Simpson Thacher & Bartlett announced it is planning to open a Luxembourg office, as well as the hiring of prominent funds partners Jean-Christian Six, Paul Van den Abeele and Yannick Arbaut. And all three will be based in Luxembourg.
Simpson Thacher’s Luxembourg office – which is expected to open in the first quarter of 2025 – will advise sponsor clients on the formation of private and registered funds.
Jean-Christian, Paul, and Yannick all join from international law firms that have a presence in Luxembourg.
1.) Jean-Christian Six – Concentrates on forming unregulated and regulated funds for institutional and non-institutional investors. And he advises some of the world’s largest sponsors on vehicles and financial instruments across a wide range of strategies, including real estate, infrastructure, alternative investments, private equity, venture capital, equity, bonds, derivatives and structured products. Jean-Christian joins from A&O Shearman, where he was Co-Head of Funds & Asset Management and Head of Luxembourg Investment Funds. He co-chairs the Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry (ALFI) infrastructure funds working group, co-chairs the organization’s L-REIT working group, and is a member of its regulatory board.
2.) Paul Van den Abeele – Advises financial institutions, investment firms and asset managers across Europe, the United States and Asia. He advises clients on the structuring, implementation, management and servicing of funds, with an emphasis on private equity, real estate and credit strategies. And he joins from Clifford Chance, where he was Co-Head of the Investment Funds Practice in the Luxembourg office.
3.) Yannick Arbaut – Focuses on the structuring and registering of regulated and unregulated funds across private equity, real estate, infrastructure, debt, credit, and impact investment funds. Yannick advises management companies and AIFMs on license applications, extensions, and cross-border matters. And Yannick joins from A&O Shearman’s Luxembourg office. He is an active member of ALFI, the Luxembourg Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, and the Luxembourg Banking Lawyers Association.
Launched in 2011, Simpson Thacher’s European Funds Practice advises many of the region’s preeminent private fund sponsors on significant capital raisings and ongoing fund-related matters, including offering clients forward-thinking, innovative, and practical solutions to complex regulatory, compliance, and enforcement issues. The practice covers the full spectrum of investment funds, including buyouts, growth, venture capital, core private equity, credit, infrastructure, energy, and real estate and advising on secondary transactions.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are excited to support Luxembourg as the destination of choice for funds offering streamlined access to European markets. Together with the addition of Jean-Christian, Paul and Yannick, our Luxembourg office will harness the Firm’s more than 40 years of experience and exceptional client service in advising asset managers on the formation of cutting-edge investment vehicles.”
– Alden Millard, Chair of Simpson Thacher’s Executive Committee
“Our Luxembourg office will enhance our support of clients on a broad range of cross-border fund formation matters, including the establishment of semi-liquid retail funds domiciled in Luxembourg. Jean-Christian, Paul and Yannick are well known for their commercial and solutions-oriented advice, making them a perfect fit for our European Funds team. This is an important step in the continued growth of our private funds platform in Europe, and we are delighted to welcome them to the firm.”
– Gareth Earl, Head of the Firm’s European Funds Practice
“Our entry into Luxembourg represents a strong commitment to this dynamic legal market. Our new partners will add strength and depth to our European capabilities, reinforcing our position as the go-to firm for sponsor clients.”
– London Managing Partner Wheatly MacNamara
