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Thursday 15th November 2001

SJ Berwin's rapid growth in Paris as a corporate deals law firm continues with the announcement that Corporate Finance/M&A partner Laurence Pinot-Lacan is to join the five partner office this month, along with her senior assistant Jan Heijmeijer. Laurence and Jan's arrival follows hard on the heels of the addition of Corporate partner Pierre-Louis PŽrin that was announced recently.

Laurence Pinot-Lacan's expertise lies in advising domestic and international companies and investment banks in corporate finance, M&A, re-capitalisations and corporate re-constructions, with a particular focus in the areas of private equity, LBO/MBO, JVs and cross-border transactions - core practices for SJ Berwin's growing network of seven European offices. Jan Heijmeijer has been working as a senior member of her team. Laurence joined the French office of Stibbe in 1988, joining the partnership in 1993 and working at the firm through the recent merger with American firm Latham & Watkins. Of her reasons for now joining the newly-opened Paris office of SJ Berwin, she says, "SJ Berwin is a very reputable firm which, in particular has built a leading position in the Private Equity business. Its willingness to strengthen its M&A and PE practice is a real opportunity. I am very excited to join a top calibre team and I look forward to building with them a major force in corporate finance legal advice in France."

Partner George Pinkham commented, "We are delighted to be able to invite another top quality transactional lawyer to broaden the Paris team. Laurence will enhance our ability to handle LBO/MBO transactions from the funds we are helping to create, as well as tackling traditional corporate M&A work alongside Mark Richardson."

Senior Partner David Harrel added, "Laurence and Jan are significant hires for the Paris office, following on as they do Pierre-Louis and his team, as this now gives considerable strength in depth in this very important marketplace and is an important step in our aim to be a leading European transactional firm."

• Laurence Pinot-Lacan, 40, was admitted to the Paris Bar in 1985 as an associate at leading French firm Gide Loyrette Nouel, before joining Sullivan & Cromwell in New York. Returning to Paris in 1988 at Stibbe, Laurence was invited to join the partnership in 1993. In 2001 the firm merged with the American firm Latham & Watkins.
• Her clients have included Paris market-maker Euronext in its merger with the Brussels and Amsterdam exchanges in 2000; advising shareholders in the acquisition of the internet portal Caramail by a Swedish company; representing stock-broker Leven in its merger with Aurel; advising NatWest Equity Partners (now re-named Bridgepoint Capital) and Argos investment funds in the leveraged buy-out of retail chain Serap; and advising Norwegian telecom Telenor in several acquisitions of French companies distributing phone books.
• Laurence was educated at the University of Paris I Sorbonne, taking a Postgraduate degree in international private law and international business transactions (DEA de Droit international prive et de commerce internation) in 1985 and a Master of Laws LL.M at Harvard Law School, USA in 1987.
• Jan Heijmeijer,37, was admitted to the Paris Bar in 1990. Educated at Columbia Law school (Master of Laws, 1991) and at the University of Paris I Sorbonne (DEA de Droit Anglais et Nord-AmŽricain des Affaires, 1987).
• Jan began work at Monahan Duhot in 1990, joining the New York office of Winthrop Stimson Putnam & Roberts (now Pillsbury Winthrop LLP) in 1991. Returning to Paris the next year, he joined Stibbe and rose to the position of senior associate in 1999. Jan worked with Laurence on the Euronext merger in 2000.
• Founded in 1982 in London, SJ Berwin is a leading European law firm with offices in Berlin, Brussels, Frankfurt, Madrid, Munich and Paris.
• Awards won by SJ Berwin include: 'Private Equity Law Firm of the Year' - European Venture Capital Journal 2001, 'Competition Team of the Year' - Legal Business Awards 2001, 'Law Firm of the Year' - The Lawyer Awards 2000, 'Property Team of the Year' - The Lawyer Awards 2000.