Department profile
Bredin Prat

Foreign Investment

France Guide 2026 : France

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Bredin Prat

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About

Provided by Bredin Prat

Bredin Prat is recognized for its deep expertise in foreign direct investment (FDI), advising on many of France’s most significant and sensitive transactions. The team’s experience encompasses a broad range of complex and strategic FDI matters, reflecting a longstanding commitment to supporting clients in this area.

The firm maintains a constructive and ongoing dialogue with the French Ministry of Economy (MINEFI) and was invited to appear in the 2025 French parliamentary hearings on FDI regulation and the clearance process. This underscores the team’s established reputation and technical proficiency. Clients, including law firms from around the world, rely on Bredin Prat for guidance on French FDI filings in cross-border M&A transactions, confident in the team’s ability to address the nuances of France’s regulatory landscape.

The FDI team brings together experience from lawyers in our Competition Law, Public Law and M&A teams, providing comprehensive support at every stage of the FDI clearance process. This includes initial filings, multijurisdictional analysis, Phase 2 negotiations, and management of post-closing compliance with FDI analysis.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Foreign Investment - France

Band 2

What the Team is Known For

Bredin Prat has a strong foreign investment team that demonstrates domestic and international expertise. The team frequently acts on FDI clearances for corporates and investment funds operating in the life sciences, energy and technology sectors.

À propos de l’équipe

Bredin Prat a une solide équipe d'investissement étranger qui fait preuve d'une expertise tant nationale qu'internationale. Cette équipe intervient fréquemment sur les demandes d'autorisation d'IDE pour les entreprises et les fonds d'investissement opérant dans les secteurs des sciences de la vie, de l'énergie et des technologies.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Bredin Prat advised Marcegaglia Steel Group on the FDI aspects of its acquisition of Ascometal assets in Fos-sur-Mer.

  • Bredin Prat a conseillé Marcegaglia Steel Group sur les aspects liés aux investissements directs étrangers dans le cadre de son acquisition des actifs d'Ascometal à Fos-sur-Mer.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The greatest strengths of the team are their expertise and knowledge of the authorities, and ability to provide sophisticated and commercial guidance. They are also smart and easy to work with.

    Foreign Investment respondentFrance

  • I can say that we appreciated the efficiency in their work. They are really amazing, brilliant professionals.

    Foreign Investment respondentFrance

  • Bredin Prat has a strong team, with a good variety of relevant experience across different policy areas relevant to foreign investment and national security matters.

    Foreign Investment respondentFrance

  • The lawyers are excellent technically speaking with an excellent knowledge of the environment and how to navigate this process. They were super reliable in setting up the team of internal experts.

    Foreign Investment respondentFrance

  • The lawyers have been excellent, they literally worked night and day, and are super responsive.

    Foreign Investment respondentFrance

  • Les principaux atouts de l'équipe résident dans son expertise et sa connaissance des autorités, ainsi que dans sa capacité à fournir des conseils à la fois pointus et pragmatiques. De plus, les avocats sont brillants et très agréables.

    Foreign Investment respondentFrance

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Guillaume Léonard
    Guillaume Léonard

    Guillaume Léonard

    Guillaume Léonard has a flourishing foreign investment practice. He represents a range of clients including pharmaceutical companies, US-headquartered private equity funds and asset managers.

    Guillaume Léonard a une activité florissante en matière d'investissements étrangers. Il représente une clientèle diversifiée comprenant des sociétés pharmaceutiques, des fonds de private equity et des gestionnaires d'actifs basés aux États-Unis.

    • He is smart, helpful, knowledgeable, personable and ready to provide practical, clear guidance. Guillaume Léonard is a future star.

      Foreign Investment respondentFrance

    • Guillaume Léonard has an encyclopedic knowledge of FDI issues in Europe and is a go-to for FDI in France or the EU. He is a pleasure to work with and sees through issues quickly.

      Foreign Investment respondentFrance

    • Guillaume Léonard a une connaissance encyclopédique des questions d'IDE en Europe et est une référence en matière d'IDE en France ou dans l'UE. C'est un plaisir de travailler avec lui et il cerne rapidement les problèmes.

      Foreign Investment respondentFrance

    • Il est intelligent, utile, compétent, agréable et prêt à fournir des conseils pratiques et clairs. Guillaume Léonard est un avocat montant.

      Foreign Investment respondentFrance
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Ranked Individuals at Bredin Prat (1)

France

Members

Provided by Bredin Prat

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