Gide makes up diverse range of partners

France's largest independent firm Gide Loyrette Nouel has made up four partners in its international network with new partners in Algiers, Beijing, Belgrade and Kiev in addition to six partners in Paris.

The locations reflect the split in fee-income at France's largest firm, which now generates 40 per cent of its revenue outside its homeland.

Former senior partner Gerard Tavernier, who has officially retired but still assisting with the management of the firm for a transitional period, is confident about the coming year, in spite of market fears of a downturn, precisely because of the breadth of geographic reach.

He told The Lawyer: "The advantage of a firm such as Gide, which is diversified and not a niche firm, is that we have effectively spread our risk nationally and internationally."

On the promotions, Tavernier explained: "Kiev and Algiers are doing extremely well. Beijing has been elemental to our growth and is very proactive - growth of this office is absolutely impressive. And Belgrade has effectively been there for close to three years and has done extremely well."

In Paris, many of the partner promotions were made in finance and banking related areas, which is the "main growth area of the firm", explained Tavernier.

The following partners were promoted in Paris: Toufic Abi Fadel in finance & project finance, Thomas Courtel in public-private partnerships and public law, Richard Ghueldre in insurance law, Nicolas Jüllich in mergers, acquisitions and corporate law, Antoine de La Gatinais in mergers, acquisitions and corporate law, Laurent Modave in tax.

Internationally, the following partners were made up: Karl Hepp de Sevelinges in Kiev, Xiaojun (Warren) Hua in Beijing, Samy Laghouati in Algiers and Franois d'Ornano in Belgrade.