A French law firm with an international mindset

A French law firm with an international and interdisciplinary mindset

We have a unique expertise in restructuring operations, activist investing and corporate transactions.

Our strong understanding of the economic and financial aspects of our clients’ activities enables us to offer solutions tailored to their specific needs.

Strategy

We follow a 360° approach taking into account the financial and strategic context and all stakeholders involved in our clients’ operations.

We cooperate with France’s top lawyers for all ancillary legal issues thanks to our unique business network.

Areas of Expertise

Corporate - M&A

We have a longstanding experience of equity and debt fundraising and M&A operations.

We have a particular expertise in the real estate, industrial and tech sectors.

Restructuring

We have a strong knowledge of the specific legal and economic issues posed by French restructuring operations.

We have worked for numerous investors and companies (both listed & private) on refinancing operations, disposal plans and operational and financial restructuring.

Capital Markets & Activism

We intervened on many capital market operations involving complex and unprecedented regulatory issues.

We distinguish ourselves by our unique expertise in long & short activist strategies.

We are able to explain to our American clients how to tailor their strategy to the French legal and political context.

Team

Sophie Vermeille

Sophie Vermeille currently practices corporate, securities and restructuring law in Paris and has worked in the past for leading international law firms
(such as Clifford Chance, Weil Gotshal & Manges, Freshfields and DLA Piper).

Sophie has an in-depth knowledge of US securities law, Chapter 11 and Delaware corporate law, as well as of English law. This enables her to understand the legal culture of her English and American clients and to explain them how French law differs from their own legal system.

Sophie is a researcher and guest lecturer in Law and Finance at Panthéon-Sorbonne, HEC and Oxford University.

She is also the founder of the think tank Droit & Croissance / Rules for Growth .

Sophie graduated from the LL.M. in business law of King’s College London and the Magistère Juriste d'Affaires of Paris II-Panthéon Assas University.

Paul Oudin

Paul is a lawyer at the Paris Bar, a member of the think tank Droit & Croissance / Rules for Growth, a PhD candidate at the University of Oxford and a member of the European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI). His research at the University of Oxford is about the European insider trading regime.

Prior to joining Vermeille & Co, Paul worked for several international law firms in a variety of legal fields, and in particular corporate law and financial regulation.

Paul has a solid background in economics and finance complementing his legal expertise.

Paul graduated from the MSc in Law and Finance of the University of Oxford and the Magistère Juriste d’Affaires of Paris II-Panthéon Assas University.

In the News

Debate S. Vermeille & D. Hurstel (Wilkie Farr) - Managers or Shareholders, Who Governs the Company? 17 June 2021

Live debate between Sophie Vermeille and Daniel Hurstel (Willkie Farr Gallagher LLP) organized by Cercle Droit & Libertés. watch the video

En Contact - "Sophie Vermeille Knows How to Play 3-D Chess" (Carson Block / Muddy Waters Capital) 12 May 2021

“I engaged Sophie as part of our legal team because she knows how to play 3-D chess. First, she has proven herself to be a tenacious fighter with tremendous courage and stamina. Just as important, she had developed an excellent understanding of the politics, relationships, and motivations of people in government, the media, and the regulator.” read more

AGEFI - Bercy Opens the Door to Debt Cancellations for Companies 15 April 2021

Les analystes estiment que Bruno Le Maire aurait en tête d'obtenir un peu de souplesse sur les dettes sociale et fiscale. L’annonce a surpris les avocats spécialisés dans la restructuration des dettes d’entreprises. Une partie de la dette de certaines entreprises confrontées aux retombées économiques de la crise sanitaire du covid pourrait être annulée «au cas par cas», a déclaré mercredi sur BFM TV le ministre de l’Economie et des Finances Bruno Le Maire. read more

Les Echos - Muddy Waters Covers Some of its Short Positions in Europe 29 Jan. 2021

PARIS (Agefi-Dow Jones)--Le fonds d'investissement américain Muddy Waters a couvert dès mercredi une partie de ses positions courtes nettes vendeuses en Europe afin de se prémunir du regain de volatilité constaté sur les marchés après le raid mené par certains investisseurs individuels sur des valeurs particulièrement "shortées". read more

AGEFI - GameStop Puts Financial Regulation to the Test 29 Jan. 2021

Cette affaire soulève la question de la manipulation de marché et le rôle des courtiers en Bourse. Le dossier GameStop déchaîne les passions : il pourrait être le «short squeeze» le plus spectaculaire de l’histoire car opéré à l’initiative de boursicoteurs plus souvent habitués à se faire «tondre» en Bourse par les professionnels… Cette fois, ils ont pris leur revanche sur les hegde funds, dont les fortes positions à la baisse sur le titre du distributeur de jeux vidéo se sont violemment retournées contre eux. read more

AGEFI - Finance Interview, “Short selling is a thermometer measuring what is wrong within companies” 9 Oct. 2019

Sophie Vermeille, avocate, fondatrice de Droit et Croissance. « Les vendeurs à découvert, compte tenu de la technique de la vente à découvert, n’ont pas d’autre choix pour limiter leur risque que de faire de l’analyse fondamentale », explique Sophie Vermeille. read more

AGEFI - Finance Interview, “I am waiting for the AMF to give its conclusions in the Casino case” 8 Oct. 2019

« Compte tenu des moyens dont disposent les fonds activistes longs de récupérer de l’information, de développer des stratégies, il faut favoriser une approche collaborative entre eux et les dirigeants d’entreprise », explique Sophie Vermeille. read more

Financial Times, Casino Affair Raises Tough Questions for French Regulator 7 June 2019

Bloomberg, The Hedge Fund Lawyer Annoying France’s Cozy Corporate World 6 Feb. 2019

Review Text Sophie Vermeille’s battle with one of France’s most revered businessmen is shining a light on an uneasy relationship with free-market capitalism. Sophie Vermeille is on a crusade against France’s establishment. You won’t find her in a yellow vest, though. Hers is in the boardroom, and her supporters are hardly those who would take to the streets. read more

Le Monde, Sophie Vermeille, the Lawyer at War Against Casino 23 Nov. 2018

Qui diable est cette Sophie Vermeille ? Jean-Charles Naouri, patron et principal actionnaire du groupe Casino, a dû tomber des nues, lorsqu’il a appris, début octobre, qu’une avocate surgie de nulle part sollicitait Bercy, l’Elysée ou l’Autorité des marchés financiers pour faire part de ses interrogations sur la santé financière du propriétaire de Monoprix, Franprix et Cdiscount. read more

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7 rue Drouot, 75009 Paris
Metro:
Richelieu Drouot (8, 9)
Le Peletier (7)
Notre-Dame-de-Lorette (12)

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contact@vermeille-avocats.com