Christophe Barthélemy is a member of the Paris bar. Formerly the general secretary for EDF, after having been the general counsel, he joined Bird & Bird to reinforce the public law department of the firm with Jean-Dominique Bloch. He leads the department in the "energy" activities of Bird & Bird on a European level as well as with the organisation and co-ordination of services for large projects.

Aged 43 years old, Christophe Barthélemy joined the City of Paris for three years upon his graduation from the ENA to direct the legal department. He then spent two years at the State Council before becoming technical advisor to several ministers between 1995 and 1997 and then joined the Thalès group. In 1999 he joined EDF in order to reorganise the legal capabilities in the company and created and managed the legal department.

Appointed general secretary in March 2003, he is involved in large matters which contribute to the opening up of the energy markets in France and in Europe. He then participated in the creation of a large international industrial group and actively contributed to the transformation of EDF into a société anonyme.