Leads the Practice
Nathalie Rigal
Lawyer at the Paris Bar
Founding Partner
Restructuring and companies in difficulty
Career
• AWARE (Archives of Women Artists, Research and Exhibitions) - President since 2022
• Sygna Partners – Partner since 2004
• Partner - Moisand Boutin & Associés (2000-2004)
• Associate lawyer – Cabinet Fauvet-Santoni (1994-1999)
Education
• Master’s degree in European Business Law, Paris I - Panthéon-Sorbonne University
Languages
French
English
After several years with the Parisian firms Fauvet-Santoni and Moisand Boutin & Associés, Nathalie Rigal founded Sygna Partners in 2004 with Caroline Edwardes-Ker, Nathalie Rigal being in charge of the Restructuring and companies in difficulty division.
Nathalie Rigal specializes in the transfer of companies, combining her legal expertise in the management of insolvency proceedings with a thorough knowledge of the financial and commercial issues that a company in difficulty may face.
Nathalie Rigal was appointed president of the association AWARE: Archives of Women Artists, Research and Exhibitions on March 10, 2022. Co-founder of AWARE in 2014 and having contributed to all the key stages of the association, Nathalie Rigal has officiated as Camille Morineau's right-hand woman since the beginnings of the association, where she has voluntarily accompanied the major strategic decisions such as the financial and legal construction of the association (website : www.awarewomenartists.com)
Antoine Benech
Lawyer at the Paris Bar
Partner
Leads the practice
Commercial dispute resolution
Career
• Sygna Partners - Partner since 2006
• Partner - LYSIAS (2000-2005)
• Partner - MIGNARD TEITGEN GRISONI (1997-2000)
• Associate lawyer - SCP MIGNARD TEITGEN GRISONI (1991-1997)
After several years with Lysias Partners as an associate and then as a partner, Antoine Benech joined Sygna Partners in 2006 along with Jean-Marc Thouvenin to develop the firm's corporate restructuring and litigation activities. Antoine Benech is now in charge of the Dispute Resolution division of the firm.
With extensive experience in negotiations and litigation strategy, Antoine Benech advises and assists Sygna's clients in their development and restructuring strategy as well as in disputes, pre-litigation and litigation before the courts, regulatory authorities or arbitration procedures for all commercial, social or criminal disputes.
Jean-Marc Thouvenin
Leads the practice
Lawyer at the Paris Bar
Partner
International litigation and arbitration
Career
• Sygna Partners – Partner since 2006
• Partner - LYSIAS (2001-2005)
Education
• Agrégation in public law
• Doctor in public law, Paris Nanterre University
• Master’s degree in International and European Law, Paris Nanterre University
Languages
Jean-Marc Thouvenin joined Sygna Partners in 2006 as a partner in charge of the International Litigation and Arbitration division. Jean-Marc Thouvenin is also a Professor of Public International Law and author of numerous books and publications in International and European Union law.
Jean-Marc Thouvenin regularly advises and represents States before international courts. He has advised and is advising several African, Asian, Latin American and Eastern European countries.
In addition to his activities at Sygna Partners, Jean-Marc Thouvenin also holds the following positions:
• Associate Professor of Public Law at the Paris Nanterre University;
• Secretary General of the Hague Academy of International Law;
• Co-Director of the International College of Law;
• Co-Director of the Master’s degree in International Relations and European Union Law of Paris Nanterre University.
French
English
Helen de Larrinaga
Lawyer at the Paris Bar
Partner
Career
• Sygna Partners - since 2012
• Associate lawyer - Gramond & Associés - Sport and New Information and Communication Technologies division (2012)
• The Walt Disney Company - Consumer products Europe division (2011)
Education
• LL.M in European Union Law, Reading University – United Kingdom (2010)
• Bilingual Master’s degree in European and Anglo-American Law (Master II Etude bilingue des droits de l’Europe et droit anglo-américain) - Paris Nanterre University (2009)
After several experiences in companies and law firms in the field of distribution and competition law, Helen de Larrinaga joined Sygna Partners' Contract Negotiation and Regulations division in 2012.
Helen developed her practice in aviation law, assisting several companies in the sector both with their commercial and financial activities. This expertise is reinforced by Helen's activities in the International Aviation Womens Association, an association promoting the advancement of women in the aerospace industry. In 2019, Helen set up and led the Legal Direction of a 140 employee group in the field of aircraft conversion, trading and leasing.
Helen holds a Bilingual Master’s degree in European and Anglo-American Law from Paris Nanterre University and an LL.M in European Union Law from Reading University in the United Kingdom.
Languages
French
English
Leads the practice
Contracts and projects financing
Marianne Franjou
Lawyer at the Paris Bar
Partner
Career
Education
Lawyer since 1992, Marianne Franjou assists her clients, both individuals and company directors, in the course of their professional careers. She assists them in the negotiation of their contracts and related clauses, as well as in the process of amicable or conflictual termination.
She also advises companies of all sizes in the context of social life: relations with the IRP, negotiation of agreements, working hours, collective status, litigation, etc.
Marianne Franjou has developed specific skills in the field of social management of companies in difficulty (safeguarding, receivership, judicial liquidation) and assists directors, interim managers, and judicial representatives in the related social procedures: Employment protection plans, transfers (Heuliez, Nicolas Industrie, Louis Harris (LH2), Edelmann, Fretlink, etc).
Languages
French
English
• Partner at Sygna Partners (2023)
• Partner at FLV (Fourmentin - Le Quintrec - Veerasamy) (2018 - 2022)
• Partner at Altana (2012 - 2018)
• Partner at MBA (2001 - 2011)
• Associate lawyer at Rambaud-Martel (1991-2000)
• Master's degree in private international law and international trade (Paris 2 Panthéon-Assas)
• DEA Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
Célia Tellaa
Lawyer at the Paris Bar
Associate
Career
• Sygna Partners (2020)
• Cover Avocats (2020)
• Srouji Avocats (2018)
• Legal Departement of Disney Consumer Products - Walt Disney Company EMEA (2017)
Education
• Master' degree in International and European Litigation, Paris X University - Nanterre - International Program - University of Winsconsin, Madison, USA
After several experiences in legal departments and law firms dedicated to business law, Célia Tellaa joined the Contracts and projects financing division of Sygna Partners in 2020.
Célia holds a Master II degree in International and European Litigation from the University of Paris X – Nanterre - partly pursued at the University of Wisconsin Madison (USA).
Languages
French
English
François Andia
Lawyer at the Paris Bar
Associate
Education
• Master’s degree in International and European Union Law, Paris Nanterre University (2016)
• University degree « collège international de droit » Paris Nanterre University (2016)
Languages
French
English
Spanish
After a Master’s degree in International Public Law, François Andia joined the International Litigation and Arbitration division in 2017. He has also accompanied Sygna Partners on labour law issues.
In 2019, François Andia has chosen to fully dedicate himself to labour law and to provide support to companies and individuals in the formation, execution and termination of their employment relationships, as well as in the litigation that may ensue. He exercises this expertise with the Dispute Resolution and Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate Law divisions.
Marie Tortora
Lawyer at the Paris Bar
Associate
Education
• Master II Private International Law and International Trade, University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (2018)
• Master I General Private Law, University of Paris 2 Panthéon-Assas (2017)
Languages
French
English
After several internships and a collaboration in an employment law firm, Marie joined the Individual and Collective Employment Relations - Restructuring Department of Sygna Partners in 2023.
Marie has developed a practice in labor law as well as in litigation and assists companies and individuals at all stages of their contractual relationship (formation, execution and termination). Marie is also involved in the social management of companies in good standing as well as companies in difficulty.
Arthur Fontaine
Associate
Arthur Fontaine joined the Dispute sesolution division and Litigation divisions in March 2022.
Education
• Master's degree in Business Law - Paris Nanterre
• Master's degree in Business and Corporate Law (DJCE) - Université de Poitiers
• Ecole du centre ouest des avocats (ECOA)
Languages
French
English
Eglantine Jamet
Jurist
Eglantine Jamet joined the the International Litigation & Arbitration division in November 2022.
Education
• Master I International and European Law, University of Angers - Åbo Akademi University, Finland
• Master II International Relations and European Union Law, University of Paris-Nanterre
• LLM Public international law (Spec. International Crimil Law), Leiden University, The Netherlands
Languages
French
English
Lara Fizaine
Associate
Lara Fizaine joined the Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate Law division in July 2022.
Education
Languages
• Master degree in International Business, Faculté d'Aix-en-Provence (2018)
• Master degree in International Corporate Tax Operations, Université de Montpellier (2020)
• Ecole de Formation du Barreau (2021-2022)
French
English
Marie Le Beller
Associate
Marie Le Beller joined the Dispute Resolution division & Litigation divisions in January 2022.
Education
Languages
• Master's Degree in Business law, Université de Paris Nanterre (2018-2019)
• Master's Degree in Business law and Business litigation, Université de Paris Nanterre (2019-2020)
• Haute Ecole des avocats Conseils
French
English
Neriah David-West
Jurist
Neriah David-West joined the Contracts & project financing division in November 2021.
Formation
Languages
• Bachelor's degree in Law, Université de Strasbourg (2017)
• Master Degree's in International Law, Université de Toulouse (2018)
• Master Degree's in Business Law (Transport and Aeronotics) (2019)
French
English
Yohan Ray
Jurist
Yohan Ray joined the Dispute resolution division in July 2022.
Formation
• Master's degree in Private Law and Wealth Law, Université Paris-Nanterre
Langue
French
English