Stéphanie Berland has over 20 years of experience specialising in intellectual property and technology law, data protection, and media and communication law, both in advisory and litigation. She has solid experience in litigation management, and acts on behalf of her clients before civil, commercial, criminal and administrative courts. Stéphanie works with French and foreign clients, including major groups and ETIs, as well as start-ups in a variety of sectors, and Internet and audiovisual platforms and players.
Stéphanie joins DWF's existing practice in Paris to work alongside partners Florence Karila and Anne-Sylvie Vassenaix-Paxton. Working closely with Florence and Anne-Sylvie, Stéphanie will provide support to partners in the Paris office, as well as in foreign offices, on IP/IT issues arising in the course of their transactional activities.
Juliette Bour has specialised in restructuring since 2013 and has acquired solid experience in preventive and collective procedures involving restructurings and the handling of complex turnaround situations in a wide range of industries. She assists lenders, investment funds, investors, shareholders, debtors, purchasers and creditors in both amicable and judicial settings. She also defends the interests of executives when their liability is at stake. Juliette handles all aspects of insolvency, bankruptcy and commercial litigation for French and international clients.
Juliette will head up the Paris office's restructuring practice, with the aim of accelerating its development by offering a complete range of services in close collaboration with the firm's other areas of expertise in Paris and restructuring teams in other countries in multi-jurisdictional cases.
With these new additions, DWF now has 16 partners in Paris with the business offering a comprehensive range of services for French and international clients. These services cover a wide range of key economic sectors, including real estate, healthcare, sport, tech, distribution, media, energy and environment, where the protection of intellectual property, the handling of issues raised by the use of personal data or AI, and the prevention of business difficulties are essential.
Wayne Lawrence, head of DWF's Commercial, Regulatory & Data practice, said: "We are delighted to welcome Stephanie to the team in Paris. Stephanie has an excellent track record and her energy and her expertise in advising on all aspects of intellectual property and technology law will further enhance our capabilities in supporting our clients in France and across our international offices. She will play a key role in supporting the growth of our Paris office and our established and growing International IP Group."
Iain Shurwood, head of DWF's Finance & Restructuring practice, said: "We are delighted to welcome Juliette to the Paris team. Her strong track record and experience will further enhance the Global Finance & Restructuring group. She will play a key role in increasing the breadth our restructuring offering and meeting the needs of our clients. Juliette's arrival further improves our global market presence and we are excited to build on our recent successful lateral hires."
Jean-François Mercadier, Managing Partner of DWF in France, adds: "Juliette's arrival in the finance and restructuring department reflects our commitment to supporting companies at every stage of their life, through the complementary work of our different practices. Stéphanie's arrival is in line with this commitment to developing a comprehensive offering. Indeed, as we expand our activities, strong legal expertise entirely dedicated to intellectual property and new technologies is essential for our customers."
Commenting on her appointment, Stéphanie Berland said: "Joining DWF is an exciting opportunity to be part of a dynamic, international platform that is at the forefront of addressing the evolving challenges in intellectual property and technology law. The rise of AI and the associated technological risks are transforming the legal landscape, and it's essential for companies to have robust support to navigate these changes. DWF's commitment to innovation and client service aligns perfectly with my passion for helping clients tackle these complex issues. I'm thrilled to contribute to DWF's growth in Paris and to collaborate with such a talented team."
Juliette Bour added: "I'm thrilled to join DWF and lead the development of the Restructuring practice in Paris. The firm’s global reach and emphasis on collaboration across various areas of expertise are key strengths that will allow us to provide comprehensive support to our clients, particularly in the face of an uncertain economic climate. I look forward to leveraging these synergies to help our clients navigate complex restructuring situations and achieve their strategic objectives, all while contributing to the continued growth of DWF in the French market."
