Latham & Watkins has announced that a market-leading energy and infrastructure private equity team will join the firm’s Paris office, strengthening its capabilities across private equity, M&A, finance, and public law.
The four-lawyer team is led by private equity and M&A partner Benjamin de Blegiers and includes finance partner Daniel Zerbib, public law and regulatory partner Gauthier Martin, and Alexandre Namoun, whose practice focuses on private equity and M&A. Collectively, they bring extensive experience advising on complex private equity, M&A, and finance transactions, as well as public contracts, projects, and regulatory matters, with a particular focus on the energy and infrastructure sector.
The team has built a strong market reputation for advising on cutting-edge transactions and intricate regulatory matters in energy and infrastructure, along with the defense, telecoms, and transportation industries. Blegiers and Namoun advise corporates, private equity funds, pension funds, asset managers, and other private capital investors. Zerbib focuses on banking and finance transactions, particularly infrastructure finance across both greenfield and brownfield projects. Martin’s practice spans public law, including complex public contracts, regulated sectors, and related strategic disputes.
The group will join Latham & Watkins from Clifford Chance. The firm said the addition supports its long-term growth strategy in France and across Europe, and comes as the Paris office marks its 25th anniversary.
Blegiers holds a DESS in Business and Tax Law from Paris Panthéon-Assas and is a graduate of the Paris Institute of Business Law. Zerbib earned a Maitrise in Business & Tax Law and a DEA in Business Law from Paris-Panthéon Assas University, along with 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.
KEY QUOTES
“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. 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.”
Rich Trobman, Chair And Managing Partner, Latham & Watkins
“We are thrilled to welcome Benjamin, Daniel, Gauthier, and Alexandre to the firm. 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.”
Thomas Margenet-Baudry, Office Managing Partner In Paris, Latham & Watkins
“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.”
Pierre-Louis Cléro, Deputy Office Managing Partner In Paris, Latham & Watkins
“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.”
Justin Stolte, Global Chair, Energy & Infrastructure Industry Group, Latham & Watkins
“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. 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.”
Benjamin de Blegiers, Partner, Latham & Watkins
