Gide is pleased to announce the appointment of four new partners, effective on 1 January 2018: Simon Auquier (Mergers & Acquisitions / Corporate) in Casablanca, Olivier Bernardi (Banking & Finance), Thomas Binet (Banking & Finance) and Alexis Pailleret (Mergers & Acquisitions / Corporate) in Paris.

Stéphane Puel, Managing Partner of Gide, states: « I would like to congratulate our four new partners on their excellent career so far and their commitment to our firm and our clients. These appointments reflect our strong tradition to promote our most talented individuals to keep supporting our clients in their activities and projects both in France and abroad, by offering our advice and litigation assistance in all fields of business law. »

• Simon Auquier
  Simon Auquier (36) is a member of Gide's Mergers & Acquisitions / Corporate practice group. He moved to the Casablanca office in early 2010, where he now heads the M&A department, after spending four years in Gide's Paris office. He works on corporate acquisitions and divestments, acquisitions of equity holdings, as well as investment and industrial partnership projects for foreign investors seeking to move into Morocco and/or expand their existing investments in the country. In addition, he works for Moroccan clients on joint ventures with foreign partners, acquisitions in Morocco, etc. Simon also assists both Moroccan and foreign clients on their investment projects in sub-Saharan Africa. Over recent years, he has been involved in a number of major acquisition and investment projects in West Africa, and in operations involving various African sub-regions. Simon Auquier is referenced as a 'Leading Individual' by Legal 500, and as a 'Rising Star' by IFLR1000. He graduated from French business school ESSEC and holds a Master's degree in corporate law / in-house counsel (Diplôme de Juriste Conseil d'Entreprise) from Paris II - Panthéon-Assas University.

• Olivier Bernardi
  A specialist in banking and finance law, Olivier Bernardi (36) advises credit institutions and investment firms on the legislation and regulations applicable to their structures, and acts in financial disputes. In this regard, Olivier Bernardi handles issues pertaining to the structure of financial institutions, bank monopoly, investment services, payment services, and the distribution of banking and financial products. He also advises regulated institutions on the implementation of their internal procedures (internal control, compliance, risk management, KYC/AML/terrorism financing issues, international economic and financial sanctions) and assists them before common law courts and in disciplinary proceedings before the French Financial Markets Authority (AMF) and the French Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority (ACPR). Lastly, he is involved in lobbying activities with the French authorities (Ministry of Finance, AMF, ACPR) and European authorities (European Commission, European Parliament) as regards the drafting of banking and financial regulations, or certain specific topics. Prior to joining Gide in 2009, Olivier Bernardi was Deputy Head of the Banking and Monetary Affairs Division of the French Treasury (Ministry of Economy, Industry and Employment) from 2006 to 2008. Olivier Bernardi graduated from the Paris II - Panthéon-Assas University's Institute for corporate law (2004), with Master's degrees in banking and finance law (2005) and corporate and tax law (2004). He also holds a financial markets professional certification delivered by the AMF (2014).

• Thomas Binet
  Admitted to the Paris Bar in 2004, Thomas Binet (41) is a member of the Banking & Finance practice group in Paris. He has extensive experience in structured finance, corporate finance and debt restructuring. He regularly acts as counsel to borrowers, sponsors, senior, mezzanine and unitranche arrangers on such financing activities. Thomas Binet holds a postgraduate degree in general private law from Paris II Panthéon-Assas University.

• Alexis Pailleret
  Admitted to the Paris Bar in 2004 and a member of Gide's Mergers & Acquisitions / Corporate practice group in Paris, Alexis Pailleret (39) specialises in domestic and international acquisitions and divestments, joint ventures and corporate restructurings. He regularly acts on M&A transactions in regulated fields, mainly renewable energies, infrastructure and defence, for investment funds and industrial clients. Alexis Pailleret was seconded for three years to Central Europe between 2004 and 2006, and  has acquired significant experience in outbound investment projects. He teaches Mergers & Acquisitions law to Master’s students in business law at Paris-Dauphine University. Alexis Pailleret graduated from that same university and holds a postgraduate degree in business and economics law from Paris I - Panthéon-Sorbonne University.