Diane Lamarche
Biography
“She is a smart lawyer and is really good at navigating corporate situations.”
‘Diane Lamarche is truly outstanding. She is a go to person for high-value French disputes. She shows high technical skills, know-how and experience, is a strategic thinker and is solution-driven and pragmatic, while her drive and level of dedication is unparalleled. She works hard, is passionate and her passion and leadership has a very positive effect on her team. She can manage simultaneous court proceedings in different countries very well.’
Overview
Diane Lamarche heads the Commercial Litigation practice of White & Case in Paris and is part of the Global Mergers & Acquisitions practice.
Diane has extensive expertise in private and public M&A litigation, with a focus in securities, commercial and corporate law. She mainly acts for major French and foreign companies before the French courts (civil, commercial and criminal) and regulators (such as the AMF). She also assists her clients before foreign jurisdictions and arbitration panels.
Diane's focus is on high-end litigation for clients operating in a wide variety of sectors such as notably private equity funds, financial institutions, industrial firms and technology companies.
Diane has also developed a notable expertise in corporate governance of both listed and non-listed companies. In this field, she advises corporate officers and board members and defends them when they are subject to liability and disciplinary proceedings. Diane is regularly invited to speak on governance issues at conferences, such as the annual forum "Governance of Boards of Directors & General meetings" organised by the AGEFI to which she has been participating since 2020.
In addition, Diane has a strong expertise in assisting private equity funds in the defense of their shareholders' rights and on general corporate transactions. She also advises leading listed and non-listed companies on financial and securities transactions and on the negotiation of complex agreements.
Diane has been listed as "One of the Top 40 lawyers of the French CA" by Forbes France / Leffre des Juristes d'Affaires three years in a row (2022-2023-2024) and recognized as "Leading lawyer" by Chambers Global & Europe 2024 and by Legal 500 EMEA 2024 for Litigation and Stock-Market Litigation in France.
Diane is a member of the Board of the French American Foundation. Diane is also a member of the Cercle des Administrateurs, whose mission is to support the responsible governance of companies.
Diane is an independent director of the Centennial Crédit Immobilier de France Group, where she chairs the Remuneration Committee and the Appointment Committee.
Graduated both in finance and law, Diane trained in investment banks (within the M&A department of Lazard in London and the Equity Capital Markets department of HSBC in Paris) and in international business law firms, prior to joining Orrick Rambaud Martel in 2007 where she became a partner in 2017.
Experience
Litigation
Representation of Emeis (former ORPEA), a leading France-based group in the care homes sector, in 20 disputes in France, Germany and in the US initiated by creditors or shareholders in the context of the financial restructuring of the company.
Representation of Vusion Group (former SES-imagotag) in the context of a short-selling campaign conducted by investor Gotham City Research LLC against the company.
Representation of Amber Capital on the management of its minority stakes in Lagardère and the implementation of its shareholder rights since 2016.
Representation of SMCP (Sandro, Maje, Claudie Pierlot), a French listed company, in a conflict opposing its former majority shareholder and its new majority shareholder.
Representation of Société Générale and Goldman Sachs Bank Europe, the advising banks handling the French State's public tender offer for EDF, on an appeal lodged with the Paris Court of Appeal by minority shareholders challenging the AMF clearance decision.
Representation of Iliad in sanctions proceedings launched by the AMF for alleged breaches by Iliad of its information obligations regarding the contemplated acquisition of T-Mobile US.
Representation of Groupe Rocca in the context of several disputes.
Representation of NGLM, in the context of the bankruptcy of one of its debtor, which led to the enforcement of securities and various litigations.
Representation of Oaktree in the implementation of its securities over French real-estate company Trimax.
Representation of T-Rex in a dispute with its former partner in context of an important real estate investment.
Representation of Deloitte in complex litigations with former partners.
Representation of a former director of Toys'R'Us (France) sued by the judicial liquidators of the company to cover an alleged insufficiency of assets of the Company following its judicial liquidation.
Representation of Starwood (a subsidiary of the Marriott group) in various ongoing proceedings against Sheraton Roissy (a subsidiary of FIB) regarding the operation of the hotel Sheraton Roissy, which is located inside the airport CDG.
Representation of Cobepa in the context of cross-border disputes in France and Luxembourg following acquisition of a French company.
Representation of IPF Partners in a contentious situation against Adocia, a biotech based in Lyon and listed on Euronext Paris.
Representation of Kresk Developpement in a dispute against the Class Ultim 32/23 regarding the participation of François Gabart and the "Defi SVR-Lazartigue" to the 2022 Route du Rhum.
Representation of Alec Wildenstein Jr, heir of the internationally renowned art collector family, with numerous civil, tax and criminal French proceedings in which he is involved alongside his sister Diane and uncle Guy Wildenstein, following the deaths of his grandfather Daniel in 2001 and his father Alec Sr. in 2008.
Representation of Mrs Cristiana Crociani; her husband, Mr Nicolas Delrieu; and her in-laws, on a dispute against her sister, Mrs Camilla Bourbon des Deux Siciles, over the benefit of two trusts for an amount of circa US$120 million.
Representation of Republic of the Sudan, the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of the Sudan and the Central Bank of the Sudan in the context of legal actions brought by purported foreign creditors before French courts.
Representation of four shareholders of the holding company EJ Barbier, a family-owned company holding a majority stake in the listed company EPC, in proceedings launched by the activist fund Candel & Partners.
Representation of Skello and its shareholders in the context of a dispute with a former director.
Representation of Hydranautics in commercial litigations with industrial partners.
Representation of the former directors of EPC Group against a minority shareholder.
Representation of Voodoo in the context of a litigation against former partner and competitor.
Representation of former owners and directors of Dufour Yachts, the leading France-based sailboat manufacturer, in the context of post-acquisition disputes.
Representation of former shareholders of CMG Sports Club in the context of post-acquisition disputes.
Representation of AFD (Agence Française de Développement) in a dispute against technology partners.
M&A / Corporate
Representation of Orpea Group in the context of the conciliation procedure and of the safeguard procedure.
Representation of Amber Capital in its activist campaign at Lagardère and in the sale of its reference shareholder block to Vivendi prior to Vivendi's takeover bid.
Representation of Etablissement Peugeot Frère and Peugeot Invest in various corporate and corporate reorganisation matters.
Representation of Europcar Mobility Group (Europcar) shareholders Centerbridge Partners, CarVal Investors, Marathon Asset Management and Diameter Capital Partners individually on the tender offer for Europcar by a consortium composed of Volkswagen Group, Attestor Capital and Pon Holdings.
Representation of Davidson Kempner in the context of his minority investment in Suez in the context of Veolia's takeover bid.
Representation of Elliott Advisors, Amber Capital, Davidson Kempner and Farallon on various investments in French listed companies.
Representation of several listed companies and family group in connection with governance issues.
Representation of Racing Club de Lens and its majority shareholder on the change of its sporting and executive governance.
Representation of Racing Club Lens and its majority shareholder on minority investment by regional partners.
Representation of Otium Capital in connection with the acquisition of Birchbox France.
Representation of LFPI on the sale of Club Med Gym comprising 21 fitness clubs in Paris and Paris area to Ken Group, holding the luxury fitness club Ken Club, Clay and Blanche in Paris.
Representation of Deloitte in connection with the sale of In Extenso and with governance issues.
Representation of Advent International on its acquisition of Circet Groupe, a leader in the French telecommunications infrastructure market.
Representation of Beyond Aero in its Series A lead by Giant Ventures.
Representation of Label Capital as lead investor in Curex Series A.
Representation of Iconic Group in relation with its investment in Kate, an electric car company, and the reorganisation of Kate's management.
Representation of Airnity in relation with the investment by Stellantis and Renault Group.
Representation of Metafore, a creator of high-end venues for meetings and events, in its €15 million financing round to develop its hospitality offer.
Representation of Arianee, global specialist in the digital certification of valuables, as well as its founders and two of its main shareholders, Bpifrance and ISAI, in connection with its $20 million Series A financing round.
Representation of Arianee in its initial €8 million financing round to develop its technology and digitize the fashion and luxury industry.
Representation of fast-growth companies and funds in fundraisings and corporate transactions.
Listed as "One of the 'Top 40 lawyers of the French CAC" by Forbes France / Lettre des Juristes d'Affaires (LJA) 2022, 2023 & 2024
« Grande maîtrise lorsqu'il s'agit de gérer les dossiers épineux avec un parfait contrôle des enjeux sensibles. Sa réactivité et sa capacité de travail hors norme en font une grande avocate de sa génération. Une pépite à suivre de près »
Recognized as "Leading lawyer" by Chambers Global & Europe 2024 for Litigation:Elite in France:
"Diane has superior intelligence and strategic vision."
I really trust Diane and her judgement."
She is a smart lawyer and is really good at navigating corporate situations."
Recognized as "Leading individual" by Legal 500 EMEA 2024 for Litigation and Stock-market Litigation in France:
Diane Lamarche is truly outstanding. She is a go to person for high-value French disputes. She shows high technical skills, know-how and experience, is a strategic thinker and is solution-driven and pragmatic, while her drive and level of dedication is unparalleled. She works hard, is passionate and her passion and leadership has a very positive effect on her team. She can manage simultaneous court proceedings in different countries very well.'
'Diane Lamarche is exceptional.'
Recognized as "Securities Litigator of the Year" at the Women in Business Law Awards 2022
Ranked among the 25 "Rising Stars - Europe's Best Up-and-Coming Female Lawyers" by Law.com 2021
Recognized as "Young Leader" by the French China Foundation 2020
