Viguié Schmidt hires CC securities litigator
Newly merged French boutique Viguié Schmidt Peltier Juvigny has hired former securities litigator Frédéric Peltier from Clifford Chance.
Peltier
The former Clifford Chance Paris-based partner left the magic circle firm last month after a nine-year stint.
Viguié Schmidt is a newly merged firm that has combined the M&A and litigation boutique of partners Nicolas Viguié and Yves Schimdt with the specialist competition firm of Olivier de Juvigny and Inaki Saint-Esteban.
The combined firm now has 16 lawyers, consisting of six partners and 10 associates.
Peltier, whose practice spanned Clifford Chance’s M&A and securities litigation groups, said the small firm environment is more suitable for his practice.
“Clifford Chance is a fantastic firm, but the reality is that the core client base of international financial institutions can create conflicts for my corporate client base,” said Peltier. “It’s much easier to develop a litigation practice in a smaller environment.”
Peltier’s move comes as Clifford Chance culls its partnership as part of a global restructuring.
The firm’s European offices have seen cuts in recent months. Earlier this year (6 April) The Lawyer reported that the magic circle firm had shed 10 associates from its Amsterdam office due to the economic downturn.
As well as Peltier, Viguié Schmidt also hired associate Didier Fornoni from Clifford Chance.
Peltier said: “It’s a small and focused firm that’s seen a lot of growth recently. It’s changed a lot in recent months, but we want to make sure the firm remains focused and plays to its strengths in litigation and M&A.”
