Founded in Paris in 1920, Gide is a leading international law firm with 12 offices spread throughout the world.
Gide is physically present in six regions of the world, with 11 offices, enabling it to act on cases globally.
Be a part of a 500-strong team of lawyers who are passionate about practising business law throughout the world.
The Gide spirit is a strong anchorage in reality, borne by men and women who live for their passion and common values: team spirit, trust, commitment etc.
In 2022, Gide put its associates in the spotlight in its new Employer Brand campaign “One Day at Gide”: an immersive mini-documentary to step into the daily lives of young business law firm associates. Teamwork, training, relations with their future clients, stress management… The four lead roles, Enora, Simon, Manon and Alexandre, each openly talk about their work and share with viewers what everyday life at Gide really looks like.
We assist our clients in all their major dealings, by applying our skills in overcoming complexity and by combining expertise and creativity to provide the most appropriate solution to each situation.
Alongside team spirit and cooperation with our entire network of international offices, the entrepreneurial spirit is strong among Gide lawyers: all our lawyers are independent in status, and are encouraged to develop their own client base.
Partner specialising in Insurance, Industrial Risk & Transport
Why did you choose Gide?
I have a long history with Gide… which actually didn't start off all that well since my first application as a junior associate was refused!
So I made excuses. It was clearly too conventional, too traditional, too imposing, too austere, too… just not for me.
It was only a few years later, once I had gained experience in specialist law firms, that the opportunity to join the firm presented itself once again.
From the moment I arrived, I realised that Gide was far removed from the very classic image I had of it. Although the demands in terms of legal knowledge, investment and quality are obviously very present, we also enjoy a great amount of freedom. At Gide, you can grow, be creative, meet brilliant and passionate people, improve, discuss, and work in a kindly, friendly and stimulating environment.
I joined the firm nearly 10 years ago and this is by far my best professional experience.
First steps at Gide?
My first steps were a little chaotic... I had previously practised only in small niche firms and did not know anything about how such a large structure operated: it takes a little time to come to terms with the fact that there are 350 lawyers in the same building as you! I had to learn about the various practice groups, their location on the site, their specificities, and of course supervision, teamworking, etc. There are also some very good sides: the associates' receptions, the foosball table lost in a library somewhere, the yoga lessons, the Beaujolais Nouveau tastings... and above all, Karima, a remarkable woman who takes you by the hand and helps you in all your administrative tasks and who is always there if you need her. She has guided the first steps of many a Gide associate at the firm!
How do you see your future with Gide?
I do not know what my future at Gide will be, but I am sure that I have a lot of trouble imagining my future without it!
Partner specialising in structured finance and project financing
Education:
Why did you choose Gide?
During my studies, I was lucky enough to have access to different worlds, both from an academic (Law magistère, one-year Erasmus exchange to Sweden, business school) and a professional perspective (placements in France, Luxembourg and London, in French and magic circle firms, one-year internships as a legal consultant on a trading floor). These various experiences were a chance for me to fine-tune my professional career and, at the end of my studies, I knew exactly how to start it, i.e. in a law firm (quite simply because being a lawyer is something I have always wanted) and, if possible, abroad (expatriation enabling me to continue my training in business law and discover, at the same time, a new culture, which is an enriching experience). I therefore quite literally jumped at the VIE opportunity I was offered at Gide’s Tunis office, pleased to begin my professional career in the way I had decided, and proud to join a firm as prestigious as Gide.
A professional high?
In my opinion, to be a good lawyer, you must want to improve continuously on a technical level, be humble and accept to learn, permanently question your abilities, and have real human qualities that will facilitate both negotiations with other lawyers and the creation of a commercial relationship with clients.
For the technical side, a professional high would be my contribution to the handling of the first mortgage bond issue in France, worth 472 million euros. It was the first financing of this type in France, and one of the largest carried out in Europe on a single building. This case enabled me to realise the importance of creativity and innovation in our profession.
As regards human relations, I would say that three cases really stand out. We were advising the successive lenders in three financings that had the same aim, i.e. the refinancing of debts through securitisation of private land ownership, coming to a total of over 900 million euros. Throughout one year, we worked with different lending clients for a same borrower, and the stimulating exercise we had to carry out was to defend the interests of our clients (i.e. the various banks) while maintaining a climate of trust and good understanding with the borrower. This was absolutely essential for the smooth conduct of the next case(s). These cases were a perfect illustration of how to conduct a "win-win" negotiation strategy, whose purpose is not to search for the best profits-sharing compromise, but to find an agreement that increases each party’s profits.
How do you see your future with Gide?
2019 will be my eleventh year at Gide, and it feels right. The size of the firm is in line with my entrepreneurial vision of the lawyer profession. Indeed, although I specialise in structured finance (particularly real estate), the partners in the Banking & Finance department have enabled me to become an advisor in bank financing in Africa.
I would therefore like to continue forging solid relationships with the firm’s existing clients, and take part in Gide’s commercial drive to develop new clients, meet any new needs that could come to light. In 2017, I was promoted to counsel status. I became a Gide partner in January 2019.
Associate specialising in Tax
Education:
Why did you choose Gide?
For its international dimension and the real possibility of conducting part of your career abroad. After a first internship in Paris in the first half of 2015, I was lucky enough to work in the firm's Casablanca office for 6 months before conducting my final internship in the tax practice group in Paris in the first half of 2017.
At the end of my internships, Gide offered me the possibility of joining a highly competent team and working on stimulating and very large cases. The specificity of the firm is the great independence left to young associates when handling client cases. It is a very demanding modus operandi, but it is also highly instructive.
First steps at Gide?
I joined the firm for my first internship within the tax practice group in January 2015. The quick integration into the team and the progressive but very real involvement on the cases made this work experience highly beneficial, both from a professional and personal perspective, in particular thanks to the closeness I developed with the members of my team.
I also joined the firm's football team, which is open to lawyers from all practice groups, and we practise or play matches on Saturday mornings in the "Avocats Foot" championship and other competitions (European Football Cup for lawyers in Malta and Maribor, tournaments organised with clients, etc.).
How do you see your future with Gide?
The first few years within such a structure are a permanent challenge, with a steep learning curve. The lawyer profession is highly entrepreneurial and partnership in a firm is a natural objective. At this point in my career, the important thing for me is that Gide will continue to help me improve on a daily basis so that I may one day acquire the qualities necessary to reach partnership.
