On 12 April 2016, Gide entered into a partnership with the RAISE Endowment Fund, a structure dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs and boosting dynamics between large corporations and start-ups.

Supporting the development of young French growth companies

In signing this partnership, Gide joins the pool of experts of the RAISE Endowment Fund, supporting entrepreneurs on the short-term strategic issues they encounter. Our lawyers will offer legal support on a pro bono basis.

“We are delighted to have Gide committing by our side and supporting entrepreneurs on the legal issues they encounter when growing their business. With the expertise and know-how of Gide’s lawyers, our support programme will enable young entrepreneurs to better anticipate highly technical legal issues, on matters such as fundraising and intellectual property”, comments Gonzague de Blignières, co-founder of RAISE.

“Our teams have a very strong market-recognition in Venture Capital, and we already assist a significant number of talented entrepreneurs in France. Establishing a partnership with RAISE therefore made perfect sense for Pierre Karpik, Karen Noël and I. This will enrich our daily practice through a commitment towards promising young entrepreneurs”, explains David-James Sebag, partner in Gide’s Mergers & Acquisitions practice group.

A Pro Bono policy endorsed by the entire firm

Gide has developed an active Pro Bono policy since 2012. In addition to the Gide Pro Bono endowment fund that dedicates 250,000 euros every year to projects meeting one of the fund’s three guiding principles (access to law and justice, access to education and solidarity with those most in need), the firm has also established a mentorship policy. Each member of the firm can offer up to 40 hours of his or her annual working time to support an NGO or a project approved by the Pro Bono Commission.

“Gide supports a number of social projects that are recognised and fully integrated into our firm’s culture. In 2015, the number of lawyers and employees involved in pro bono activities increased by 10% over 2014, which makes us very proud”, indicates Baudouin de Moucheron, Gide’s Senior Partner.

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About RAISE

Founded in 2013 by Clara Gaymard and Gonzague de Blignières, RAISE is divided into two complementary entities. On the one hand, RAISE Investment, a capital investment company that targets mid-cap companies with high growth potential and that takes minority stakes through investments ranging between 10 and 40 million euros; and on the other hand, the RAISE Endowment Fund, a philanthropic structure that supports, finances and improves the visibility of young growth entrepreneurs in order to help them build sustainable companies.

RAISE is based on a unique funding system, with the RAISE Investment team giving up 50% of its carried interest in order to finance the RAISE Endowment Fund. This innovative system in France creates a virtuous ecosystem between shareholding major groups, mid-caps in which RAISE Investment is itself a minority shareholder, and young growth companies supported by the RAISE Endowment Fund.

To find out more: www.raisefrance.com
@RAISE_France