BCLP Continues Rapid Growth in Paris

Global law firm BCLP today announced the arrival of Christian Sauer and Kai Völpel, along with their team. This brings the Paris office's corporate/M&A team to 13 lawyers, including three partners. This news follows the Jan. 3 announcement of the addition of 21 lawyers to the Paris office.

The firm’s active corporate/M&A practice in Paris has strengthened its offerings with the recruitment of Partner Christian Sauer, Of Counsel Kai Völpel and their team: Counsel Virginie Brault-Scaillet, and Associates Justine Langer, Paul Ast and Dora Pucci. The team focuses on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and joint-ventures, including assisting clients with complex and cross-border transactions, strategic business goals and day-to-day legal issues.

"We are delighted to welcome Christian, Kai and their team. The synergies with the rest of the Paris office are promising given both the combination of our skills and the nature of our clients. This arrival supports the growth of our corporate/M&A team in order to become one of the key players in the market," commented Paris Managing Partner Rémy Blain.

This new team is a key element of the firm’s global service offering, which includes a strong corporate/M&A practice that was strengthened with the arrival of Blain in 2015 and Antoine Martin in 2016. The added capabilities this new team brings in Paris further enhances the Corporate Practice, which is globally recognized as a top corporate adviser by Chambers and Partners, Legal 500, Thomson Reuters, MergerMarket, JUVE, IFLR 1000 and other leading publications.

"BCLP’s continued growth in Paris reflects the region’s great market potential, in which our team can be fully involved. Our clients in France and around the world will find the support and counsel they need to fulfill their development and international strategies, thanks to the full range of skills available from our team in Paris and BCLP’s global practices," Sauer and Völpel noted.

About the new team

Christian Sauer advises French and international clients on their mergers and acquisitions, private equity, strategic alliances, joint ventures and partnerships. He has extensive experience in organizing and coordinating complex and cross-border transactions. He also has developed a specialization in corporate and commercial law. His clients come from a variety of industries, including the media, telecommunications, emerging technologies, energy and biotech sectors. Sauer started his career at Linklaters. Prior to joining BCLP, he was a partner at the Franklin law firm. 

Kai Völpel maintains an active practice in corporate, mergers & acquisitions and private equity. He advises medium-sized companies, large national and international groups, and French and foreign investment funds on their M&A transactions including structuring, coordination and their implementation, whether they be domestic or cross-border, as well as on corporate and commercial law. In particular, he has acquired first-hand experience in the telecom, energy and media sectors. Prior to joining BCLP, he practiced with the Franklin law firm.

Virginie Brault-Scaillet specializes in mergers, acquisitions and private equity transactions for French and foreign clients. She is particularly active in the TMT, media, hotel and leisure, pharmaceutical, emerging technologies and energy sectors. A member of the Paris Bar since 2006, she began her career at Franklin in 2005 where she was appointed counsel for the corporate finance team in 2016.

Paul Ast advises industrial groups as well as capital investment funds on mergers, acquisitions and private equity transactions. He also advises French and foreign companies on their internal reorganization and equity transactions. He has experience in corporate law and can assist clients at all stages of their development. In particular, he has advised clients in the telecommunications, media, hotel, emerging technologies and renewable energy sectors. 

Justine Langer specializes in mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, corporate governance and private equity. She mainly advises companies and investment funds on their strategic transactions, both French and cross-border. She advises and assists them on all aspects of corporate law (restructuring, joint ventures, partnership agreements, etc.). Her most recent experience includes work in the telecom, media, pharmaceutical, software and energy sectors.

Dora Pucci is active in mergers and acquisitions, corporate law and private equity in various sectors. Pucci is a graduate of the University of Paris 1 - Panthéon Sorbonne (LL.M. in International Business Law, Master in Business Law) as well as of the University of Montpellier (in internal and international arbitration).