Leads the Practice

⇠ The Firm

Nathalie Rigal

Lawyer at the Paris Bar

Founding Partner

nrigal@sygna.fr

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)

⇠ The Firm

Antoine Benech

Lawyer at the Paris Bar

Partner

abenech@sygna.fr

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.

⇠ The Firm

Jean-Marc Thouvenin

Leads the practice

Lawyer at the Paris Bar

Partner

International litigation and arbitration

jmthouvenin@sygna.fr

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

⇠ The Firm

Luke Vidal

Lawyer at the Paris Bar

Partner

lvidal@sygna.fr

Leads the practice

Competition, regulatory and compliance

Career

• Sygna Partners (since 2006) – Partner since 2011

• Associate lawyer - Lysias (2004-2006)

• Lecturer in Competition Law, Paris Nanterre University (2007-2012)

Education

• Master’s degree in International and European Economic Law, Paris Nanterre University

Languages

After a first experience in Commercial Law and Litigation with Lysias Partners, Luke Vidal joined Sygna Partners in 2006 and became a partner in 2011.

Luke is in charge of Sygna Partners' Contractual Negotiation and Regulations division, advising clients on all commercial law issues, both contractual and litigious, with a multidisciplinary legal practice in the areas of competition law, intellectual property law and public business law. Luke also developed a real expertise in aviation law, having worked for several years with companies in the aviation sector in the negotiation of international transactions.

Luke also brings his expertise on Public International Law issues to the International Litigation and Arbitration division in order to advise and represent States and companies before international and European courts.

French

English

⇠ The Firm

Helen de Larrinaga

Lawyer at the Paris Bar

Partner

hdelarrinaga@sygna.fr

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

⇠ The Firm

Célia Tellaa

Lawyer at the Paris Bar

Associate

ctellaa@sygna.fr

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

⇠ The Firm

François Andia

Lawyer at the Paris Bar
Associate

fandia@sygna.fr

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.

⇠ The Firm

Lefa Mondon

Jurist

lmondon@sygna.fr

Education

• Master’s degree in International and european Law - University of Strasbourg (2017)

• Master’s degree in French Private and Public Law - University of Strasbourg (2018)

• Master's degree in International and Transnational Law - University of Strasbourg (2019)

Languages

French

English

Lefa Mondon holds a Master’s degree in International and Transnational Law from the University of Strasbourg.

Lefa joined the International Litigation and Arbitration division of Sygna Partners in 2019 and is regularly called upon to support the Dispute Resolution division.

Having participated in the Frankfurt Investment Arbitration Moot Court in 2019 she became coach of the University of Strasbourg's team for the 2020 edition.

⇠ Le cabinet