Adrien François

Adrien François is a Counsel in Osborne Clarke's Corporate / M&A team, based in Luxembourg. 

Adrien advises private equity sponsors, multinational groups, financial institutions and investors on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, corporate restructurings, joint ventures and corporate governance matters. 

He regularly supports clients throughout the full investment lifecycle, from transaction structuring and the establishment of Luxembourg acquisition and holding vehicles to acquisitions, disposals, reorganisations and strategic partnerships. 

Key focus areas

• Private equity transactions, including acquisitions, investments, disposals and management incentive arrangements.
• Corporate restructurings, simplification projects and group reorganisations.
• Domestic and cross-border M&A, including acquisitions, exits and mergers.
• Joint ventures, strategic partnerships and cross-border investment structures.
• Joint venture transactions, shareholders' arrangements, strategic partnerships and cross-border governance and investment structures.
• Advising shareholders, boards and management teams on governance and strategic corporate matters.
• Cross-border transactions involving Luxembourg acquisition, holding and investment structures.
• Multi-jurisdictional transactions involving Luxembourg entities and investment platforms.

Who I advise

• Private equity sponsors and investment funds on acquisitions, disposals and portfolio company transactions.
• Multinational groups on strategic acquisitions, divestments, reorganisations and cross-border projects.
• Financial institutions, asset managers and alternative investment managers on Luxembourg corporate and investment structures.
• Family offices, founders and private investors on investment, governance and structuring matters.
• International businesses using Luxembourg as a platform for cross-border investments and holding structures.

Sector focus

• Financial Services: advising private equity sponsors, investment funds, asset managers and financial institutions on acquisitions, investments, exits and Luxembourg structuring matters.
• Technology, Media and Communications: supporting investors and technology businesses on M&A transactions, growth investments and corporate reorganisations.
• The Built Environment: advising investors and corporate groups on acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures and investment structures involving real estate assets.
• Energy and Energy Transition: assisting sponsors and investors on acquisitions, joint ventures and cross-border investment structures in the energy sector.

How I help clients

Adrien provides pragmatic, commercially focused advice designed to help clients execute transactions efficiently and manage legal risk effectively.

He works closely with management teams, investors and in-house legal departments to:

• identify key legal and execution risks at an early stage;
• develop practical and commercially workable solutions;
• coordinate complex multi-jurisdictional transactions and projects;
• deliver responsive, clear and business-oriented advice throughout the transaction lifecycle.

Notable experience

• Advising large Sweden based global private equity firm on the full spectrum of their investment strategies from acquisition to exit for the past five years.
• Advising a NYSE-listed global services company on the Luxembourg aspects of its USD 4.8 billion cross-border acquisition of an international business services provider.
• Advising German venture capital and private equity firm on numerous transactions including several acquisitions, capital injection and co-investments. 
• Advising global private equity firm on the full spectrum of their investment strategies during the last nine years: from acquisition to exit.
• Advising UK real estate investment manager on the structuring of its investment into high-tech manufacturing facilities located in the Netherlands.

Credentials and recognition

• LL.M. in International Financial Law, King's College London.
• Finance and International Management programme, ESCP Europe London, United Kingdom (2014)
• Master II in Business Law from Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines university, France (2013)