LAWFUEL – The Legal Newswire – Paris – DLA Piper is delighted to announce the appointment of Véronique Collin and Clotilde Dirnat as partners in its Finance and Projects practice group in Paris. Véronique and Clotilde’s appointment is in line with DLA Piper’s growth strategy for the office and will see the Finance and Projects group expand to a team of 12 to 15 lawyers by 2008.
Véronique has over 20 years of banking and finance experience, mainly advising financial institutions, and has spent over six years as a partner at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. Her multinational and cross-border expertise covers the entire spectrum of issues within the market, such as asset and structured finance, including securitisation, and restructurings. Véronique has played a vital role in training, coaching and mentoring members of her team, which will be critical to her role as a team leader and practice builder in the Paris office.
Clotilde also has over 20 years of banking and finance experience. Most recently she spent seven years as a partner at Herbert Smith, where she was responsible for building and developing a highly successful banking practice. Clotilde mainly advises major French and international financial institutions, her practice particularly focuses on structured financings, including cross-border acquisition financings and pan-European asset-backed transactions, and debt restructurings.
The appointment of Clotilde and Véronique provides an ideal platform for DLA Piper to build a significant Finance and Projects practice in France. Their skills will complement the existing offering of the French office…
Bruce Mee, DLA Piper’s Regional Managing Partner in France, said: “It is terrific that Véronique Collin and Clotilde Dirnat chose to join us. They have an outstanding reputation and our clients will benefit from their national and international experience.
“We are growing our operations in France. The improving business climate, in the wake of the presidential and legislative elections last spring, is generating more business in France. The opportunities are there and our extensive knowledge of the French market will enable us to respond to them.”
Stefan Eder, DLA Piper’s Finance and Projects Group head for EMEA, commented: “We are delighted at the appointment of Véronique and Clotilde. They will bring a wealth of experience allied to essential experience in developing successful practices. Both partners are a natural fit for DLA Piper and I look forward to working with them.”
Véronique Collin commented: “I have been looking for an appropriate challenge after Freshfields, and DLA Piper is a superb fit. The strength and penetration of banking and finance expertise across all offices into other international jurisdictions gives the French office a diverse range of clients and experience.”
Clotilde Dirnat added: “I was attracted to DLA Piper because of its clear commitment to developing a first class global banking & finance capability. DLA Piper has an impressive team and I am delighted to be part of such an ambitious and successful firm.”
Véronique Collin has a masters in public and environmental affairs from the Indiana University (1984). She also studied English and German at the Institut Supérieur d’Interprétariat Traduction (1980-1983) and holds a masters in business law from the University of Paris XI – Sceaux (1985). Véronique then went on for International Private Law DEA studies at the University of Paris – Panthéon-Assas.
Clotilde Dirnat holds a JD in public law from the University of Lyon III – Jean Moulin (1982). In addition she also has a masters in international business law (1983) and a postgraduate degree in international private and commercial law (1984) from the University of Paris I – Panthéon Sorbonne.
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DLA Piper Strengthens Paris Office With Two New Partners
