Gide Loyrette Nouel
Encyclopedia
Gide Loyrette Nouel is an independent French law firm
based in Paris
. Though Pierre Gide's legal practice began as early as 1920, the firm was itself founded in 1957 by Gide, Jean Loyrette and Philippe Nouel after the Barreau de Paris amended its rules allowing lawyers to form associations and practice in a collective. The firm currently employs 1200 people, including 700 attorneys in 20 countries. Gide Loyrette Nouel's revenue was €250 million in 2007. The firm operates as a limited liability partnership
in London and as its French equivalent, an association d'avocats à responsabilité professionnelle individuelle (A.A.R.P.I.) in France.
. In 1967, the firm launched its international practice with an office in Brussels
. The firm currently maintains offices in civil law
jurisdictions (such as those in Central Europe
, Eastern Europe
, North Africa
and Southeast Asia
) as well as in those financial centers where firm clients require legal services (New York and London
). To help build its international credentials, the firm retained former French foreign minister Hubert Védrine
in 2003. Gide revised its international strategy in late 2010, closing its Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Dubai offices with immediate effect. The firm announced it would also close its Prague office and Belgrade offices.
Though the firm has a large roster of foreign and multinational clients, it also has remained a French operation, representing some 38 of the CAC 40
companies.
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
based in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Though Pierre Gide's legal practice began as early as 1920, the firm was itself founded in 1957 by Gide, Jean Loyrette and Philippe Nouel after the Barreau de Paris amended its rules allowing lawyers to form associations and practice in a collective. The firm currently employs 1200 people, including 700 attorneys in 20 countries. Gide Loyrette Nouel's revenue was €250 million in 2007. The firm operates as a limited liability partnership
Limited liability partnership
A limited liability partnership is a partnership in which some or all partners have limited liability. It therefore exhibits elements of partnerships and corporations. In an LLP one partner is not responsible or liable for another partner's misconduct or negligence. This is an important...
in London and as its French equivalent, an association d'avocats à responsabilité professionnelle individuelle (A.A.R.P.I.) in France.
International Strategy
The firm is one of the few French-based firms to maintain its independence and to develop a strong international network and brand name. From its origins, the firm and its partners have always maintained a cross-border orientation. Named partner Pierre Gide was admitted to the solicitor's roll in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In 1967, the firm launched its international practice with an office in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. The firm currently maintains offices in civil law
Civil law (legal system)
Civil law is a legal system inspired by Roman law and whose primary feature is that laws are codified into collections, as compared to common law systems that gives great precedential weight to common law on the principle that it is unfair to treat similar facts differently on different...
jurisdictions (such as those in Central Europe
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
, Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
, North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
and Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
) as well as in those financial centers where firm clients require legal services (New York and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
). To help build its international credentials, the firm retained former French foreign minister Hubert Védrine
Hubert Védrine
Hubert Védrine is a French Socialist politician.Diplomatic adviser of President Mitterrand, he served as secretary-general of the presidency from 1991 to 1995, then as Foreign Minister in the government of Lionel Jospin from 1997 to 2002.After the reelection of Jacques Chirac in May 2002, Védrine...
in 2003. Gide revised its international strategy in late 2010, closing its Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Dubai offices with immediate effect. The firm announced it would also close its Prague office and Belgrade offices.
Though the firm has a large roster of foreign and multinational clients, it also has remained a French operation, representing some 38 of the CAC 40
CAC 40
The CAC 40 is a benchmark French stock market index. The index represents a capitalization-weighted measure of the 40 most significant values among the 100 highest market caps on the Paris Bourse...
companies.
Notable clients and transactions
- Represented Pernod RicardPernod RicardPernod Ricard is a French company that produces distilled beverages. The company's eponymous products, Pernod Anise and Ricard Pastis, are both anise-flavoured liqueurs and are often referred to simply as Pernod or Ricard...
in its €5.6 billion acquisition of the V&S GroupV&S GroupV&S Group , founded in 1917, is an international producer and distributor of alcoholic beverages. The group is currently owned by Pernod Ricard...
including Absolut VodkaAbsolut VodkaAbsolut Vodka is a brand of vodka, produced near Åhus, Skåne, in southern Sweden. Since July 2008 the company has been owned by the French firm Pernod Ricard who bought V&S Group from the Swedish government....
from the Government of Sweden (March 2008). - Legal counsel to the The Linde GroupThe Linde GroupThe Linde Group, registered as Linde AG is an international industrial gases and engineering company founded in Germany in 1879. Linde shares are traded on all the German stock exchanges and also in Zürich, and the Linde share price is included in the DAX 30 index...
as to French law in its €4 billion sale of its forklift division to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co and Goldman SachsGoldman SachsThe Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an American multinational bulge bracket investment banking and securities firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, and other financial services primarily with institutional clients...
(November 2006). - Counseled AIGAIGAIG is American International Group, a major American insurance corporation.AIG may also refer to:* And-inverter graph, a concept in computer theory* Answers in Genesis, a creationist organization in the U.S.* Arta Industrial Group in Iran...
Infrastructure Funds LLC in its $230 disposal of a stake in Orascom Telecom Algeria (April 2006). - Legal counsel to the government of FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
on corporate and antitrust matters in the €73 billion merger of Gaz de FranceGaz de FranceGaz de France was a French company which produced, transported and sold natural gas around the world, especially in France, its main market. The company was also particularly active in Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany, and other European countries. Through its part-owned Belgian subsidiary SPE...
and Suez (February 2006). - Advised the Government of France as shareholder of Air FranceAir FranceAir France , stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the French flag carrier headquartered in Tremblay-en-France, , and is one of the world's largest airlines. It is a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance...
in its €784 million merger with Dutch airlines KLM (September 2003).