France, UK (England & Wales), Canada
François studied law at the University of Ottawa, Canada, and holds a master’s in law from University College, London.
He speaks English, French and Spanish.
François is widely regarded as a leading renewables and energy & infrastructure practitioner in France. A partner in the energy & infrastructure practice in the firm’s Paris office, François focuses on project financing in the energy transition, mining and infrastructure sectors. He also has in-depth knowledge of infrastructure assets, including airports, ports and roads and power distribution.
François advises sponsors, investors (including investment funds) government entities and lenders on all aspects of projects, including finance and contractual arrangements, as well as regulatory issues, on projects in France, Francophone Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Canada, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. He is actively involved with the firm’s initiatives surrounding Canada, including developing and maintaining Canadian client and institutional relationships.
Before joining Linklaters, François worked as an associate, Office of the General Counsel, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. He worked for four years in the firm’s London office before moving to Paris in 2002.
François is ranked as a leading lawyer in all major professional directories, such as The Legal 500 EMEA, IFLR1000 and Chambers quoting that he is “technically strong and persuasive whether representing a sponsor or a bank. He's a real deal maker” and that he is “highly commended by sources for his "impressive knowledge of renewables".
François has led on an array of global project transactions. These include advising:
François is a member of France Energie Eolienne (the French Renewable Energy Association), which brings together experts and industry members to promote wind energy in France, and the Syndicat des Energies Renouvelables (Renewable Energies Professional Association). He is also a member of the Paris Regional Council of the University of Ottawa.
He regularly speaks at conferences and seminars on a range of subjects, including on the liberalisation of the French energy markets and on renewable energy topics.
François is the author of Fostering Investment Law in Transitional Economies: A Case for Refocusing Institutional Reform, The Parker School Journal of East European Law, Columbia University, 1997, with John Taylor.
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