About Me

I am a partner in the Restructuring & Insolvency practice in Bird & Bird's Paris office. We focus on advising creditors in challenging contexts: preventive restructuring proceedings, refinancing, insolvency proceedings, and insolvency related litigation.

I began my career working in a global law firm right before the 2008 Lehman Brothers's Crisis, which introduced me to challenging cases such as Terreal, HMY, Auto-distribution, Coeur Défense and Novasep.

I have over ten years' experience working in restructuring for global law firms and in the banking industry (Paris and New York restructuring teams of Natixis SA). I am one of the few lawyers in Paris to act as regular counsel for pools of banks in restructuring, and I am particularly well positioned to advise banks, debt funds and financial institutions.

I am also vastly experienced in the Retail & Automotive sector, where I have advised many of the historical players impacted by the digital revolution. I also advise clients who want to purchase distressed companies or assets in the course of insolvency proceedings, especially in respect to distressed LBOs.

I recently advised the financial institutions during the restructuring of Mecachrome, the banks in the restructuring of Groupe Royer, a pool of creditors of Pierre & Vacances, financial institutions during the insolvency proceedings of Europacorp, Rallye Celio and Vallourec, the Trustee during the insolvency proceedings of CGG.
Experience
  • Advising Bank of New-York Mellon as Trustee in the restructuring of CGG (debt of 1.6 billion USD)
  • Advising a pool of 9 banks in the restructuring of Groupe Royer
  • Advising the banks in the restructuring of Mecachrome
  • Advising a pool of creditors in the restructring of Pierre & Vacances
  • Advising financial institutions in the insolvency proceedings of Celio, Rallye, Europacorp, Vallourec
  • Advising a European bank in relation to the restructuring of a rail transportation company in Africa
  • Advising a global automobile supplier in relation to the insolvency of its main subsidiary in France
  • Advising global automobile manufacturers and suppliers in managing affairs related to strategic suppliers in difficulty
Education

Studied

  • Economics and Management, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Cachan
  • LLM in International Business Law, University of Exeter Law School
  • D.J.C.E., Université de Rennes 1

Admissions

  • Paris Bar (2008)
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Testimonials

Leading Individual
Romain de Ménonville combines 'perfect knowledge of the banking world and of the insolvency and restructuring stakeholders' with a 'constant concern about defending his clients' interests in the best possible way'

Ability to mobilise quickly on a file. Romain de Ménonville's team is used to working with banks and is now well known and recognised even at local bank level (which makes it easier to choose a consultant when there are multiple banks). A well-established and attentive team.

Great ability to listen and to make accessible and intelligible elements that are not accessible to business leaders. Great ability to understand the context and the challenges for the company; excellent ability to take the bird's eye view and to step aside always at the right time. Provider of solutions and different scenarios. Professional and experienced team.

Legal 500 EMEA, 2022

Romain de Menonville is pugnacious, pragmatic and always available for his clients. He frequently works with banks and lenders on a range of mandates. He is sought after for his experience assisting clients with debt restructurings and safeguard proceedings. He perfectly understands what banks are looking for in a restructuring case.

Chambers, 2022

Romain de Menonville does very strong and impressive work. He is really aware of banks' constraints and dynamics.'
'He knew how to defend us very well and I think he is an excellent lawyer.'
'Romain de Menonville was instrumental in finding an agreement between the parties on several issues. He is highly efficient.'

Chambers Europe, 2023

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