International law firm Bird & Bird today appoints highly regarded banking and finance lawyer Jean-Jacques Essombè Moussio as a partner in Paris. He will lead Bird & Bird’s French Banking & Finance Group and manage the firm's Africa Desk.
Jean-Jacques joins from Orrick in Paris where he was a partner. He has over 24 years' experience in the banking and finance field and regularly advises a wide range of financial clients on capital markets; fund structuring; re-organisations and mergers; and financial regulatory matters. He also has a substantial and growing Africa practice.
He is ranked individually as 'Band 2' in 'Banking and Finance – Financial Services Regulation' by Chambers Global 2017 and Chambers Europe 2017, as well as 'Foreign Expert for Africa in Banking and Finance' by Chambers Global 2017. He is also recommended in Banking and Finance by Legal 500 2017.
At Bird & Bird, Jean-Jacques will have a dual role as head of the French Banking and Finance Group and also managing the firm's Africa Desk internationally. He will spearhead and manage our existing and planned efforts to develop Bird & Bird's presence in Africa and expand our client-base in that region, particularly those looking for Corporate (with Partner Gildas Louvel) and Public Private Partnerships (with Partner Sophie Pignon). The Group has undergone significant and ongoing expansion since 2016 and with the arrival of Jean-Jacques and the recent addition of Eric Charvillat and Cathie-Rosalie Joly in Paris, the team will have a new body of talent with specialist expertise across a wide range of banking and finance areas.
Alexandre Vuchot and Benjamine Fiedler, Co-heads of Bird & Bird France say: "Jean-Jacques' extensive banking and finance experience, gravitas and wide-ranging exposure to high value banking and finance transactions makes him an ideal leader of the French Banking and Finance Group. His experience will be a great addition for our team in Paris and across the firm as we look to further develop Bird & Bird's presence in Africa."
Jean-Jacques adds: "The upcoming period of economic growth in Africa will offer substantial opportunities for all sectors within law firms. I believe Bird & Bird will provide me with an excellent platform to not only continue to increase our client base in this area but also enable me to boost the Banking and Finance Group throughout the Bird & Bird network."
