Greg Bopp, managing partner of Bracewell, spoke with The American Lawyer about launching in France with a market-leading energy and infrastructure team led by partners Anne Lapierre, Arnaud Bélisaire and Simon Cudennec.
“This is a real home run for us,” Bopp said.
“We are thrilled with the addition of this team. Anne is one of the most prominent practitioners in the energy and infrastructure space in France and French-speaking Africa, and Simon and Arnaud [are] terrific.”
Bopp also said that the firm has large energy practices in London and Dubai, and Paris was a missing piece, because the French city like London is a major hub for transactional work in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The group is a “perfect match” for Bracewell, he added, and helps the firm diversify its energy platform and build on success in London and Dubai.
Bracewell is a “very, very easy fit” for their group, Lapierre told The American Lawyer, noting that the first time she looked at the firm’s website, she was happy to see the phrase, “We Know Energy.”
In addition to the three partners, associates and counsel also joining are Véronique Bruel, Marie Zelazko, Adnen Ben Naser, Sandra Hahn Duraffourg, Pierrick Ferrero, Diane Dusserre, Noémie Portut-Castel and Carl Kalaani.
