Latham & Watkins has hired a team of leading energy and infrastructure lawyers from Clifford Chance for its Paris office. This follows the firm’s aggressive moves last December when it targeted Freshfields to recruit four top deal-making lawyers in Germany and reflects Latham’s continued aggressive moves to attract leading legal talent.
The Paris team are experienced in handling complex regulatory matters in the energy and infrastructure sector, as well as the defense, telecoms, and transportation industries. They are lead by private equity and M&A partner Benjamin de Blegiers (pictured).
Their recruitment also reflects the high-stakes, high level recruitment efforts made by major firms to attract top talent.
Latham’s media release announcing the recruitment is below –
Market Leading Energy and Infrastructure Private Equity Team to Join Latham in Paris
February 11, 2026
Accomplished partners deepen the firm’s energy and infrastructure expertise in Europe and globally, bringing decades of experience advising on sophisticated private equity, M&A, and finance transactions and complex regulatory matters.
Represents a significant milestone in the growth and development of the firm’s Paris office, reinforcing the firm’s leadership in private capital across Europe and globally.
Latham & Watkins is pleased to announce the addition of four market-leading lawyers to the firm’s Paris office. The highly regarded team is led by private equity and M&A partner Benjamin de Blegiers, with finance partner Daniel Zerbib, public law and regulatory partner Gauthier Martin, and Alexandre Namoun, whose practice focuses on private equity and M&A. Together, they bring a wealth of experience in handling complex private equity, M&A, and finance transactions, as well as intricate public contracts, projects, and regulatory matters, with a particular focus on the energy and infrastructure sector.
“We are excited to welcome this superb team to our firm. We are constantly looking to add exceptional talent to enhance our capabilities, and the arrival of this outstanding group adds formidable experience to our platform,” said Rich Trobman, Chair and Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins. “With their ambition, commitment to excellence, and industry-leading expertise, they will be of tremendous service to our clients and a perfect fit for our strategic growth plans in Europe and globally.”
The team has an impressive market reputation for their expertise and track record in advising on cutting-edge transactions and complex regulatory matters in the energy and infrastructure sector, as well as the defense, telecoms, and transportation industries. Blegiers and Namoun advise corporates, private equity funds, pension funds, asset managers, and other private capital investors; Zerbib specializes in banking and finance transactions, with a focus on infrastructure finance (both greenfield and brownfield); while Martin’s practice spans all fields of public law and incudes counseling clients on complex public contracts, regulated sectors, and related strategic disputes.
“We are thrilled to welcome Benjamin, Daniel, Gauthier, and Alexandre to the firm,” said Thomas Margenet-Baudry, Office Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins in Paris. “We are a leading force in the French market, with an unmatched, integrated private capital offering spanning private equity, M&A, leveraged finance, capital markets, restructuring, among other areas, supported by top-tier capabilities in critical areas such as tax, antitrust, and litigation. Their decision to join Latham is a testament to the firm’s long-term growth strategy and our many accomplishments in Paris and across Europe where we have established a dominant market position. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary in France this year, their arrival marks another significant milestone in the continued growth and success of our Paris practice.”
Pierre-Louis Cléro, Deputy Office Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins in Paris, stated, “The addition of this excellent team enhances our strong momentum in private equity and M&A, where we consistently advise on the highest profile and most significant transactions in France, Europe, and globally. The stellar reputations and extensive networks of Benjamin, Daniel, Gauthier, and Alexandre complement our transactional practices, further strengthening our ability to deliver innovative advice on our clients’ most strategic private capital transactions.”
“We have long been a leader in the energy and infrastructure sector — one of the most active and important global industries and a key engine of growth — and we see significant opportunities to further build our practice in Europe and globally. It’s exciting to add such highly regarded team to the practice; their talents, knowledge, judgment, and expertise enhance our ability to serve our clients in transformative ways,” said Justin Stolte, Global Chair of the firm’s Energy & Infrastructure Industry Group.
“We are delighted to join Latham in Paris at a time of strong momentum in the French private equity market. The firm’s global reach, collaborative culture, and market-leading capabilities provide an exceptional opportunity for our team and clients,” said Blegiers. “We look forward to working closely with our new colleagues across practices and geographies to further develop Latham’s energy and infrastructure private capital offering.”
The group will join Latham & Watkins from Clifford Chance. Blegiers holds a DESS in Business and Tax Law from Paris Panthéon-Assas and graduated from the Paris Institute of Business Law. Zerbib earned his Maitrise in Business & Tax Law, as well as a DEA in Business Law from Paris-Panthéon Assas University, and a DESS in Banking and Finance from Paris V René Descartes University; Martin received his degree from Sciences Po Lyon and a MA in Business Public Law from Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne University; Namoun graduated from ESCP Business School and earned a degree in Business & Corporate Law from University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne.
