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Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance
Thierry Schoen

Thierry Schoen

Consultant Juridique

Consultant Juridique
Thierry Schoen

Thierry Schoen specialises in M&A and ECM, with particular experience in listed companies, industrials, financial institutions, and high tech companies.

Contact details

Career and qualifications

  • Institute of Political Sciences Strasbourg (Diploma in SciencesPo) 1978
  • University of Panthéon Sorbonne (Business Law) 1981
  • New York University (Master of Laws LLM) 1983
  • Sullivan & Cromwell, New York 1984
  • Qualified as a Conseil Juridique, Paris Bar 1987
  • Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, Paris 1984-1994
  • Joined Clifford Chance Paris 1994
  • Partner since 1997

Professional bodies

  • Member of the New York Bar since 1985

Awards and citations

  • Thierry Schoen is ranked as "Highly Regarded".
    IFLR 2022, ECM, M&A - France
  • Thierry Schoen is ranked as "Highly regarded".
    IFLR EMEA 2021, Capital markets: Equity, M&A - France
  • Thierry Schoen is ranked as "Highly regarded".
    IFLR 2020, Equity Capital markets, M&A - France
  • Thierry Schoen is lauded by clients for his deal-making and leadership qualities, with one explaining: "He was able to put into place strategies for the negotiation in order to reach our goals." The same source reports him to be "very personable, very pleasant," noting: "He is a real leader for his team and ours." He acts for international clients on their French investments and also assists domestic clients with outbound transactions.
    Chambers Global 2020, Corporate/M&A - France
    Chambers Europe 2020, Corporate/M&A - France
  • Thierry Schoen is experienced in cross-border acquisitions involving listed companies. He regularly represents clients from the energy and financial sectors.
    Chambers Europe 2019, Corporate/M&A - France
    Chambers Global 2019, Corporate/M&A - France
  • "Clifford Chance’s team provides ‘excellent advice that is adapted to each individual situation’, and stands out for its partners’ ‘strong involvement in the cases’ and ‘ability to deliver important work in a short time’. The group handles domestic and cross-border transactions, with expertise spanning public and private M&A as well as joint ventures and corporate reorganisations. Fabrice Cohen, the ‘very experienced’ Mathieu Remy, who ‘combines technical expertise and editorial excellence with strong interpersonal skills, which is a major advantage in difficult negotiations’, the ‘intelligent and subtle’ Marianne Pezant, Gilles Lebreton, Thierry Schoen and Laurent Schoenstein are key names and are supported by recently promoted counsel Alexandre Merle. The group advised Europcar on the €1bn acquisition of Goldcar and acted for the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations and CDC Infrastructure on the sale of a 15% stake in Holding d’Infrastructures de Transports. The team also assisted Cerberus Capital Management with the disposal of MCS Group to BC Partners. Other clients include Airbus Group, EDF and L’Oréal."
    Legal 500 EMEA 2018, Mergers and Acquisitions - France
  • "Thierry Schoen is regarded as a highly experienced practitioner, with one source praising his "seniority, good common sense and ability to listen." He assisted Vitalia HoldCo with the divestment of The Vitalia Group to Vedici."
    Chambers Global 2018, Corporate/M&A - France
    Chambers Europe 2018, Corporate/M&A - France
  • Clifford Chance advises many leading French and multinational corporations. The practice fields over 40 lawyers and is regularly involved in large transactions, especially in the energy, financial services and defence sectors. It recently assisted EDF Energies Nouvelles with the acquisition of Dong’s 30% stake in Eolien Maritimes France and the subsequent sale of 50% of the acquired share capital to Enbridge. It also advised Mondelēz on the sale of its French confectionery business. Airbus, Carrefour and L’Oréal are also clients. Fabrice Cohen, the ‘serious and technical’ Gilles Lebreton, Mathieu Remy, Thierry Schoen and Laurent Schoenstein are the key names in the practice. Marianne Pezant was promoted partner."
    Legal 500 EMEA 2017, Mergers and Acquisitions - France
  • Thierry Schoen has experience in advising hi-tech companies, financial institutions and listed companies. He recently assisted Willis Group Holdings with its EUR550 million acquisition of Gras Savoye.
    Chambers Global 2017, Corporate/M&A - France
    Chambers Europe 2017, Corporate/M&A - France
  • Maintaining an excellent market reputation, Thierry Schoen is praised by clients for his skill and demeanour in complex negotiations. Particularly skilled in advising listed companies and financial institutions, his recent mandates include advice to Technip on its proposed combination with CGG.
    Chambers Europe 2016, Corporate/M&A - France
  • "Clifford Chance’s ‘high-level lawyers’ are ‘very expert, responsive and easy to work with’; the 40-lawyer team provides an ‘outstanding service’. It is especially recommended for handling ‘complex M&A transactions in France and abroad’ and has particular expertise in the defence, healthcare, banking and energy areas. Recent work includes handling many strategic public and private M&A transactions, such as advising Airbus on its joint venture with Safran and assisting Jacobs Douwe Egberts with the sale of Carte Noire. Clients include Société Générale, Rexel and Numericable. Mathieu Remy ‘combines perfect technical legal skills and business acumen with added value advice on complex situations’. Fabrice Cohen, Gilles Lebreton, Thierry Schoen and Laurent Schoenstein are also particularly recommended, and Catherine Astor-Veyres, Aline Cardin, Dessislava Savova and Yves Wehrli are other key figures".
    Legal 500 EMEA 2016, Mergers & Acquisitions - France
  • "Clifford Chance advises various leading investment funds on large transactions and notably assisted Cinven with its agreement to acquire Labco, as well as advising Sagard and Ergon Capital on the sale of Corialis. Butler Capital, Permira, Perceva and Wendel are also clients. Fabrice Cohen, Gilles Lebreton, Thierry Schoen and Laurent Schoenstein are the key figures".
    Legal 500 EMEA 2016, Private Equity: LBO - France
  • Maintaining an excellent market reputation, Thierry Schoen is praised by clients for his skill and demeanour in complex negotiations. Particularly skilled in advising listed companies and financial institutions, his recent mandates include advice to Technip on its proposed combination with CGG.
    Chambers Global 2016, Corporate/M&A - France
  • Thierry Schoen's expertise covers both M&A and capital markets work, acting for French and multinational clients from across a number of sectors and industries. He is appreciated by clients, with one commenting: "He's clever and efficient, and has a very good understanding of our situation."
    Chambers Global 2015, Corporate/M&A - France
  • Thierry Schoen handles a variety of M&A work, including deals related to financial institutions, stock exchange matters and public offers.
    Chambers Europe 2014, Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability
  • "Clifford Chance was recently involved in high-profile distressed M&A transactions, notably in the banking sector where it assisted the French government with Crédit Immobilier de France’s bail-out. The firm also represented major French groups such as Carrefour in strategic deals in emerging countries. Mathieu Remy, who ‘can be trusted blindly’, has an outstanding transactional record. Other key names in the 36-lawyer team include Thierry Schoen, Yves Wehrli, Gilles Lebreton, Laurent Schoenstein, Catherine Astor-Veyres, Aline Cardin and Dessislava Savova, who advises on commercial and contractual aspects of M&A transactions."
    Legal 500 2014, Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Practice head Thierry Schoen specialises in public M&A and frequently represents well-known clients such as Carrefour. "He's excellent technically, has good ideas and reacts quickly", say interviewees.
    Chambers Europe 2013, Corporate/M&A
  • "Thierry Schoen is also highly involved in the practice".
    Legal 500 2013, Private Equity
  • "Practice head Thierry Schoen specialises in public M&A and frequently represents well-known clients such as Carrefour. He's excellent technically, has good ideas and reacts quickly", say interviewees.
    Chambers Global 2013, Corporate/M&A - France
  • "Practice head Thierry Schoen specialises in public M&A and frequently represents well-known clients such as Carrefour. He's excellent technically, has good ideas and reacts quickly," say interviewees.
    Chambers Global 2012, Corporate/M&A - France