On 11 June 2024, based on a vote by the firm’s partners, the CMS Francis Lefebvre Advisory Board appointed the firm’s new Management Board, comprised of the following four partners: Jean-Philippe Bidegainberry, François Hellio, Laurent Marquet de Vasselot and Anne-Laure Villedieu.
François Hellio has been appointed Chairman of the Management Board, with Jean-Philippe Bidegainberry, Laurent Marquet de Vasselot and Anne-Laure Villedieu as Directeurs Généraux.
All four have been appointed for a four-year term starting 1 July 2024.
Jean-Philippe Bidegainberry joined CMS Francis Lefebvre in 1997, becoming partner in 2008. He was appointed to the Advisory Board in 2016 and has been its Chairman since 2021. Jean-Philippe specialises in tax law, advising a great many French and international families and groups. He lectures at the University of Paris X Nanterre and is a regular conference speaker on corporate tax matters and litigation (especially in relation to tax evasion). He holds a master’s degree in Business Law and a post-graduate degree (DESS) in Business Law and Taxation, both from the University of Paris I – Panthéon-Sorbonne. As a member of the Hauts-de-Seine Bar Council, he was formerly Secrétaire de la Conférence (charged with providing on-call criminal defence) and also served on the Regional Disciplinary Committee. He is currently a member of the French Association of Corporate Legal Advisors (ACE), after a stint as Regional Chairman from 2016 to 2018.
François Hellio joined CMS Francis Lefebvre in 1990 and became partner in 2001. He was a member of the Advisory Board from 2009 to 2012 and worked in the firm’s Berlin office for more than six years. He advises on all aspects of international taxation, particularly Franco-German matters. François has published extensively on subjects surrounding French taxation in Germany. He graduated from the HEC Business School in 1988 and was awarded a post-graduate diploma in Law, specialising in tax law, from the University of Paris I – Panthéon-Sorbonne in 1992. He is a member of the French Institute of Tax Lawyers (IACF), the International Fiscal Association (IFA) and the French Association of Corporate Legal Advisors (ACE).
Laurent Marquet de Vasselot began his career in 1985 with the Philips International Group. He moved to CMS Francis Lefebvre in 1991, becoming partner in 1998. He was a member of the firm’s Advisory Board from 2009 to 2012, when he was elected to the Management Board. Since 2016, he has served on the Management Board as Directeur Général. Laurent is an expert in labour law, assisting companies in shaping their employment and HR policies, as well as in labour relations and collective bargaining, and defending their interests in high-stakes litigation. He regularly publishes reference works and articles and is a prominent conference speaker. On 19 August 2013, he was appointed Lecturer at the University of Paris II – Panthéon-Assas, where he contributes actively to the university’s employment law think-tank. Laurent graduated from the Paris Institute of Political Studies (IEP) in 1984 and earned a post-graduate degree (DEA) from the University of Paris II – Panthéon-Assas in 1985. In 1991, he got his PhD in Private Law, also from the University of Paris II – Panthéon-Assas. He has served on the Bar Council and is a member of Lefebvre Dalloz’s Strategic Committee, Lawyers. He also advocates for the societal role and value of businesses, as a member of the French Corporate Institute’s governing and advisory boards.
Anne-Laure Villedieu joined CMS Francis Lefebvre in 1998 and became partner in 2012. She heads up the firm’s Intellectual Property and TMC (Technologies, Media and Communications) team. She served on the Advisory Board from 2016 until 2020. She became a member of the Management Board in 2020. She holds post-graduate degrees (DEAs) in Business Law and Economics (University of Paris I – Panthéon-Sorbonne, 1996) and Communications Law (University of Paris II – Panthéon-Assas, 1997). Anne-Laure is a member of ItechLaw, the French Association of Data Protection Officers (AFCDP), the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) and the French Association of Corporate Legal Advisors (ACE).
CMS Francis Lefebvre is one of France’s top multidisciplinary international business law firms.
We currently employ over 600 people, including 450 lawyers, 114 of whom are partners.
