Paul Hastings Significantly Boosts European Presence with Addition of Five Partners in Paris

February 22, 2011

Paris, France (February 22, 2011) Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, a leading global law firm, announced today that a team of five highly-regarded partners are joining the Paris office, significantly strengthening the firms European Corporate and Litigation practices. The new partners are Pascal de Moidrey, Alexis Terray, Guillaume Kellner, Edith Boucaya and Nicolas Faguer, and join the firm from Proskauer and Hogan Lovells, alongside a team of associates.

The new Corporate team focuses on domestic and global M&A and private equity transactions for leading companies and financial institutions. The addition of these teams follows the expansion of the Private Equity and M&A practices in Paul Hastings Chicago office with a team of five partners.

The arrival of this dynamic group of lawyers, will significantly reinforce our profile and market share in M&A and private equity in Paris, and throughout Europe, setting the stage for sustained growth, said Seth M. Zachary, chairman of Paul Hastings.

These teams will significantly strengthen our capabilities in Paris, allowing Paul Hastings to maintain its top position in the French legal market, said Dominique Borde, managing partner of Paul Hastings Paris and Brussels offices. The two teams perfectly complement our existing Private Equity, M&A and Litigation practices, he added.

The recent rebound in private equity and transactional activity is expected to continue over the coming years, said Olivier Deren, chair of the Paul Hastings Corporate practice in Paris. The addition of these lawyers will position Paul Hastings to capitalize on this trend, he continued.

Pascal de Moidrey

Mr. Moidrey focuses his practice on both domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, as well as private equity transactions and LBOs (acting for investment funds, portfolio companies, family-owned firms, and mezzanine funds). He advises French and international corporations and investment funds on a wide variety of strategic transactions such as acquisitions, buyouts, minority investments, restructurings, and joint ventures. His broad experience also encompasses general corporate and commercial law advice. Mr. Moidrey joins from Hogan Lovells, where he was the head of the Corporate department.

Alexis Terray

Mr. Terray specialises in corporate law, mergers & acquisitions and private equity transactions, and is recognized as one of the leading players in France for mid-cap LBOs. He regularly represents French and foreign clients in corporate reorganizations, asset and share acquisitions, and joint ventures. Mr. Terray was previously a partner with Hogan Lovells.

Guillaume Kellner

Mr. Kellner focuses his practice on complex mergers and acquisitions (both private and public), as well as private equity and securities law. He joins from Proskauer, where he was head of the Corporate department in Paris.

Edith Boucaya

Ms. Boucaya specialises in corporate transactional work and private equity transactions. She has advised French and global companies in their acquisitions or disposals of assets or shareholdings, in the implementation of partnership agreements, in mergers, corporate reorganisations and restructurings. Ms. Boucaya has also developed specific expertise in private equity (MBOs, growth capital, venture capital, mezzanine debt). She was previously a counsel at Hogan Lovells.

Nicolas Faguer

Mr. Faguer has extensive experience in a wide range of commercial and business law cases and M&A-related litigation. He has been involved in several renowned cases in France representing banks, insurers, audit firms and industrial companies. Mr. Faguer has experience in all aspects of contentious and pre-contentious representation of clients, as well as in complex massive actions, particularly involving product liability. He joins from Proskauer where he was a partner.