Bernard Grinspan is a French and New York qualified partner in the Paris office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, where he serves as chairman of the International Management Committee.
For more than twenty years, Bernard has advised publicly traded and privately held business entities on mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures and works closely with clients to provide guidance on strategic and financial investments. In addition, he works regularly on debt restructuring and insolvency matters. He also has notable experience in distributorship and licensing agreements as well as FCPA investigations. He has been instrumental in 'getting the deal done' in a number of highly visible transactions within the French business community.
Bernard is known to be creative in his approach to client's issues, with a constant view to explore all possible avenues available, including those combining negotiations and litigation. He has been essential in a number of cross-border deals where litigation and corporate teams are formed and coordinated to maximize client's results. Before joining Gibson Dunn's Paris office in 1990, Bernard spent nine years in the United States, first as a student at the Harvard Law School, then as a practicing attorney in New York, working successively at White and Case, Schlumberger Limited and Davis Polk & Wardwell. His two-and-a-half-year experience at Schlumberger gave him an excellent insider's view of the corporate world, rather unique in law firms as he was involved in the practical implementation of deals as well as their negotiation.
Chambers & Partners Global has consistently ranked Bernard as a “foreign expert” for USA-related Corporate/M&A work, noting that he is “well regarded” by clients for his experience and “valued opinions.” Previous editions commented that he is a “completely bilingual, extremely strategic and practical M&A expert” ; “a strong choice for complex cross-border transactions.” Chambers has also noted that the practice “benefits greatly from Bernard Grinspan's US legal expertise and experience when it comes to handling major transatlantic deals”.
Legal 500 EMEA recommends him for M&A and Private Equity. Previous editions have described him as a “highly regarded” partner “who puts all his energy in to get a deal done”, “well placed to assist clients on complex transactions” and providing “creative advice that goes beyond the pure legal aspects”. Bernard shows an “innate understanding of business and human relationships,'' directories say. In addition, Best Lawyers in France has consistently ranked him for Corporate Law and Information Technology Law over the years.
Bernard plays a major role in the growth of Gibson Dunn's European practices. He was and continues to be instrumental in the development of the firm's European offices into high quality legal service providers, capable of advising foreign clients on the laws of their respective jurisdictions.
He is fluent in French and English.
Capabilities
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Business Restructuring and Reorganization
- Emerging Companies / Venture Capital
- Fashion, Retail, and Consumer Products
- Finance
- Litigation
- Media, Entertainment, and Technology
- Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Data Innovation
- Private Equity
- Real Estate
- Tech and Innovation
Credentials
Education:
- Harvard University - 1983 Master of Laws (LL.M.)
- Institut d’Études Politiques (Sciences Po) - 1979 Diplôme
Admissions:
- France - Avocat au Barreau de Paris
- New York Bar