Nicolas Lafont

Nicolas Lafont focuses his practice on cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint-venture transactions, corporate reorganizations and general corporate and commercial representation. He has led transactions in a wide range of sectors, including energy, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, semiconductor equipment, software, technology, the automotive industry, chemicals and manufacturing.

Nicolas is admitted to practice in Texas, New York and Paris. His transactional experience extends to various countries in America, Asia and Europe.

SELECTED EXPERIENCE

• Representing ESI Group, a French software company listed on Euronext Paris, on a take-private transaction with Keysight technologies for EUR913M;
• Represented a U.S. investment fund on two equity investments in French media and entertainment companies;
• Represented Mirakl, a French technology company, on a joint venture in Japan.
• Represented Sonepar, a global distributor of electrical, industrial and safety products, on two acquisitions in France.
• Represented a French leading audit firm in the structuring and implementation of its alliance with five audit firms in North America.
• Represented Austrian vaccine developer Themis on its EUR300M sale to Merck.
• Represented a leading Japanese energy company in its EUR750 million investment in the French nuclear industry.
• Represented a European cybersecurity company in the negotiation of a joint venture to distribute its technology and products in Argentina.

Memberships

• International Bar Association, M&A and Latin America sections

Awards and Recognition

• The Best Lawyers in France, Insolvency & Reorganization Law, 2024 
• Thomson Reuters, Stand-out Lawyer – independently rated lawyers, 2024 
• The Legal 500 EMEA, Recommended, 2022 
• IFLR1000, M&A, 2022-2023 
• Le Magazine des Affaires, rising star of the French M&A legal market, 2013