialist articles.

With experience at the Expropriations Chamber of the Paris Court of Appeal and several internships in law firms, Cédric Bortolussi joined DS Avocats for his first collaboration in order to strengthen the real estate litigation section of the Urban Strategies department.

With an academic background in public law, he assists local authorities, public institutions and semi-public companies in the amicable or compulsory acquisition of real estate.

A lawyer since 2003, Georges Ferreira began his career in a Paris-based law firm specializing in corporate law, after a spell as a consultant with an international law firm based in La Défense.

Prior to this, Georges Ferreira taught at universities, the CNAM, and a business school in Paris, as well as provided in-company training.

With a doctorate in law, he has authored several articles and commentaries on case law published in specialized legal journals.

In 2007, he founded and helped develop Cabinet de l’Orangerie in Versailles.

Proven experience as an advisor, as well as sustained legal practice in the field of employment law, have forged his pragmatic and strategic approach to the cases and issues entrusted to him by companies of all sizes.

Skills

• Labour and Employement Law
• Contract law, Law of Obligations

Publications

• Article, Le nantissement de second rang de compte d’instruments financiers, JCP 2005, éd. E., n°3, p.80 ;
• Article, Le tiers convenu dans le gage, Répertoire Notarial DEFRENOIS, 15 février 2004 ;
• Note d’arrêt, (Cass. com., 9 juillet 2002), La lettre de confort, une garantie indemnitaire, JCP 2003, éd. E., n°6, II, 234 ;
• Coauteur du guide juridique et fiscal de l’entreprise, Editions DALIAN ;
• Note d’arrêt (Cass. civ. 3ème, 21 nov. 2001) Les actions possessoires et l’action en référé, JCP 2002, éd. G, n° 43, II, 10164 ;
• Note d’arrêt, coauteur, (Cass. civ. 3ème, 19 déc. 2001) La nature juridique ambiguë des chemins ruraux, Petites Affiches, 1er novembre 2002, n°219, p.12.
• Thèse, Les Garanties indemnitaires, Editions Universitaires Européennes
• Coauteur d’un guide de Droit des affaires, Editions DALIAN ;
• Note d’arrêt, coauteur, (C.A. Versailles, 9 oct. 1997), La nature juridique du règlement amiable, JCP 1998, éd. E., n°13 p.513.

Lawyer specialized in the international corporate and mining area, he is also in charge of advising family offices, startups and venture capital at DS Chile. He has more than 20 years of experience in corporate governance, M&A, finance, mining, energy, and national and international investments. He has a broad business vision and a great capacity to adapt to new professional challenges and interpersonal skills to form, lead teams and close complex deals.

Lawyer of the Venture Capital and Startups area, with more than 10 years of experience, he specializes in advising on intellectual property asset management for companies, startups and universities. He especially focuses on the organization of technology-based companies, designing the financing structure, intellectual property policy and advising the boards of various startups in the fields of e-sports, cleantech, fintech, edtech and traveltech. He is also co-creator of the course Startup Law: Innovation and Law at the Diego Portales University and participates as a mentor of the GT Network (Chilean Network of Technology Managers) and Media Factory (FDM).

Lawyer with 3 years of experience, his practice focuses on labor issues such as judicial representation, drafting of employment contracts, dismissal letters, severance payments, annexes, internal regulations. He also has experience in corporate law supporting companies in matters of incorporation, dissolution, transformation of companies, modification of bylaws, purchase and sale of shares, shareholders meetings, drafting and review of commercial contracts, purchase and sale of real estate, contracts of promise of purchase and sale, money loans, among others.

Lawyer with more than 10 years of experience, specialising in advising companies and startups on international taxation issues, design of marketing structures and exploitation of SaaS models, payment gateways and travel startups, among others. In addition, in recent years he has led the implementation of optimization strategies in the payment and recovery of overcharged contributions (land tax), highlighting among them advice to national and international real estate investment funds, storage centres, hotels, television channels and shopping malls.

Lawyer with more than 10 years of experience, he is a specialist in business law, with particular emphasis on corporate, tax and labour law. He has experience as a professor of commercial and labour law in undergraduate law courses. He is currently working as an external tax consultant for medium and large companies. He has extensive experience in labour litigation and corporate consultancy.

Gabrielle Chanoine-Assous is specialized in public business law.

She advises clients on public and private projects, as well as on litigation.

With several experiences in law firms specializing in real estate and commercial law, Andréa Layani joined the Real Estate Department of DS Avocats in 2022.

She advises and litigates for a clientele mainly composed of landlords and investors in matters of leases (commercial leases, civil leases, residential leases), real estate transactions, real estate development and co-ownership.

Trained in intellectual property litigation at a prestigious Paris law firm for 15 years, Charles-Antoine Joly then joined a firm of former industrial property attorneys to share his litigation skills. He has more than 25 years’ experience of litigation in all areas of intellectual property: patents, trademarks, designs and copyright.

He joined DS Avocats to strengthen the litigation activity of the Intellectual Property, Digital Technologies and Data team, particularly in the field of patents and in the context of the establishment of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) in Paris, with which he is registered as an authorised representative.

In addition to his professional career, Charles-Antoine is actively involved in the field of intellectual property at association level. He is a member of the Patent Committee of ECTA (European Communities Trade Mark Association), where he helps to shape trade mark and patent policy and practice at European level. He is also Vice-Chairman of AAPI (Association des Avocats de Propriété Industrielle), a key organisation for lawyers specialising in the protection and defence of industrial property rights. In addition, Charles-Antoine co-chairs the Copyright Committee of AIPPI (Association Internationale pour la Protection de la Propriété Intellectuelle), reflecting his expertise and deep involvement in the field of copyright law. These associative roles testify to his passion and dedication to the field of intellectual property, reinforcing his position as a leading professional in this sector.

Ziping is based in Ho Chi Minh and provides services for the establishment and development of Chinese companies in Vietnam. She specializes in compliance and general corporate legal consultations. She also has experiences in investigating cybercrimes in Vietnam for multi-national companies.

Before transferring to Vietnam, Ziping worked in DS Avocats Shanghai office, providing corporate and compliance services for foreign – funded enterprises in China.

Ziping graduated from Georgetown University Law Center (LL.M) and the University of Sydney Law School (J.D.). She holds the Chinese Lawyer Qualification Certificate and is also a practicing lawyer in New York States of United States and a solicitor in New South Wales of Australia. She is also a registered foreign lawyer in Vietnam. Prior to joining DS Avocats, Ziping worked in a Chinese law firm and a US law firm’s Beijing office.

Niu Yaqin assists foreign companies in their establishment and acquisition projects in China and ensures the daily legal follow-up. She has started to develop an expertise in the field of commercial contracts (distribution, agent, purchase/sale, etc.).

Clément Lalmanach holds a Master’s degree in Labor and Social Security Law from the University of Bordeaux. He joined the Bordeaux office in 2021 and practices exclusively in labor law.

Clément advises companies and associations of all sizes and in various sectors of activity, as well as their executives, on individual and collective labor relations.
He also assists regional players in the sports world.

In litigation, Clément acts before all social jurisdictions, with a particular interest in labour court proceedings during collective procedures (recovery, liquidation).

With several years of experience at a Parisian law firm specializing in construction and insurance litigation, Marion Centime joined the real estate team at DS Avocats’ Bordeaux office in 2022.

She leverages her expertise to assist a diverse clientele in the following areas:

• Construction law advisory and litigation: Assisting public and private project owners in the execution of their real estate projects (new construction, rehabilitation, transformation, etc.), as well as supporting builders. Her extensive experience in handling large-scale claims makes her a key legal advisor for clients, offering comprehensive support that integrates strategic, operational, and legal considerations for major projects and construction-related disputes.
• Real estate development and project structuring: Advising real estate stakeholders on the structuring and execution of projects, from the planning and pre-construction phases to construction and operational stages.
• Property portfolio management: Assisting operators in managing their real estate assets, including advisory and litigation services related to leases and real estate transactions.

Additionally, she provides legal support for complex real estate structuring operations.

Lawyer with more than 25 years of professional experience, specialized in commercial and tax law related to the company, mergers, acquisitions and business reorganizations in general, his practice also includes areas such as infrastructure and concessions, real estate and construction law.

In charge of negotiating and executing contracts for the purchase and sale of companies and legal advice to companies, especially foreign investors and their expansion to the South Pacific Region.

He has been Professor of Mergers and Acquisitions and Taxation of the Company

Patrice Mouchon has a solid experience in the reorganisation of numerous French and multinational groups in sectors as varied as the Automobile industry, Air transport, chemical Industry, Mining, Banking, Mobile telephony and services, both in Business law and labour law.

His activity has led him to advise and defend financial and industrial operators in Africa and especially in the Arab world.

He has participated in numerous arbitration and mediation proceedings in disputes between European, Arab and African companies.

In arbitration matters, he has in particular obtained awards from the court of arbitration of the international chamber of commerce, on the scope of the concept of “RIBA” on the basis of Malekte muslim Law which is an integral part of the law of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

Patrice Mouchon has been working for almost 30 years in the framework of humanitarian associations, notably for the sovereign order of Malta.

Registered at the Casablanca Bar since April 24^th 1996, she founded Hamzi Law Firm on July 1^st 1999.

Her main areas of expertise are Contract Law, Corporate & M&A, Employment Law & International Mobility, Social Arbitration & Labor Litigation, Insurance & Transportation and finally Project Finance.

Zineb Idrissia Hamzi is regularly recognized as a leading business law attorney by leading publications, such as the Chambers Global Guide, IFLR 1000 or the magazine “Décideurs juridiques”.

Lou Ricard has a background in business law, and her career has enabled her to develop skills in both private and public law. 

Today, she works alongside public and private sector actors in issues related to urban planning law, both as a consultant and in litigation, within the Urban Planning department which she joined at the end of her final internship.  

Götz Gaiser is admitted to the the Stuttgart bar and the Paris bar. He specializes in international business law and has particular expertise in Franco-German law.

Götz Gaiser advises his German and French clients on commercial and corporate law matters, supporting them from business formation through contract negotiation and drafting. He also works on cross-border M&A transactions. Additionally, advising start-ups is a key part of his practice.

Memberships / Offices :

• International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA)
• German-French Lawyers’ Association (Deutsch- Französische Juristenvereinigung e.V. – DFJ)
• German-Chinese Lawyers’ Association (Deutsch-Chinesische Juristenvereinigung e.V. – DCJV)

Vanessa Dobler’s core fields of expertise lie in family and inheritance law, where she assists clients with the drafting of prenuptial agreements, divorce proceedings, and estate planning.

Additionally, Vanessa is a certified mediator specializing in alternative dispute resolution.

Ruben joined DS Avocats in 2025 after several experiences within the real estate departments of international law firms.

He assists and advises both French and foreign clients in their real estate operations (construction, transactions, urban planning, leases).

He is also involved in managing disputes, including proceedings and enforcement actions.

Laurent Kihl handles tax litigation for individuals and companies.

His area of expertise extends to tax consulting and tax audit assistance.

He has extensive expertise in patrimonial taxation. He also supervises restructuring operations for tax purposes and coordinates audit operations.

A graduate of the École Nationale des Impôts, Laurent Kihl was an auditor, then inspector in charge of litigation (corporate taxation) at the Hauts-de-Seine Tax Services Department.

Jean-Claude Drié assists companies and public actors in managing their tax issues. 

He provides upstream advice or downstream assistance in the defense of cases. In the latter case, he works closely with the tax authorities, identifies the appropriate parties and tends to resolve disputes within a diplomatic framework.

If necessary, he organises interventions at the central administration of Bercy before any litigation is brought before the courts.

Jean-Claude Drié is a graduate of the École Nationale des Impôts and holds a doctorate in law.

He has been a public finance inspector in charge of tax auditing at the Direction des Vérifications Nationales et Internationales (DVNI), a teacher at the Sorbonne and has authored books on taxation, he is also a lecturer in account auditing and local taxation.

Andrea Buchin is General Delegate for China.

After holding marketing management positions in international companies, she supported companies in their development and positioning strategy, particularly in Asia.

She joined DS Avocats in 2011, bringing her skills to support the management of DS Avocats’ offices in China, as well as to Business Development. Her work is also aimed at optimizing resources in a context of strong growth.

Today, she is the Shanghai contact for our clients on their general business structuring and compliance issues in China.

Pilar Martin is a member of the Litigation and Compliance Department.

She has experience in advising individuals and companies from various sectors (retail, real estate, industrial, banking, etc) in civil proceedings (payment claims, contractual resolutions, damages, civil liability, etc) and in criminal proceedings (crimes related to the business environment).

She also has extensive experience in implementing and developingof criminal compliance plans for companies.

25 years of experience in legal translations.

Shujuan joined DS in 2008. She is in charge of carrying out the administrative formalities for the incorporation of companies and the registration of amendments to the articles of association.

She also specialises in the formalities for obtaining work permits and work visas for foreign employees.

15 years of experience in legal translations.

Chiara Zanframundo’s practice focuses on employment law.

With specialized training in labor law in Italy, after a 6-month internship at the Court of Appeal of Brescia (Social Chamber), and a 4-year experience with a leading Italian labor law firm, in 2019 Chiara benefited from the International Internship with the Paris Bar.

Thus, she joined the Italy desk of the International Department in March 2020 to provide her training and experience for Italian companies in France and French companies in Italy.

Chiara also holds a Master’s degree in “Social Law and Labor Relations” from the University of Paris Panthéon-Assas.

A former social security executive, Ghislaine Strebelle-Beccaert joined DS Avocats in June 2020 to reinforce the labour law team of the Lille office, in order to develop more particularly an activity focused on the control of professional risks for our clients (work accidents, occupational diseases, optimization of the AT rate, social security litigation) as well as the management of the URSSAF control and its contestation.

She also develops a more “traditional” activity, both as counsel and in court, in labor law.

In this context, she provides practical support and advice to company directors and their HR departments on all aspects of the company’s social life, in the context of a genuine partnership and decision support, adapting this advice to the conventional context.

Diénaba Camara is involved in corporate law cases. She provides day-to-day and exceptional legal secretarial services: constitution, approval of accounts, all statutory modifications, all changes in governance, restructuring operations, etc.
She is in direct relation with clients, chartered accountants and auditors. She also monitors and carries out all corporate law formalities.

Antoine Pupponi works within the urban strategies department in a multidisciplinary manner, both as an advisor and in judicial and administrative litigation, on matters relating to property management (amicable sales and acquisitions, administrative and judicial phase of expropriation, pre-emption, right of priority, retrocession, eviction, etc.) and urban planning law (urban planning permits and documents, criminal urban planning law, civil urban planning litigation).
He also assists project sponsors on environmental assessment issues.

Enrolled at Milan Bar Association, Marco Bello’s practice is focused on Real Estate (in connection with “development” and “trading transactions” of real estate assets). He provides assistance to Italian and foreign clients on international trade, corporate and commercial law. He also provides assistance in relation to corporate transactions, including acquisitions and M&A operations. He grants advice to Italian and foreign clients for cross border transactions in Brazil.

According to the fact that has been working cross border in Brazil since 2008 he is able to advice clients for any relevant matter on that market. He has developed a significant experience in litigation and international arbitration, particularly in real estate and corporate matters. He works regularly in Italian, English and Portuguese.

In 2006 and 2007, Marco Bello was Professor in the “Master’s Degree Course” on “Real Estate Advisory” organised by the University of Verona”, collaborating with Professor Roberto Bottiglia, Professor of Economics of Financial Intermediaries.

In 2000, he was a Lecturer for the Infor School of Professional Development within the course entitled “La gestione e gli adempimenti delle operazioni di commercio con l’estero”.

Elia Gissi’s practice is focus in corporate and commercial law. He works in a wide range of fields, providing assistance in merger and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, negotiating and drafting commercial agreements.

He also supports the DS Avocats Milano’s litigation team in any disputes concerning corporate and commercial’s matters. He speaks Italian, English and French.

Maria Cristina Ferrara is the office manager, responsible for the general services of DS Avocats Milan.

She attends to clients and suppliers, manages the organization and communications, the agenda and the commitments of the team, organizes meetings, appointments, conference calls and business trips. She is also in charge of accounting and billing. She speaks Italian and English.

Prior to joining DS Avocats, Liu Yimin practiced in two renowned Chinese law firms.

She specializes in M&A transactions and corporate law and has built a solid experience in a wide range of industries.

She leads and coordinates numerous M&A projects both in the audit and transactional phases.

Giulia joined the team of DS Avocats Milan in 2018. She mainly focused on civil, real estate and commercial law, assisting clients in any related disputes, both on a domestic and on a cross-jurisdictional basis.

She provides advice and assistance to clients in relation to personal data protection issues, in particular on profiling and marketing techniques.

With 20 years of experience in expropriation/pre-emption, Xavier Gosselin has full mastery of all aspects of this field with respect to the strategies to be devised and procedures carried out before the administrative (Declaration of Public Utility /transferability/pre-emption) or expropriation courts.

He is in charge of redevelopment operations, RHI, urban renovation, real estate restoration.

Claire Champion focuses her practice on corporate transactions (mergers and acquisitions) and private equity.

In particular, she advises on fund-raising, both nationally and internationally. She covers the whole spectrum of the investment life cycle, including buyouts, build-ups and exits, for both managers and private equity houses.

More broadly, she provides corporate law advice to both French and foreign companies.

Claire is active in particular in the healthcare and life sciences, agri-food, chemicals and business services industries.

At the same time, she regularly leads conferences and professional training courses.

Stéphane Gasne a une solide expérience de presque 20 ans sur les grands projets à travers l’Europe, l’Afrique et l’Asie, accompagnant les acteurs majeurs du secteur de l’énergie et du BTP, ainsi que les banques de développement, les fonds d’infrastructures et les sponsors, notamment chinois.

Il intervient en financement de projets, développement de projets et construction d’infrastructures.

Daniel joined the original firm in 1980 and was made partner in 1987. He co-founded DS Avocats in the early 1990s and has chaired the firm, as well as the international DS Group, since its creation.

At the same time as his contribution to the international development of DS, he created and developed the Public Business Law Department, which he led for several decades.

Olivier Fages has been a Partner since 1992. Olivier is a member of the Executive Committee of DS Avocats, and was Chairman from 2020 to 2024.

Olivier has played a key role in the international development of DS Avocats in Europe, in Asia and more recently in Latin America.

Olivier has been central to the development of DS Avocats’ Real Estate Offer, contributing to the creation of our multidisciplinary service offer for real estate players.

He led the Real Estate department for several years, and assisted many of the firm’s longstanding clients in their strategic investment operations and in the management of their real estate assets.

Judith Lemieux assists the lawyers in corporate matters regarding mergers and acquisitions and other commercial transactions.

She is involved in the incorporation of businesses, their updating and the setting up of various types of entities.

An experienced consultant, Claude Lacroix was a member of the Canadian Commercial Arbitration Center Expert Committee and applies his expertise to both Canadian and international issues.

An experienced negotiator, the variety of his practice in business law allows him to assist his clients as soon as a business is launched, in mergers and acquisitions, private, institutional and public financing or in dispute cases.

Holding a DESS industrial Property of University Paris II, She worked during 23 years for Gide Loyrette Nouel (Beijing, Shanghai & Paris).

She assisted the clients in setting up in China/France and were also in charge of legal translation.

Vianney is a partner at the firm and a graduate of Sciences Po Lyon and Université Paris I. He advises and represents clients in matters of urban planning and environmental law.

He supports project developers with issues related to environmental assessments and the coordination of regulatory procedures, including public participation processes, mandatory consultations, planning document modifications, and required permits.

Vianney has also developed particular expertise in legal and technical aspects of aquatic environments and biodiversity. He regularly assists both public and private project sponsors in securing their operations when dealing with sensitive environmental concerns such as protected species, wetlands, flood risk, and coastal protection.

Thibaud Le Conte Des Floris assists and advises French and foreign clients on their personal data law issues (GDPR compliance audits, data governance, internal methodologies and procedures, subcontracting agreements, confidentiality policies, CNIL controls, etc.).

He is more generally involved in IT law, both in consulting and in litigation.

Graduated from Sciences Po Strasbourg, Arnaud Vermersch joined the environmental and sustainable development law department of DS Avocats in January 2019 after a first 4-year experience in a litigation French law firm.

He provides advisory and litigation services to private and public actors.

Isabelle Haberer is in charge of the legal management of a portfolio of companies and the ordinary and exceptional legal secretariat: incorporation, approval of the financial statements, all modifications to the articles of association, all modifications to governance, restructuring operations, contribution, merger, dissolution and liquidation, and all related legal formalities. She is in direct contact with clients, accountants and statutory auditors.

With more than fifteen years of experience as a legal specialist in intellectual property, Isabel Carvalhinha is in charge of managing the trade mark and designs and models portfolios of DS Avocats clients.

She assists the team in the management of intellectual property rights at both national and international level.

David joined DS Avocats in 2016 and is part of the Africa Department.

A doctor in International Public Law, he advises mostly in Public Procurement / PPP / infrastructures and corporate law, notably in the context of the OHADA law.

Audrey Clement is specialised in company law, mergers and acquisitions and financing. On qualifying in 2016, she joined the company law, mergers and acquisitions and financing department of DS Avocats.

She holds a Master 2 degree in international business law from the University of Rennes 1 and spent a year studying abroad at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom

After various experiences in Paris and Bordeaux law firms, Lucille Boyer joined the firm’s Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions department in 2019.

She handles all corporate law issues and assists companies in fund raising, restructuring operations, and the sale and acquisition of companies or groups of companies.

She has also developed expertise in “social and solidarity enterprises” (SSE) and advises companies on the possibilities offered to them to adapt their operations to SSE criteria.

Ph.D of law, Rong obtained the CAPA in France in 2017.

With her professional experiences in diverse domains, i.g. estate law, contract law, intellectual property and business law, Rong accompanies the clients-investors in their transactions in China and France.

Issakha Ndiaye has developed a leading experience in the field of public procurement, particularly in West Africa.

He intervenes on behalf of public decision-makers (drafting texts, accompanying projects etc.) as well as that of economic operators (assistance and counseling, litigation).

He has written several books on PPPs and public procurement.

Svenja Zeuch‘s practice covers family and inheritance law, particularly in Franco-German contexts.

Svenja Zeuch has extensive experience in family law, including divorce, maintenance and custody law as well as in the settlement of cross-border inheritances. In addition, Svenja has been providing voluntary advice on all legal issues to the German family planning and family counselling centre Pro Familia for several years.

Dr. Ulrich Hahn-Woernle is a German lawyer. He has extensive experience in international tax law, commercial and corporate law. His long-standing experience as a director of a leading mechanical engineering company provides the firm with valuable expertise. He advises companies on tax and legal matters on an international level.

Stefanie Bieg is a lawyer admitted to practice law in both Germany (Stuttgart Bar) and France (Paris Bar). In Germany, she is specialist lawyer in international business law (Fachanwältin für internationales Wirtschaftsrecht).

Stefanie Bieg advises German and international companies, particularly French firms, on all aspects of international business law and represents them in litigation.

A key focus of her work is labour law, where she provides preventive advice and represents clients in employment disputes, both in court and out-of-court. Additionally, Stefanie advises on commercial lease law, assisting her clients with negotiating and drafting lease agreements.

Memberships / Offices:

• Member of the Executive Board in the German-French Lawyers’ Association (Deutsch- Französische Juristenvereinigung e.V. – DFJ)
• German-Spanish Lawyers’ Association (Deutsch-Spanische Juristenvereinigung e. V. – DSJV)
• International Business Law and Insolvency Law Working Groups of the German Bar Association (DAV)

Sandrine Kirschenbilder is an experienced jurist with extensive expertise in French contract, commercial, and insolvency law.

Sandrine Kirschenbilder supports clients in cross-border Franco-German matters, helping them navigate complex legal and economic challenges. Additionally, she assists companies with the enforcement of outstanding claims.

Sandrine is a Conseillère du Commerce Extérieur de la France (CCE) and President of the Baden-Württemberg chapter. Through her experience and her network, Sandrine Kirschenbilder helps companies to develop their business efficiently across borders.

Memberships / Offices:

• French Foreign Trade Advisor in Germany (Conseillère du Commerce Extérieur de la France – CCE), President of the Baden-Württemberg regional group
• German-French Lawyers’ Association (Deutsch- Französische Juristenvereinigung e.V. – DFJ)

Pham Quynh Nhi has experiences specializing in business and investment laws.

She assists foreign investors to implement their projects in a wide spectrum of industries in Vietnam. Nhi holds a bachelor degree in commercial laws from Ho Chi Minh City University of Law

My Hoa joined DS Avocats after working as a legal consultant for the oil & gas projects. She advises on the implementation and legal compliance of projects in Vietnam.

Hoa holds a bachelor’s degree in International Trade Laws from University of Laws & Economics – Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City.

Ilka Schtesche is the Office Manager and a jurist. She has been part of the team since 1995.

Thanks to her legal training and extensive experience in debt management and the administration of supplier pools, Ilka Schtesche has in-depth knowledge of insolvency law. In addition to these specialist areas, Ilka is responsible for the operational and organisational management of the law firm and is in charge of marketing, controlling and data protection.

Pol is a commercial lawyer who specialises in the digital market, intellectual property and privacy, acting in legal disputes if necessary.

In 2016, he co-founded a law firm specialised in his field of practice.

He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Young Lawyers’ Association (GAJ) and a member of the Transformation Commission of the Barcelona Bar Association.

He has also received several awards, as well as specialised training for the exercise of the functions of Data Protection Officer (DPO) and is passionate about the world of technology.

He is always willing to take on new projects and challenges in multidisciplinary teams.

Lawyer specialized in corporate, financial-regulatory and tax law.

He regularly advises national and international clients in all kind of matters related to these areas, as well as he also has experience in the field of M&A and venture capital transactions.

Isabel Moga Rella, a Spanish national, has been working in China since 2009. She advises Spanish and French companies in their investment and development projects in China.

She is specialized in corporate law and labor law.

Partner in charge of the Commercial, Mergers & Acquisitions and International Law department of DS Abogados Chile. Having more than 25 years of experience, advises companies and investment funds in various sectors such as the Retail Industry, Pharmaceutical Industry, New Technologies Industry, Renewable Energy Industry, mining and services industry in general. Furthermore, he also assists these companies in their M&A processes, conflict resolution and complex negotiations.

Advising clients in various fields of activity, and more particularly in matters of free competition law, distribution, regulation and administrative processes.

Partner in charge of the area of litigation and arbitration in DS Chile, lawyer specialized in arbitration, civil and family litigation, as well as in the planning of negotiations and judicial strategies. he is a member of the Mediation and Arbitration Center of the Santiago Chamber of Commerce and the First Court of Appeals of Santiago.

He has experience in International Arbitration and was a professor at the Diego Portales University School of Law for more than 12 years.

Sacha Brodetsky holds a Master degree in General Private Law from the University of Paris II and an LL.M. from the University of Melbourne (Australia).

He joined the Environmental and Sustainable Development Law department of DS Avocats in February 2020 after a 2-year experience in a renowned French law firm in the field of insurance law and industrial risks. He provides both advisory and litigation services in the field of environmental law and insurance law.

Seynabou Kandji is the head of the Dakar office of DS (DS Consulting Afrique). She applies the skills available in the offices of DS around the world to develop the activities of the Group in Sub-Saharan Africa. She advises local and international clients (foreign investors, multinationals, public institutions etc.).

She is qualified in international business law, common law and environmental law.

Chiara Poggi Ferrero is the partner in charge of the International Desks at DS Avocats.

Following her studies in Italy (University of Padua Law School) and France (LL.M Paris 2 Assas), Chiara became a member of the Milan and Paris Bars. She is in charge of the Italy Desk and brings to the firm over 20 years’ experience in corporate law, in both Italy and France. Chiara advises on cross-border transactions between France and Italy, commercial transactions and disputes and international personnel mobility.

She is the author of many publications and speaks frequently at corporate law conferences in France and Italy in collaboration with a range of Italian and French organisations, industry bodies, employer confederations and universities. In addition, together with the department’s international desks and the DS Avocats teams across the world, Chiara advises on inbound and outbound investments, in particular at the European level.

Chiara was awarded the French National Order of Merit for her activities promoting French and Italian cooperation in 2017.

Chiara was also distinguished in 2021 with the Order of the Italian Star at the rank of Knight.

Pierre-Louis Boret graduated from the University of Bordeaux and also studied at City University, London.

He worked as a trainee in several law firms and companies, in France and abroad, before joining the corporate team of DS Bordeaux in 2019.

Since 2013, Marie-Ludivine Facon assists project owners and companies in the protection and enhancement of their intangible assets (copyright, trademark, design, patent, digital), their image and their know-how in France and abroad, as well as in their development strategy and in the negotiation of commercial agreements. 

She acts both as counsel and in business litigation and more particularly before the courts and industrial property offices.

She holds a Master 2 in Industrial Property from the University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas, a Master 1 in Corporate and Contract Law from the University of Lille II and a Certificate in Law & Management from EDHEC Business School.

Verónica Ramírez is a partner of the Spanish law firm DS OVSLAW. In her professional practice she is involved in the comprehensive advice of companies, both national and international, through planning, design and advice both in the incorporation of all types of companies and in the recurrent advice throughout their corporate life, providing support to corporate and administrative bodies and intervening in operations of restructuring, acquisition, sale and merger of companies.

Veronica has extensive experience both in advising start-ups (especially in the various rounds of investment and agreement between partners) and in advising private equity entities (investment and disinvestment processes in companies) and venture capital funds.

A member of the Barcelona Bar Association, Veronica has collaborated with the Abad Oliva University of Barcelona, teaching sessions on the processes of M&A.

Having joined DS Avocats in 2005, Michaël Moussault is now a partner in the Urban Planning Department and manages the Real Estate Development team of the firm.

Michaël is a specialist in property law. In particular, he advises on questions relating to land acquisitions (compulsory or amicable), as well as the management of assets (occupation of the public and private domain), issues relating to the eviction of businesses and relocation of occupants from buildings acquired in the context of development projects. Through his recognised expertise in real estate development, Michaël delivers numerous training programmes and manages DS Avocats’ partnership with the two publications in the area of expropriation, Etudes Foncières and La Gazette des Communes.

Hua Zhong has been working for DS since 2014. She acts for Chinese companies in legal matters such as investment in France.

Before joining DS, she worked in the Compliance and Legal Department of ICBC (Europe). She holds the AMF Professional Certification.

Since October 2016, she moved to DS Shanghai where she assists French and European companies in China.

Margot Cougnoux graduated from the University of Aix en Provence with a Master Degree in Corporate Law and a DJCE diploma.

She joined the Commercial Law and Competition Law Department of DS Avocats in 2019.

She assists the firm’s clients in consulting and litigation in the following areas: contracts law, commercial law, insurance, competition, distribution, consumer affairs.

Thomas Obajtek manages the Lille office and advises in the area of prevention and management of business difficulties. He also advises on the takeover of businesses in difficulty and corporate litigation.

Lucas Mascarade, in charge of the Indonesian Desk, is seconded in Jakarta since 2016.

After an experience with Business France Singapore and as an associate in a German Law Firm in Kuala Lumpur, he focuses on advising European companies for structuring their investment in South East Asia and Indonesia as well as Indonesian companies for their investment in Europe.

He advises the clients of the Indonesian Desk concerning Contract Law, FDI Law, Corporate Law, International Business Law, Economic Law, Dispute Resolution and Labor Law.

He has been appointed as the advisor of the French Embassy in Indonesia since 2018 and French Trade Advisor since 2020.

After first practising at Cornet Vincent Segurel in Paris, Julia Folgoas specialised in company law and mergers and acquisitions. She joined the company law, mergers and acquisitions and financing department of DS Avocats in 2016.

Julia is dual qualified from ECS Lille (now known as Skema Business School) Grande Ecole section and has a Master 2 degree in Business law (European and comparative law).

Jean-Baptiste Micard is specialized in intellectual property law. Before joining DS Avocats, he completed several internships, including one in an industrial property consulting firm.

He currently practices in copyright law, trademark law, new technology law, in both advisory and litigation in French and English.

Emma passed her Bar School Finals in 2012 and is qualified from the University of Panthéon-Assas, Paris II (Diploma in legal business advice (DJCE).

After first practising at an British law firm, Emma Quercy is specialised in company law and mergers and acquisitions. She joined the company law, mergers and acquisitions and financing department of DS Avocats in 2016.

Dimana Todorova has joined DS Avocats in 2017 after significant experiences in law firms in Brussels and Paris specialized in European and competition law, as well at the European Court of Justice.

She provides legal advisory services and litigation services, in French, English and Bulgarian, with a double expertise in trade defense measures and European competition law, as well as all questions related to EU law.

Clarisse Marot holds a Master 2 degree in Labour Law from the University of Nantes. She joined the Bordeaux office and provides advisory and litigation services exclusively on labour law to businesses and executive managers.

Laurence Ren has a doctorate in law from the Université Paris I, is a member of the Paris, Beijing and New York Bars and practices French and international corporate law. She advises Chinese clients on mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracts and international investments, as well as on the contentious aspects of these transactions.

Catherine Verneret specialises in trademark, design and copyright law. She also advises on the protection of personal data. Catherine has developed a solid experience in the distribution, telecommunications and perfume sectors.

Her practice is split between transactional and contentious matters.

Alix Schontz has specialized training in labor law and dedicates her activity to assisting companies in various economic sectors in the Nouvelle Aquitaine region, particularly in the wine industry.

She ensures, through subscriptions, the regular monitoring of labour management within companies and organizations.

She is also involved in the social tribunals of the New Aquitaine region, in order to manage labor law disputes.

Arnaud Langlais has advised on M&A, private equity, and corporate law and has been involved in more than a hundred transactions and strategic operations for private and public entities: shareholder relations, joint ventures, acquisitions, and majority or minority stakes. Within the firm, he is also in charge of the corporate real estate practice and a founding member of We Law You, DS Avocats’ program for start-ups.
Arnaud Langlais is also a regular contributor to the press.

His experience with both private and public companies has led him to develop a particular expertise in companies owned by public companies: governance, and obligations towards supervisory authorities. He is involved in all types of acquisitions, majority or minority shareholdings, and joint ventures.

A lawyer since 1980, Marie-Christine Mergny has developed an activity of advice and litigation in commercial matters, particularly in international trade.

She assists French and foreign clients and represents them in litigation relating to the performance of their contracts (breach of commercial relations, contractual non-performance, product liability). She also practices in the industrial sectors.

Arnaud Fendler works on all aspects of customs and international trade law, areas in which he has developed a strong expertise since 2015.

He joined DS Avocats after several experiences in business law in the Brussels office of DS and at Gowling WLG in London.

He assists the firm’s clients, in both advisory and litigation matters, in French and English, in all the following areas: customs law (customs valuation & transfer pricing, tariff classification, origin, special regimes, AEO certifications), economic sanctions and export control of dual-use goods and defence equipment, green taxes, excise duties, trade defence and import VAT.

Arnaud Fendler is based in Paris where he works in close cooperation with multinational companies, SMEs, professional organisations and competent administrative authorities.

He is a member of the Collin de Sussy customs think tank, the ICC France Customs Commission and the ICC delegation to the WCO Technical Committee on Customs Valuation

Jérôme Lombard-Platet is a partner and head of the corporate law / M&A and financing team at DS Avocats.

He is also a member of the Madrid Bar.

He is in charge of transactions including all corporate and M&A issues (LBOs, private equity, joint-ventures, etc.).

To this end, he advises French and European corporate groups.

Jérôme Lombard-Platet has completed more than 250 transactions involving the acquisition/disposal of company shares.

He is the author of numerous articles in the magazines Option Finance and Droit et Affaires.

Zhang Beibei assists foreign companies in China in their development projects and also specializes in digital and information systems law.

Yang Lili specializes in complex M&A transactions, foreign investment and corporate law.

She previously worked in a Korean law firm in Beijing in the area of M&A transactions.

Xu Dehong has joined DS since 1999, having a double professional experience for Chinese and French entities. Thanks to her in-depth understanding of the social and legal environment of the business of foreign companies in China, she has acquired an extremely rich experience in the field of legal advice.

The scope of her intervention extends from the establishment of legal structures, to the accompaniment of their day-to-day operations up to their possible liquidation . Her experience has led her to deal with a large number of delicate situations, which makes her a valuable asset for our clients in anticipating and managing risks in China.

Jean-Charles Gancia has more than 25 years of experience in the restructuring, transfer and acquisition of companies in financial difficulties. He has worked for Hubert Lafont, a court receiver, DELOITTE Corporate Finance, SOFILAB and Societex Corporate Finance.
He has CMAP training (arbitration and mediation) and is a registered mediator with the Appeal Court of Paris.

Grégory Gutierrez advises on environmental and energy law for French and foreign industrial and real estate clients, both public and private, wishing to invest/divest or develop projects in France and abroad.

He has acquired solid experience in the field of environmental risk transfer (sale/acquisition of companies or real estate assets), particularly in the context of complex transactions involving multi-operator platforms, and assists his clients before the judicial and administrative authorities. Grégory Gutierrez has developed a strong expertise in the field of polluted soils and brownfields rehabilitation. He regularly acts in the real estate sector, particularly in the field of warehouses and logistics. More generally, he accompanies a diversified clientele in the development of projects involving various sectors (renewable energies, mining, logistics, cosmetics, chemicals, waste, quarries, aeronautics, automotive, …).

Grégory Gutierrez is a regular speaker at conferences and publishes articles that enrich the legal doctrine. He regularly conducts training sessions for professionals and students. In particular, he is a trainer at EFE (in environmental law: “improving” and “mastering” courses, and a module on the development of industrial wasteland and the ALUR law).

He is a member of the Environment & Energy Commission of ICC France since 2016.

Wuyan has been working in the Shanghai office since the early 2000s, and has developed a strong expertise in M&A transactions and joint venture projects.

She has managed several acquisition projects in the food, chemical, service, automotive, etc. sectors and has been able to extend her experience to other areas such as real estate, construction and the environmental sector and has led complex M&A projects and intra-group reorganizations.

In addition, she specializes in labor law and distribution law.

Fort d’une expérience professionnelle variée en entreprise et en cabinet d’avocats, ancien secrétaire de la conférence du stage, Arnaud Constant intervient en conseil et en contentieux en matière de droit commercial et financier complexe ainsi qu’en droit des sociétés. Il anime l’activité de droit pénal des affaires du cabinet.

Il dispense des formations professionnelles en droit des affaires et en droit pénal des affaires auprès de divers organismes.

Qiao Xuemei joined DS in 2014 after 7 years spent in a French law firm in Beijing.

She is in charge of all administrative formalities for DS’ clients, both when setting up mixed capital companies, companies with exclusively foreign capital, and during subsequent changes in their organization or governance.

She also supervises the formalities for obtaining work permits and work visas for foreign employees.

She brings to DS’ clients her extensive knowledge of the workings and specificities of Chinese administrations, her patience and her persuasive power.

She practised law for 6 years in Paris in a law firm with a reputation for tax and company law before moving to Shanghai where she joined an auditing firm (big 4), taking charge of foreign and local businesses and their Mergers & Acquisitions projects

She continues to develop her experience in taxation but has also been able to extend her expertise in other areas such as M&A transactions, corporate law and contract law.

He Shunshan, after having worked 7 years in taxation in an international accounting firm, joined DS Avocats in 2013 to lead the taxation practice.

As such, she advises foreign companies in all areas of taxation in China: VAT, income tax, personal income tax, preferential tax policies, derogatory regimes, tax optimization, in particular.

Since her arrival at DS in 2011, Gao Jing has developed an expertise in employment law.

Favoring a pragmatic and operational approach, she assists companies in their management of individual and collective labor relations: drafting of employment contracts, internal regulations, implementation of redundancy strategies, collective redundancy procedures, calculation of severance pay, negotiations with employees, etc.

In addition, she also advises foreign companies on customs law and intervenes more generally in the various legal issues that may arise in the life of a company.

Ding Yu specializes in labor law, maritime law and corporate law.

Before joining DS, she worked for more than 5 years at a renowned Chinese law firm dealing in labor law and labor litigation.

Since joining DS in 2008, Chen Xiaoyun has developed, in addition to his knowledge in environmental law, an expertise in intellectual property law.

In particular, he is in charge of managing the portfolios of trademarks, designs, patents, copyrights and software of DS Avocats’ clients.

He also advises them on all issues related to the protection of their intellectual property rights, and brings his experience both in establishing and implementing strategies for the clearance of prior rights, and in conducting and monitoring proceedings before the relevant Chinese administrations (such as opposition, cancellation and forfeiture proceedings, in particular).

Arnaud Burg holds a Master’s in Private Law, an MSTCF Certificate from the Université de Toulouse (1987-1988) and a Master’s (DESS) in Property Management from ESSEC (2003).

He is a member of the executive board of DS Avocats. He advises on mergers and acquisitions and structured financing. He brings together these two areas of expertise to assist businesses with external growth, equity capital and business transfer transactions. He also advises banks on implementing structured financings.

Christophe Billet’s experience has enabled him to develop expertise in corporate taxation in both domestic and international transactions.

He has been involved in the tax aspects of numerous acquisitions (takeovers, JVs, LBOs, etc.), investments and restructurings. In addition, he has expertise in real estate taxation, allowing him to act on behalf of major real estate operators.

He assists public players in the management of tax issues, both as counsel and in litigation, in all sectors of activity and in particular in land development in the context of concession contracts or in his own right, as well as in the area of public contracts (public procurement, public service contracts, PPP).

Alessandro, enrolled at Milan Bar Association, provides legal advice and assistance in corporate and business law to foreign companies in Italy and to Italian companies in China where he has resided and worked for over 7 years.

He specializes in international law, M&A and PRC investment law as set up, joint ventures, restructuring and acquisitions within the Chinese market where he accompanies manufacturing enterprises of different sectors in the development of their investment projects. Working for long period in Asia he has gained cross cultural negotiation skills that are utilized particularly in dispute resolutions and contracts negotiations.

Alessandro has also extensive experience in intellectual property law and he assists clients in IP strategy prevention, registrations, licensing agreements and relative litigation.

He is currently an arbitrator at the Panel of the Shanghai International Arbitrator Center (SHIAC).

Partner in charge of the Beijing office, Sylvie Savoie has been working in China with DS Avocats since 1990.

She advises foreign companies in their establishment projects and also ensures the legal support of companies already present in China by assisting them on a daily basis in the areas of contract law, employment law, commercial law and tax law in particular.

She manages DS’ intellectual property practice in China, and is particularly in charge of setting up strategies for the recovery of prior rights, drafting licensing agreements or the assignment of intellectual property rights.

In addition, she has developed expertise in the audiovisual field, particularly in film co-production projects.

Sylvie Savoie is perfectly bilingual in Mandarin.

Anne Severin has been working in China since 1997 and advises French and European companies in the Shanghai region. She was a member of the Office of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China and is a French Adviser on International Trade.

In 2017 she was also recognised by the City of Shanghai as the first foreign lawyer to be awarded the Magnolia Medal, which recognises foreigners that have particularly contributed to the economic and social development of Shanghai.

She contributes each year to the legal section of Sinoscope and speaks on the legal environment in China before delegations from IHEDN, ESSEC, the École Polytechnique, as well as at the request of the Consul General of France in Shanghai to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Keeper of the Seals, as well as parliamentary delegations.

Samanta Librio is the Managing Partner of DS Avocats Milano. She practices commercial and corporate law, assisting on a wide range of corporate transactions such as acquisitions, investments, mergers, spin-offs, contributions in kind, reorganisations, restructurings and joint ventures. She also provides ongoing legal assistance and advice to Italian and multinational groups active in the oil and gas, heavy industry, energy, real estate, publishing and telecommunications sectors.

Her practice also includes litigation and international arbitration. Samanta has developed extensive expertise in property and property finance and regularly assists property investment funds, fund management companies, investors and property asset management companies.

Samanta Librio is a member of the board of directors of Italian listed companies and a non-profit foundation. She works in Italian and English.

Reiner founded the firm in 1986. He specializes in international business law, insolvency law, security rights law and inheritance law.

Through his close collaboration with prominent credit insurers in Germany, France, and China, he has built a prestigious international clientele. Reiner is regularly involved in creditors’ committees and has extensive experience in managing supplier pools.

He also serves as legal advisor to the French General Consulate in Stuttgart and supports clients in all French-German matters, particularly in French-German contract and inheritance law. Additionally, Reiner assists clients in national and international arbitration proceedings.

Memberships / Offices :

• German-French Lawyers’ Association (Deutsch- Französische Juristenvereinigung e.V. – DFJ)

Avocat depuis 2019, est spécialisé dans le domaine du contentieux et de l’arbitrage, intervenant principalement en matière civile, arbitrale et administrative.

Lawyer with more than 25 years of experience, he has a broad experience in the areas of Environment, Energy Law, Natural Resources Law.

He has acquired solid knowledge in Public Law with a special focus on Public Tenders in the Energy Area acting as a counsel for the Public Sector as well as for Private Companies. Furthermore, before joining the Firm, he worked as In House Legal Counsel for Transelec S.A, Chile´s most relevant energy transmission company.

Lawyer with more than 18 years of experience, she is in charge of advising national and international clients in the acquisition, development, financing, execution and commercialization of real estate projects and in the investment in real estate assets, as well as in the negotiation and preparation of contracts and documents necessary for its activities in matters related to its business, corporate and permanent administration.

Lisbeth LANVERS-SHAH is a dedicated and accomplished lawyer with over 16 years of comprehensive experience in Southeast Asia, India and Europe.

She has a strong expertise in corporate law, M&A, commercial contracts, data protection, employment law and secretarial/regulatory compliance.

She is enthusiastic about cross-border transactions across various sectors, including security, industry, luxury, IT, waste management and has a proven ability to provide strategic legal advice, manage diverse legal matters and contribute to corporate governance. She is skilled in assessing risks, calculating opportunities and building teams. She is a reliable business partner focused on helping delivering pragmatic and commercially successful outcomes.

Avocate au Barreau de Milan, Marta Longoni intervient principalement en matière du droit du commerce international, droit commercial et droit des sociétés. Elle assiste et conseille les clients italiens et étrangers sur tous les aspects concernant leur activité ordinaire, notamment dans le domaine des contrats commerciaux (tels quel les contrats de vente, d’agence et de distribution), ainsi que sur des questions liées au commerce électronique et de protection de la vie privée.

Marta fournit également une assistance dans le cadre de transactions extraordinaires, telles que les acquisitions et les opérations de fusions-acquisitions. Elle assiste spécialement les entreprises dans le cadre de procédures d’insolvabilité et de faillite. Marta a développé une expertise significative dans le domaine du contentieux et de l’arbitrage international, notamment dans le secteur du pétrole et du gaz. Elle travaille surtout en italien et en anglais.

Yi-Ta Hou began her career in 1999 with the Mergers and Acquisition Department of DS Avocats in Paris and led numerous mergers and acquisition, joint-venture and restructuring projects in Europe and West Africa before joining the Shanghai office in 2010.

Her international expertise has led to Ya-Ti being put in charge of the mergers and acquisition practice in China, which also covers joint-venture projects. She has, in addition, managed complex industrial projects that involved simultaneous plant relocations and restructuring of business activities.

Xavier Lacaze is a partner within the Commercial and Competition Law Department. He has a Master’s (DEA) in Corporate Law from Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne, was an assistant lecturer at Université de Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines, where he taught EU competition law under Professor Gilbert Parléani and civil law under Professor Marie Malaurie-Vignal. He has given seminars on antitrust law for the Master’s (DJCE) programme at the Université de Cergy and has offered training at Ecole Nationale de la Magistrature on assessing the losses caused by anti-competitive practices.

Xavier has been practicing French and European competition law since 1999. He advises on both transactional and litigious matters across many sectors of the economy, including the industrial, construction and public works, energy, transport and network industry sectors. His clients are large groups that he advises on strategic and complex matters.

Xavier has acquired extensive experience in many sectors, including competition investigations, litigation and pre-litigation before the French competition authorities and the European Commission, French and European merger controls, private competition litigation, state subsidies, as well as contracts and disputes related to distribution and consumer law. He provides training in competition law, in particular to clients in the construction and public works sector, as well as the engineering, energy, transport and automotive sectors.

Véronique Fröding has been a member of the Paris Bar since 1989 and became a partner at DS Avocats in 2017 after practicing with Gide Loyrette Nouel.

She advises an international client base on the transactional and contentious aspects of cross-border investments in the fields of company and economic law, in particular in the field of product liability.

She has also developed specific expertise in energy law and regularly advises investors on the development, acquisition and financing of power plants, as well as on construction, operation and maintenance contracts.

Her expertise extends to regulatory, contractual and transactional aspects in various energy sectors, including electricity, gas, on-shore and off-shore wind projects, solar energy, biomass, and energy efficiency.

She also advises on energy sale and purchase contracts, capacity guarantees, CO₂ quotas and certificates of origin.

Véronique also assists with sustainable mobility issues, including intelligent networks, electric charging stations, self-driving cars, etc.

Her in-depth understanding of the market enables her to advise her public and private clients, in their own language, on all aspects of their transactions.

In particular, she is a member of the steering committee of the Franco-German Office for Energy Transition (OFATE).

Thomas Beaugrand’s practice focuses on IT law (large technology projects, digital services, software licensing and law, electronic communication, IT litigation and legal appraisals, digital intellectual property, etc.), data protection law (personal data, GDPR compliance, e-privacy regulations, frameworks for new data exploitation models), and e-commerce law (drafting general terms and conditions of sale for commercial websites, IoT frameworks).

Thomas also advises companies on their digital transition projects, IT acquisitions and digital restructuring (acquisition and deployment of cloud solutions, system integration and ERP, drafting and negotiating contracts, Agile software engineering, outsourcing and virtualisation, software compliance, web development, database protection, free software management, etc.), as well as ensuring that they comply with French and European data protection regulations (compliance controls, legal notices and flow regulations, action plans, assistance to DPOs, business development, digital marketing, etc.).

Thomas provides clients ranging from technology publishers to computer engineering companies and user companies with independent, proactive and pragmatic advice on both transactional and contentious matters. He also provides training on all of the above topics.

Robert Théret joined the Real Estate team at DS Avocats after many years at the head of one of the largest Paris-based notarial firms.

He advises on the transfer and acquisition of property and real estate companies, devising financing arrangements and property development and assists with investment and arbitration transactions of major French and foreign institutional investors.

Raphaël Romi holds a degree in public law. He is a former dean of the law faculty of Nantes, and heads one of the few sustainable development and environmental law master’s courses. He is ad personam Chair of European environmental law and has published several renowned textbooks in public economic law and environmental law.

He has extensive expertise in the renewable energies, biological diversity and sustainable development sectors and in the field of social and solidarity economy.

Raphaël was counsel in the Erika and Xynthia affairs; he has managed French and European litigations related to species management, has contributed to the establishment of public local regional enterprises and to legal and regulatory tracts on climate change.

He has extensive experience as an elected representative, and in particular he advises local authorities, local public establishments, as well as associations and companies on structuring and innovative and experimental contracts.

Based in Singapour since 2014, Olivier Monange has been working in Asia for more than 30 years. He opened the first French law firm in China in 1986 and was involved in negotiating the first joint venture contracts under Chinese law. Based in Beijing from 1994 to 2000, Olivier has advised many European companies on their strategies for establishing and operating in China, and has participated in several arbitrations.

He was the vice-president of the French Chamber of Commerce in China between 1996 and 2000. In 2001, he was appointed head of the International Department at DS Avocats, where he worked to develop the firm in Asia, including the Singapore office in 2004 and the Indian and Indonesian Desks, as well as the Asian client base, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Indian clients. French foreign trade advisor between 2001 and 2013.

He has become an expert in international arbitration in the fields of foreign direct investment and international contracts. Member of the ICC arbitration commissions of Paris and Singapore, the ICC Institute of World Business Law, a panel member for some of the most important Asian arbitration bodies (SIAC- Reserve List Singapore, HKIAC Hong Kong, SHIAC Shanghai, BAC Beijing, AIAC Kuala Lumpur, PIAC Ho Chi Minh City), a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb, London) and Fellow Member of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators (SIArb). Registered as a foreign lawyer at the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC).

He regularly acts as counsel and increasingly as an arbitrator in Asia-related arbitration cases.

Nathalie Sultan practices public business law. She advises companies, public institutions and investors on structuring and implementing public-private projects.

Nathalie has extensive experience in structuring and negotiating public contracts in various sectors, including infrastructure, telecommunications, energy and construction, in accordance with complex long-term procedures, including negotiated and/or competitive dialogue procedures. Furthermore, she advises clients on drafting secure contracts and managing risks.

She also assists with the acquisition and restructuring of special purpose vehicles created for the performance of public contracts.

In addition, Nathalie has developed significant expertise in public real estate projects, and advises her clients on how to safeguard their structures, in particular as part of calls for proposals and initial invitations to tenders, and related to public land tenure granted as part of complex projects.

Marie Trécan has been a lawyer since 2001. Her practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions and corporate law, and she assists French and foreign clients with their external growth operations (mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, etc.), their corporate law issues and their complex contractual negotiations.

She regularly assists both private and public entities in the context of transactions with real estate as an underlying element: acquisitions, acquisition of majority or minority stakes, real estate joint-ventures.

Marie Trécan has also developed a solid experience in structured finance, project finance and real estate financing for credit institutions as well as for investors involved in bond financing.

Lubomir Roglev is a partner, Head of the Africa Desk in Paris. He specializes in corporate finance and natural resources. His experience focuses on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, acquisition finance, complex securities issues, mining and mining finance, energy and infrastructure, particularly in Africa.

He advises companies, banks, governments and investment funds in France and in Sub-Saharan Africa. He also advises international groups on the implementation of their integrity and compliance programs.

Laura Ceccarelli–Le Guen co-anime l’activité Urbanisme au sein du Pôle Immobilier de DS Avocats. Elle accompagne les porteurs de projets publics et privés dans le montage réglementaire de leurs opérations d’aménagement et d’infrastructures : faisabilité du projet, évolution des règles d’urbanisme, mise en œuvre des procédures (procédures de participation du public, droit d’initiative, évaluations environnementales, expropriation, préemption…), obtention des autorisations d’urbanisme et environnementales ; gestion des contentieux et négociations.

Elle a développé une expertise particulière en matière d’optimisation et de sécurisation de l’ensemble des procédures à mener pour la réalisation des grands projets d’aménagement et d’infrastructures au titre des différentes réglementations applicables (code de l’urbanisme, code de l’environnement, code de l’expropriation…).

Elle enseigne le droit et le contentieux de l’urbanisme au sein du Master Urbanisme de l’Ecole Urbaine de Sciences Politiques, dont elle est membre du Conseil pédagogique. Elle anime de nombreuses formations sur des thèmes tels que « Réaliser un projet immobilier d’envergure ; outils, méthodes et procédures en matière de droit de l’urbanisme et de droit de l’environnement », « Les impacts des réformes en matière environnementale sur les projets immobiliers », « Mener à bien une procédure d’expropriation ou de préemption »… et rédige régulièrement des articles sur les évaluations environnementales.

Jean-Marie Salva is a Of Counsel lawyer at DS Avocats in Paris. He puts his expertise in customs law and international trade regulations at the service of the clients of DS Avocats. He provides advice (strategic consulting, optimization, compliance, AEO certification) as well as litigation.

Jean-Marie Salva is also registered on the lists of arbitrators of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

He is Chairman of the Customs Commission of ICC France and Vice-Chairman of the ICC Customs and trade facilitation committee.

He is a founding member and former Chairman of the Collin de Sussy customs think tank. He is also a founding member of the International Federation of Authorized Economic Operators (FIOEA).

Jean-Marie Salva teaches in Master 2 “International Trade Law” at the University of Paris 2 Panthéon Assas.

A former inspector at the General Directorate of Customs, Jean-Marie Salva was General Delegate of the Federation of International Trade Companies in Mechanics and Electronics (FICIME) from 1992 to 2001.

Isabelle Carton de Grammont, partner, has been involved for 25 years in public/private real estate law: urban planning, development, environment, land action and construction. She is the regular counsel of many public or private actors whom she assists in the implementation of their development and construction operations.

In order to provide regulatory and secure support for projects, her legal skills cover:

• from land use planning: amicable acquisitions (drafting and/or analysis of preliminary contracts) or forced acquisitions (expropriation, pre-emption, relinquishment);
• to setting up the construction or development operation: drafting and negotiating public and private contracts, competitive bidding procedures, complex arrangements, environmental procedures, urban planning authorizations and regulations, financing.
  

She also advises clients on construction law, at various stages of the project, from preparation to support during the construction phase to post-acceptance litigation, including the implementation of legal guarantees and the use of insurance policies.

She deals with all legal and judicial issues in these areas as well as in matters of leases and co-ownership. She also acts in general public law.

After completing a Master’s (DEA) in Corporate and Economic Law (Paris I), Fabrice Van Cauwelaert wrote his doctoral thesis on “The Freedom of Operators on the Market – a Competition Law Study.”

He joined the Commercial and Competition Law Department in January 2018, and he advises on transactional and contentious matters in the areas of commercial law and policy, competition law (anticompetitive and restrictive practices, merger controls and state aid) and regulatory law (business regulation, controls, administrative sanctions, etc.).

Fabrice is recognised for his experience in all matters related to the application of competition rules to the public sector and therefore works with the Public Business Law Department to assist the contracting authorities with assessing whether their planned actions comply with competition rules.

He lectures on public competition law as part of the Master’s II course on Contracts and Competition at the Université de Versailles-Saint Quentin en Yvelines, and runs an economic criminal law workshop at the Sciences Po Law School in Paris.

Frédéric Levy est responsable du Pôle Immobilier de DS Avocats. Il intervient en Conseil et Contentieux, notamment en action foncière, en matière d’expropriation, de préemption et de délaissement et en Droit de l’environnement, en matière de sites et sols pollués, responsabilité administrative, civile et pénale.

Il est Vice-Président du Laboratoire d’Initiatives Foncières et des Technologies Innovantes (LIFTI) et membre du Club des Avocats Environnementalistes.

Frédéric Godard-Auguste’s expertise is highly recognised in the field of employment law, where he advises companies of all sizes, as well as management.

In particular, he assists with individual and collective labour relations, as well as restructurings and the implementation of employment protection plans.

For the past 15 years, he has also advised court-appointed receivers and agents on businesses in distress, the application of employment law to insolvency proceedings, job restructurings, as well as on due diligence exercises in the context of transfers.

A former first secretary of the French Bar mooting competition (Conférence du Stage) and lecturer, Frédéric GODARD-AUGUSTE is also a litigation lawyer and represents clients before employment and criminal courts, and has developed a particular expertise in collective disputes and criminal employment law.

Frédéric holds a double specialisation in employment law and social security and social protection law. He is also the managing partner of the Bordeaux office.

François Dauchy has experience in the public-private sector, in both legal and business roles, for regional authorities, public bodies, development companies, etc.

Since joining the firm in 1992, he has contributed his extensive expertise in the property sector to matters ranging from development and urban regeneration projects to co-ownership disputes. He is particularly experienced in dealing with property issues related to large-scale linear transportation projects.

Over the past several years, François has also provided training on the law of expropriation and pre-emption.

Florence Bouthillier has extensive experience in drafting and managing contractual documents for clients including real estate companies and asset managers (civil and commercial leases, intermediary mandates, acquisition and transfer agreements, etc.), as well as for French and foreign investors (acquisition and transfer agreements, guarantees, etc.). She also advises on the resolution of disputes, including legal proceedings and enforcement options.

Florence is the co-author of the annotated manuals on Business Assets and Commercial Leases and Commercial Law, published by Lamy.

She has lectured at the Université de Besançon on complex real estate transactions and development agreements and is currently a member of the faculty for the master’s degree (magistère) specialising in property management and services at the Ecole Supérieure des Travaux Publics, du Bâtiment et des Services.

Éric Coutaud’s practice focuses on public law, particularly urban planning and development law. For almost 30 years, he has advised regional authorities, as well as their associations and operators such as semi-public companies (SEM), local public enterprises (SPL), single-purpose public-private partnerships (SEMOP), public bodies, real estate developers, etc. Based in the Lille office, he practices in the Hauts-de-France region where he advises on all areas of public law, including general administrative law, public domain, economic intervention, delegation of public services, etc.

Éric specialises in setting up and implementing complex development and real estate projects. In this field, he advises on determining and implementing procedures for administrative permits and formalities, land management, contracts, financing of public infrastructure and on how to create, transform, merge and liquidate promotional, construction and development structures.

Over the course of his career, he has acquired extensive experience in the multimodality, set up and management of logistics zones.

Eric provides training and publishes articles on development law.

David Guillot co-heads the Urban Planning Practice at DS Avocats. He advises real estate companies on establishing their planning and construction projects, including carrying out feasibility studies, project development, construction permit audits, interface with public bodies, management of disputes and negotiations. He also advises brands on commercial development.

David is also a lecturer at the Urban Planning School at Sciences Po Paris.

Bernard Tézé is a partner in the Corporate Department of DS Avocats in Paris.

He is involved in M&A, strategic alliances, partnerships, joint ventures and restructuring as well as private equity, LBO and Venture Capital, particularly in the regulated sectors (Healthcare Pharma-Biotech Medtech, Banking-Insurance and Fintech, Defence, NICT and e-commerce).

He is also involved in the ecosystem of start-ups, incubators, accelerators, family offices and venture funds.

Before joining DS in 2008, he was a Partner since 2001 at White&Case in Paris and before that Counsel at Clifford Chance in Paris.

He was also seconded for 4 years to a law firm in Japan where he returns very regularly in a professional capacity.

He has been involved in outbound acquisitions in China, Japan, Russia, Brazil and India.

Bernard graduated from HEC in 1985 and holds a Master’s degree in Public and Private Law and a DESS (post-graduate diploma) in International Taxation.

He is Honorary President of the International Development Group of the HEC Association.

Benoît Charrière-Bournazel is a member of the Paris and New York Bars as well as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales. He advises on French and international business law matters. He worked for 10 years at the French embassy in the United States and for the US law firm Covington & Burling in New York and London. Back in Paris, he worked as an associate for the US law firm Debevoise & Plimpton and was a partner at French law firm CBR & Associés, before joining DS Avocats as a partner in 2014.

Benoît is a partner in the Corporate/M&A Department as well as head of the USA and UK Desks in Paris. He advises French and international clients on external growth operations (mergers & acquisitions, private equity, venture capital, joint ventures, strategic alliances, etc.), corporate law matters (governance, compliance, etc.), international investments as well as dispute resolutions related to such matters. He has developed particular expertise in the energy, health, technology, cosmetics, food and financial services sectors.

Benoît is also head of the Paris-New York international commission of the Paris Bar, president of the New York University Alumni Club in France and member of the New York University Law International Alumni Advisory Board.

Anne De Seze is in charge of corporate law within the Corporate, Mergers and Acquisitions and Restructuring Department.

Anne provides day-to-day assistance with company law matters to large companies with complex decision-making bodies, as well as on corporate restructuring, reorganisations and complex security issuances.