Slaughter and May best friend Bredin Prat has hired former Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe Paris managing partner Raphaele Courtier as the firm looks to build its finance capabilities.
Courtier, who joined the Paris leader last week (1 March), was a partner in Orrick’s finance practice. She was appointed to head Orrick’s Paris arm in July 2004, before handing the role over at the end of 2005.
Courtier, who joins with a senior associate, will be Bredin Prat’s first dedicated finance partner. The Paris firm had previously relied on Slaughter for much of its financing work, but has decided to expand into the area internally.
Courtier’s hire brings Bredin Prat up to 33 partners.
Courtier commented: “After my experience of working with US and UK firms, it is quite different to go to a French firm. I am very pleased to be involved with such a high-quality, focused firm.”
Courtier is one of a number of partners to leave the San Francisco-based firm’s Paris arm since its merger with local boutique Rambaud Martel in 2005. Most recently the firm lost former Rambaud head of tax Roland Poirier to Paris independent Brandford-Griffith & Associes.
In the last year, the office has also seen the departure of M&A partner Francois Bloch to LeBoeuf Lamb Greene & MacRae and legacy Rambaud corporate partner Marianne Mousseron. However, the 25-partner office recently recruited Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer finance partner Herve Kensicher.
