Clifford Chance
Fabrice Cohen specialises in domestic and cross-border M&A transactions, private equity and securities law. He regularly advises prominent private equity firms, listed companies, financial institutions and large industrial groups on all corporate aspects of public and private M&A and on corporate reorganizations.
Fabrice further benefits from a strong expertise in the following business sectors: Aerospace and Defense, Automotive, Infrastructure and Consumer Retail.
Contact details
- Clifford Chance, Paris
- +33144055420
- Email me
- Speaks English and French
- Practice area M&A corporate
- Sector Private equity
Career and qualifications
- University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne (LL.M. Business and Tax Law) 1995
- Salans Hertzfeld & Heilbronn, Paris 1996
- Admitted as an avocat in Paris 1997
- Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Paris 2000
- Partner, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer 2005
- Head of Corporate, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Paris 2010
- Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, Paris 2012
- Joined Clifford Chance Paris as Partner 2014
Professional bodies
- Member of the AFIC (Association Française des Investisseurs en Capital)
Awards and citations
- Fabrice Cohen is ranked as "Highly Regarded".
IFLR 2024, Investment Funds, Private Equity, M&A - France - "I have always had good experiences with him. He is very hands-on and personally reviews everything his team is sending us. As a partner himself, he is very involved; we know that it will be error-free and stamped with the highest quality. He recommends options to us and his negotiation skills are good."
"He is commercial but also detail-oriented, he strikes a good balance and gives good advice on negotiations."
"Fabrice Cohen has strong technical expertise and excellent execution on complex transactions."
Chambers Europe 2024, Private Equity: High-end Capability - France
Chambers Global 2024, Private Equity: High-end Capability - France
- Fabrice Cohen (Band 4) has extensive experience in domestic and cross-border matters, including acquisitions, disposals and corporate reorganisations.
"Fabrice Cohen is a fantastic partner who delivers high value."
Chambers Europe 2024, Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability - France - Fabrice Cohen is ranked as "Highly Regarded".
IFLR 2023, Investment Funds, Private Equity, M&A – France - Fabrice Cohen is ranked as one of the 'Leading Individuals' for the practice.
Legal 500 EMEA 2023, Mergers and Acquisitions - France - Fabrice Cohen (Band 4) enters the rankings this year and handles acquisitions and LBO exits for leading private equity funds.
Chambers Europe 2023, Private Equity: High-end Capability - France - Fabrice Cohen (Band 3) has extensive experience in domestic and cross-border matters, including acquisitions, disposals and corporate reorganisations. He demonstrates expertise in the financial, consumer goods and automotive sectors.
"He is an experienced M&A lawyer."
Chambers Global 2023, Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability - France
Chambers Europe 2023, Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability - Fabrice Cohen is ranked as "Highly Regarded".
IFLR 2022, Investment funds, Private equity, M&A - France - Fabrice Cohen has extensive experience in domestic and cross-border matters, including acquisitions and corporate reorganisations. He demonstrates expertise in the aerospace, consumer goods and automotive sectors. Ranked Band 3.
Chambers Global 2022, Corporate/M&A: High-End Capability - France
Chambers Europe 2022, Corporate/M&A: High-End Capability - France - Fabrice Cohen is ranked as "Highly regarded".
IFLR EMEA 2021, Investment funds, M&A, Private equity - France - Fabrice Cohen has extensive experience in cross-border acquisitions, spin-offs and corporate reorganisations. He demonstrates expertise in the aerospace, healthcare and automotive sectors.
Chambers Global 2021, Corporate/M&A - France
Chambers Europe 2021, Corporate/M&A - France - Fabrice Cohen is ranked as "Highly Regarded".
IFLR 2020, Investment Funds, Private Equity, M&A - France - Fabrice Cohen advises corporate clients and investment firms on cross-border acquisitions and investment transactions. One source says: "He understands perfectly well the needs of corporate clients," going on to add that he "is able to think out of the box and helps us find solutions when we may encounter difficulties with the other party."
Chambers Global 2020, Corporate/M&A - France
Chambers Europe 2020, Corporate/M&A - France - "Active in the large- and mid-cap segments of the market, Clifford Chance acts for private equity houses, banks and specialised infrastructure funds. With considerable sector expertise and strong cross-border capabilities, the team, which is led by practice heads Fabrice Cohen and Marianne Pezant, has handled several recent high-profile instructions. Highlights included advising PAI Partners on the acquisition of Asmodee group from Eurazeo, valued at €1.2bn, and assisting Permira with the acquisition of Exclusive Networks from Cobepa, Edmond de Rothschild, Sogecap and the management. Laurent Schoenstein led the advice to Cube Infrastructure Managers on the disposal of Idex Group and Taranis. Gilles Lebreton is also noted. Clients also include Apax Partners, Cinven and BlackRock."
Legal 500 EMEA 2019, Private Equity: LBO - France - "The team of 'great professionals' at Clifford Chance 'combines deep experience, the ability to deliver fast under pressure, a pragmatic approach and the ability to find creative solutions'. Recent highlights include multiple cross-border cases, among them advising Engie on the $2.04bn sale of its liquefied natural gas business to Total, a matter led by the 'client-oriented and business-minded' Mathieu Rémy. Fabrice Cohen, who is 'very pragmatic, with a risk-oriented mindset', advised Europcar on its €1bn acquisition of Goldcar from Investindustrial. Domestically, Marianne Pezant assisted Carrefour with the creation of a common vehicle with Fnac Darty, creating a purchasing partnership for domestic appliances and consumer electronics in France. Other noteworthy practitioners include Gilles Lebreton, Laurent Schoenstein and counsel Olivier Jouffroy, 'a very good professional who is able to manage pressure very well'. Julien Brun made counsel. Vacalians, Airbus, Axel Springer and Plastic Omnium all count among the team's clients."
Legal 500 EMEA 2019, Mergers and Acquisitions - France - "Clifford Chance has a broad aviation practice, with a team whose 'members complement each other'. The practice has a strong corporate and commercial focus, with Dessislava Savova and Fabrice Cohen forming the heart of the group, as well as a strong litigation and arbitration component alongside regulatory expertise. In a recent corporate highlight, Cohen advised Airbus on its $750m disposal of Vector Aerospace to StandardAero Aviation Holdings, while Savova acted for Airbus on the implementation of a new industrial and commercial strategy for the insourcing of key aircraft components. Thibaud d’Alès represented the Cessna Citation European Service Center in litigation against owners and managers of airplanes arising from the non-payment of repairing works. Other key contacts include Jason Fry, Simon Greenberg and Thomas Baudesson. Charles-Henri Boeringer was promoted to partner in May 2018."
Legal 500 EMEA 2019, Aviation - France - Fabrice Cohen handles domestic and cross-border transactions and restructuring matters, including those in the public sector. Clients say he is "clever, tactical and a good adviser."
Chambers Europe 2019, Corporate/M&A - France
Chambers Global 2019, Corporate/M&A - France - "Clifford Chance’s team provides ‘excellent advice that is adapted to each individual situation’, and stands out for its partners’ ‘strong involvement in the cases’ and ‘ability to deliver important work in a short time’. The group handles domestic and cross-border transactions, with expertise spanning public and private M&A as well as joint ventures and corporate reorganisations. Fabrice Cohen, the ‘very experienced’ Mathieu Remy, who ‘combines technical expertise and editorial excellence with strong interpersonal skills, which is a major advantage in difficult negotiations’, the ‘intelligent and subtle’ Marianne Pezant, Gilles Lebreton, Thierry Schoen and Laurent Schoenstein are key names and are supported by recently promoted counsel Alexandre Merle. The group advised Europcar on the €1bn acquisition of Goldcar and acted for the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations and CDC Infrastructure on the sale of a 15% stake in Holding d’Infrastructures de Transports. The team also assisted Cerberus Capital Management with the disposal of MCS Group to BC Partners. Other clients include Airbus Group, EDF and L’Oréal."
Legal 500 EMEA 2018, Mergers and Acquisitions - France - "Clifford Chance acts for private equity funds, banks and infrastructure funds on mid-cap to large-cap transactions, with expertise in numerous sectors including healthcare, telecoms, infrastructure and financial services. The team is a key name for complex cross-border transactions, but also handles domestic matters. Fabrice Cohen, Marianne Pezant, Gilles Lebreton and Laurent Schoenstein are the key names. In one example of the department’s cross-border strength and experience in auction processes, the team advised KKR Infrastructure on its agreement to purchase Q-Park NV from a group of institutional investors in a cross-office matter involving the firm’s Amsterdam, London and Luxembourg offices. Other highlights include advising Temasek Holdings on its minority stake investment in Axéréal Malt Holdings, in a matter that involved high-stakes joint venture negotiations to secure the liquidity and sustainability of the investment, and assisting private equity investment firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice with its purchase of France’s largest furniture retailer But, an acquisition in consortium with WM Holding, an investment vehicle of an Austrian furniture retailer. Other major instructions came from Carlyle and Triton. Blackstone, Apax Partners and Ardian Private Debt are other clients."
Legal 500 EMEA 2018, Private Equity: LBO - France
- "Clifford Chance regularly handles a wide range of high-value corporate instructions for Airbus, often with a strong international component. Fabrice Cohen and Dessislava Savova, who has expertise in commercial contracts, are the key names. The promotion of Sandrine Colletier to counsel in May 2017 has further increased the group’s strength in arbitration. Recent work includes advising Airbus on the disposal of Vector Aerospace and its subsidiaries to StandardAero Aviation and assisting Airbus with the global reorganisation of the Airbus Group."
Legal 500 EMEA 2018, Aviation - France
- "Moving up the rankings, Fabrice Cohen is a widely admired M&A practitioner, servicing both industrial and private equity clients in transactions. One interviewee advises: "He is experienced in his field and calm but firm in negotiations."He assisted Caisse des Dépots et Consignations with the divestment of its 15% share in Holding d’Infrastructures de Transport, which held a 100% stake in Sanef."
Chambers Global 2018, Corporate/M&A - France
Chambers Europe 2018, Corporate/M&A - France - "Clifford Chance advises leading private equity houses, such as Apax Partners, Carlyle and KKR on large LBOs. Highlights included assisting PAI Partners with the €800m acquisition of B&B Hotels, advising CD&R on the buyout of BUT and assisting Cinven with the sale of Prezioso. Fabrice Cohen, Gilles Lebreton and Laurent Schoenstein are the key names in the practice. Marianne Pezant is now a partner."
Legal 500 EMEA 2017, LBO - France - "Clifford Chance advises many leading French and multinational corporations. The practice fields over 40 lawyers and is regularly involved in large transactions, especially in the energy, financial services and defence sectors. It recently assisted EDF Energies Nouvelles with the acquisition of Dong’s 30% stake in Eolien Maritimes France and the subsequent sale of 50% of the acquired share capital to Enbridge. It also advised Mondelēz on the sale of its French confectionery business. Airbus, Carrefour and L’Oréal are also clients. Fabrice Cohen, the ‘serious and technical’ Gilles Lebreton, Mathieu Remy, Thierry Schoen and Laurent Schoenstein are the key names in the practice. Marianne Pezant was promoted partner."
Legal 500 EMEA 2017, Mergers and Acquisitions - France - Fabrice Cohen regularly handles matters involving the aerospace, TMT, automotive, consumer and infrastructure sectors. He assisted Airbus with the sale of its satellite business communications activities to Apax Partners.
Chambers Global 2017, Corporate/M&A - France
Chambers Europe 2017, Corporate/M&A - France - Fabrice Cohen is described by clients as "energetic, with very solid M&A experience." He has a wealth of expertise across public and private M&A as well as corporate reorganisations and is active in the consumer goods, automotive and TMT sectors.
Chambers Europe 2016, Corporate/M&A - France
- "Clifford Chance’s ‘high-level lawyers’ are ‘very expert, responsive and easy to work with’; the 40-lawyer team provides an ‘outstanding service’. It is especially recommended for handling ‘complex M&A transactions in France and abroad’ and has particular expertise in the defence, healthcare, banking and energy areas. Recent work includes handling many strategic public and private M&A transactions, such as advising Airbus on its joint venture with Safran and assisting Jacobs Douwe Egberts with the sale of Carte Noire. Clients include Société Générale, Rexel and Numericable. Mathieu Remy ‘combines perfect technical legal skills and business acumen with added value advice on complex situations’. Fabrice Cohen, Gilles Lebreton, Thierry Schoen and Laurent Schoenstein are also particularly recommended, and Catherine Astor-Veyres, Aline Cardin, Dessislava Savova and Yves Wehrli are other key figures".
Legal 500 EMEA 2016, Mergers & Acquisitions - France - "Clifford Chance advises various leading investment funds on large transactions and notably assisted Cinven with its agreement to acquire Labco, as well as advising Sagard and Ergon Capital on the sale of Corialis. Butler Capital, Permira, Perceva and Wendel are also clients. Fabrice Cohen, Gilles Lebreton, Thierry Schoen and Laurent Schoenstein are the key figures".
Legal 500 EMEA 2016, Private Equity: LBO - France - Fabrice Cohen is described by clients as "energetic, with very solid M&A experience." He has a wealth of expertise across public and private M&A as well as corporate reorganisations and is active in the consumer goods, automotive and TMT sectors.
Chambers Global 2016, Corporate/M&A - France