Taylor Wessing partner elected to Paris Bar Council

Taylor Wessing partner Paul-Albert Iweins has stormed to an early victory in yesterday’s (Tuesday 28 November) Paris Bar Council elections, winning the first round (and securing reelection) by a majority of more than 200 votes.

Iweins, who was the Bâtonnier (president) of the council in 2003 and 2004, was relected to his council seat after securing more than half of the 8,826 votes cast.

Bernard Vatier of independent business firm Vatier & Associés came second, with fellow council member Jean-François Prat of Bredin Prat coming in third. However both Vatier and Prat must face the voters again in the second round to secure their seats again.

The only other lawyers from large corporate firms to stand for the 14 vacant seats on the council had mixed fortunes. Jean Néret, a litigation partner at JeantetAssociés, looked set to be elected today after coming eighth in the first round.

Latham & Watkins partner Dominique Basdevant is in a shakier position, finishing in 13th place after the first round ahead of Vatier partner Olivier Saumon.

But Debevoise & Plimpton’s Pierre Clermontel has withdrawn from the election after coming in 20th in the first round with 1,591 votes.

Taylor Wessing’s Paris managing partner Arnaud de Senilhes congratulated Iweins on his success.