Séverin Robillard

Partner, Paris

Biography

“Clients appreciate his ‘smooth way of negotiating and dealing with projects,’ describing him as ‘a very calm person who focuses on the main issues and doesn’t waste time on unimportant matters.’”
Chambers Europe

Overview

Séverin Robillard is widely recognized as a leading capital markets lawyer, with a proven ability to effectively lead teams and to complete challenging deals. His practice focuses on international securities and finance work, including capital market debt restructuring. Issuers and banks benefit from his knowledge and experience advising on initial public offerings, equity, equity-linked and debt issues, private placements and derivative transactions, including regulatory capital and liability management transactions such as tender and exchange offers, debt buy backs and consent solicitations. Adept at navigating the legal intricacies of complex, large-scale transactions, he creates innovative solutions which enable his clients to realize their long-term strategic objectives. Before joining White & Case in 2013, Séverin practiced in the Paris offices of UK law firms for more than 14 years.
Bars and Courts
Paris
Education
Postgraduate Degree
Banking and Financial Law
University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne
Master's Degree
Business Law
University of Paris X
Languages
French
English

Experience

Rights issues
Air France-KLM (2017, €750m), Direct Energie (2017, €130m), Europcar (2017, €175m), Suez (2017, €750m), Elis (2017, €325m), Foncière des Régions (2017, €400m), CGG (2016, €350m), Parrot (2016, €300m), Numericable (2014, €4.7bn – the largest rights issue in France for the five last years), Peugeot-Citroën (2014, €3bn and 2012, €1bn), CGG Veritas (2012, €414m), Michelin (2011, €1.2bn).

IPOs
SMCP (2017, €623m), Maisons du Monde (2016, €380m), Elis (2015, €750m), Worldline (2014, €832m), Elior (2014, €1.1bn), Verallia (2011, €1bn), Medica (2010, €290m), Groupe Lucien Barrière (2010, €340m), Suez (2008, €8.9bn).

Block trades
EBM / Direct Energie (2017, €75m), Groupama / OTP Bank (2017, €208m), Airbus Group / Dassault Aviation (2016, €783m), Wendel / Saint-Gobain (2016, €1.2bn), Charterhouse and Chequers Capital / Elior (2015, €255m), JCDecaux SA / JCDecaux Holding (2015, €380m), Group Bolloré / Havas (2015, €601m), Groupama / Veolia (2015, €485m), Groupama / Mediobanca (2015, €333m), French State/Safran (2014, €900m), Groupe Bruxelles Lambert / Pernod Ricard (2012, €499m), Groupe Bruxelles Lambert / Arkema (2012, €432m), Air France-KLM / Amadeus (2012, €467m).

Exchangeable/Convertible bonds issues
Michelin (convertible) (2018, USD600m), (Maisons du Monde (OCEANE) (2017, €200m), Elis (OCEANE) (2017, €400m), Vallourec (OCEANE) (2017, €250m), Korian (ODIRNANE) (2017, €240m), ORPAR (Exchangeable) (2017, €200m), (Michelin (convertible) (2017, USD500m and USD100m), Rallye/Casino (Exchangeable) (2016, €200m), Crédit Agricole S.A./Eurazeo (Exchangeable) (2016, €308m), Airbus/Dassault (2016, €1bn), Nexity (2016, €270m), Wendel/Saint-Gobain (2016, €500m), LVMH (2016, USD150m and USD 600m), Total (2015, USD1.2bn), BIM/Elior (2015, €200m), Unibail-Rodamco (2015, €500m and 2012, €750m), Orpar / Rémy Cointreau (2015, €170m), Suez (2014, €350m), Cap Gemini (2013, €350m), Rallye-Casino (2013, €300m), Alcatel Lucent (2013, €630m), Air France-KLM (2013, €550m), CGG Veritas (2012, €360m).

Public offers on shares and liability management, debt and equity-linked (tender/exchange offers)
PSA (2016, €500m), BPCE (2016, €2.3bn), Casino (2016, €537m and 2014, €900m), Wendel (2016, €400m), CGG (2015, €360m and 2014, €360m), AXA (2014 €1.7bn and GBP €1.2bn), Suez (2014, €300m), Peugeot (2014, €2.25bn), Cap Gemini (2013, €575m), Lagardère (2012, €500m), Société Générale (2012, €1.3bn), France Telecom (2010, €1bn), Veolia (2010, €1bn).

Bonds issues
SPIE (2017, €600m), Capgemini (2016, €600m), Danone (2016, USD5.5bn), Sodexo (2016, €600m), Air France-KLM (2016, €400m), Atos (2016, €300m), Scor (2016, €500m), Nexans (2016, €250m), CNP Assurances Tier 2 (2016, USD500m), Suez (2015, €500m and 2014, €900m), Engie (2015, €2.5bn and 2014, €900m), BPCE (2015, €1.25bn and €1bn), AXA Tier 1 (2014, €900m) and Tier 2 (2014, €900m), Plastic Omnium (2013, €900m), BFCM (2013, €900m), Altran (2014, €900m).

Preference shares issues
Société Générale (2009, €1.7bn).

Awards and Recognition

Leading Lawyer (Band 1), Capital Markets – France, Chambers Global 2022

Leading Lawyer (Leading Individual): Capital Markets – France, The Legal 500 2022

Leading Lawyer: Capital Markets – France, IFLR 1000 2021