A new player in the legal market, Mermoz is an independent law firm offering a wide range of business law services. With a strong transactional focus and recognised know-how in private equity in the mid-market segment, Mermoz is also a human adventure bringing together 8 partners, 16 associates and 4 support professionals.

A team built for mid-market players

The project, originally led by Gilles Roux and Tristan Segonds (active primarily on private equity and M&A deals), was quickly endorsed by their closest partners and associates: Catherine Nahmias-Ferrandini in employment law, Arnaud Levasseur in private equity/M&A and Martin Kyuchukov in financing.

Very soon, several other lawyers with whom they had been working closely for many years wanted to take part in the Mermoz venture: Laurent Ragot, Counsel at Hogan Lovells in tax, Olivier Péchenard and his team from the eponymous firm in restructuring and business litigation and Régis Mahieu and his team from Aperwin in complex contractual practices and personal data. 

Gilles Roux, partner, said: "This first step is the foundation for an ambitious project which is intended to grow and bring together an even more complete team to meet the development challenges of our clients in France and abroad.” "With the launch of Mermoz, we want to take our teams on an adventure that will be rich in challenges and strong team work with our clients," adds Tristan Segonds, partner. 

A strong collective approach focused on the achievement of our clients' ambitions. 

More than a law firm, the partners aim to be THE legal partner of their clients for their operations and all their strategic projects. 

"We rely on the diversity of our experiences, reinforced by long-standing working relationships between our teams, on our curiosity and on our personal involvement on deals and projects, to build trusting and lasting relationships with our clients", underlines Catherine Nahmias-Ferrandini, Managing Partner.

Mermoz covers the main fields of business law and acts for financial investors as well as industrial groups, service companies, founders, managers and entrepreneurs, in all sectors of activity, including regulated environments (in particular health, aeronautics, financial services, education, agri-food, energy and technologies, etc.). 

Mermoz’s private equity team, whose experience is recognised in the market, have recently acted on significant transactions such as the investment of Arkéa, Macif and BPI in Domus VI, the LBO led by Ares on the Point Vision group, the LBO Ter of Sandaya, the LBO of Plug In Digital or the secondary LBOs of Fondasol and Teknimed.

About Mermoz

Mermoz is an independent, multi-disciplinary business law firm with a leading expertise on mid-market private equity and M&A transactions.

The firm is composed of 25 experienced lawyers who support their clients on their strategic projects and transactions, whatever their nature or size, by providing them with practical and bespoke legal advice. 

The firm’s specialist teams draw on complementary skills in corporate law, tax, financing, restructuring, complex commercial contracts, personal data, employment law and business litigation. 

Mermoz advises financial investors, industrial groups, service companies,  managers, founders and entrepreneurs.

With a multicultural team and thanks to a solid network of partners around the world, Mermoz assists its French clients on their international projects as well as foreign companies and financial investors who wish to invest in the French market.

About the partners

Martin Kyuchukov – Partner – Financing

Martin Kyuchukov specialises in financing and corporate law. He mainly acts for debt funds or borrowers, in the context of LBOs, M&A transactions or even debt restructurings.

A member of the Paris and New York bars, Martin has practiced with Jones Day in New York and Paris. His fluency in four languages allows him to work on numerous international transactions. Martin holds a master’s degree in business law and taxation from the University of Panthéon-Assas Paris II, a Magistère Juriste d’Affaire – DJCE from the University of Panthéon-Assas Paris II and an LLM in corporate law from New York University.

Arnaud Levasseur – Partner - Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions

Arnaud Levasseur mainly advises on private equity deals (LBOs, growth and venture capital) and mergers and acquisitions. He assists financial investors, industrial players, as well as entrepreneurs and managers in their strategic operations, both in France and abroad. 

Admitted to the Paris Bar in 2008, Arnaud started his career in the private equity team at Paul Hastings in Paris, which he left in 2014 to develop his expertise in several firms, including Hogan Lovells as Counsel and Jeausserand Audouard as a partner in the corporate department. In 2022, he participated in the launch of Mermoz.

Arnaud Levasseur holds a DESS/DJCE in international business law from the University of Aix-Marseille III.

Régis Mahieu - Partner – Complex commercial contracts, Personal Data

Régis Mahieu has over 12 years of experience as counsel to major international groups such as Areva as international counsel to legal director. He notably manages legal and contractual risks in the context of the sale, negotiation and execution processes of major industrial and technological projects. A specialist of complex contracts with a deep knowledge of the industrial sector, Régis subsequently headed several firms, including Aperwin, which he co-founded in 2017, before participating in the creation of Mermoz Avocats. His expertise covers commercial contracts, personal data (GDPR) and intellectual property.

Régis is a member of the Paris and Cologne Bars and holds a Master 2 in Business Law from the University of Tours.

Catherine Nahmias-Ferrandini - Managing Partner – Employment Law

Before participating in the creation of Mermoz Avocats, Catherine Nahmias-Ferrandini developed her expertise in various law firms, in particular Gide-Loyrette Nouel and Wilde Sapte (now Dentons), and later as Senior Counsel in labour law, litigation and collective relations at IBM France. Her experience with large law firms and international groups allows her to represent the employment department of Mermoz Avocats and to assist companies in all individual or collective issues covered by employment law. She works hand in hand with the legal and operational teams of Mermoz’s clients on collective negotiations, employment support during restructuring, integration, transfers and outsourcing operations. 

Catherine holds a Magistère – DESS in business law and DJCE (class of 1993 – Paris II Assas), a Master (DEA) in European business law (Paris II Assas) and an LLM in European business law (University of Exeter).

Olivier Péchenard - Partner – Restructuring, Business Litigation

Olivier Péchenard is the insolvency and restructuring specialist of Mermoz. He advises distressed companies/debtors and other key players such as judicial administrators and official experts. Olivier, with more than twenty years of experience, is a reputed player on this market. 

Admitted to the bar in 1996, Olivier was a partner in a French law firm before founding his own firm "Olivier Péchenard Avocats" in January 2012. 

Olivier Péchenard holds a postgraduate degree in international private law and international trade law. He is a member of the AER (Association pour le Retournement des Entreprises) and of the A.F.F.I.C. (French association in favour of the consular institution).

Laurent Ragot - Partner – Tax Law

After starting his career in the tax department of Paul Hasting in Paris, Laurent Ragot joined the Paris office of Hogan Lovells as Counsel in 2016 before participating in the creation of Mermoz Avocats. Laurent focuses his expertise on transactional taxation, particularly in private equity and M&A. He has developed a long experience in advising on LBO and growth capital transactions. He advises both investment funds and founders/managers. His areas of expertise also include real estate taxation, international and EU taxation and tax litigation.

Admitted to the Paris Bar in 2008, Laurent holds an LL.M. in French and German law from the University of Cologne, and a Master's degree and a Master's degree from the University of Panthéon Sorbonne - Paris I (in French and German law and in corporate and tax law). 

Gilles Roux - Partner - Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions 

Gilles Roux co-founded Mermoz Avocats after several experiences as a partner in renowned law firms, including the American firm Paul Hastings. He intervenes in M&A and private equity transactions (mainly on LBO and growth capital deals). He also assists the firm's clients on deals abroad.

A member of the Paris Bar since 1999, Gilles holds a postgraduate degree in National, Community and International Litigation and is a graduate of the College of Law (London).

Tristan Segonds - Partner - Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions

After starting his career with the law firm Lovells in Paris, Tristan Segonds joined the investment funds 3i and then Intel Capital in London, where he worked on private equity deals (LBO, growth and venture capital) and mergers and acquisitions.  After ten years in London, he joined a Parisian law firm where he developed its international reach, before co-founding Mermoz Avocats. Tristan advises the firm’s clients on M&A and private equity transactions. Because of his international background, he regularly advises foreign investors wishing to carry out transactions in France as well as our French clients on their transactions abroad, particularly in the United States, the United Kingdom, Eastern Europe and Russia. 

A member of the Paris Bar since 2000, Tristan holds a master’s degree in Business Law from the Panthéon-Sorbonne University.