Yaëlle Cohen

Yaëlle Cohen is the head of the Banking & Finance practice of BDGS Associés in Paris.

She advises investment funds, companies, private debt funds and financial institutions on complex bank and bonds financings in the context of domestic and cross-border corporate transactions, LBOs or infrastructure and project financings. She also supports companies in difficulty and their shareholders with financial restructuring operations.

She has led a number of high-profile financing transactions, including recently:

• the implementation by WAAT and Raise of the European first-of-its-kind project financing to enhance the deployment of electric charging points in collective residences;
• the refinancing by Raise and Eiffel Investment Group of Hysetco’s indebtedness incurred notably to deploy and upgrade hydrogen charging stations for cabs as part of the entry of a new majority shareholder with a predominant presence on the hydrogen market;
• the acquisition by Crédit Agricole Assurances of a stake in Océinde Communications and the granting of related shareholders’ financings;
• the sale of Icade’s majority stake in Icade Santé and the asset portfolio held by Icade Healthcare Europe;
• the acquisition of New Suez, an asset acquired from Veolia and Suez by Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations in consortium with Meridiam, Global Infrastructure Partners and CNP Assurances;
• the deployment of the national telecom networks (fiber optic and antennas) in France by Bouygues Telecom through joint ventures with Phoenix Tower International, Cellnex and Vauban Infrastructure Partners; and
• the acquisition of a majority stake by Sagard in Adit (Agency for the dissemination of technological information) followed by the acquisition by the Adit group of DCI (Defense Conseil International).

Thanks to her long experience and her involvement in the largest deals in the market, Yaëlle has had the opportunity to build up trustful relationships with most of the French financings players, namely investment banks (D’Angelin & Co, Lazard, Rothschild & Co, Cambon Partners, Ondra Partners), auditors and financial advisors (Eight Advisory), specialized investment funds (Raise, Eiffel Investment Group, Infravia, Vauban Infrastructure Partners, Butler Industries), leading banks and debt funds (CACIB, Raise, Eiffel Investment Group) and corporates (WAAT, Bouygues Telecom, Icade, Enedis, Engie).

Yaëlle works very closely with all BDGS’ clients and partners, and she is consistently praised for her technical rigour combined to commercial pragmatism leading her to be a key element involved at every stage of the transactions. Recognized for her excellence in the practice, Yaëlle is listed as a “Next Generation Partner” in the “Banking and Finance: Transactional Work” category by The Legal 500 and as a “Best Lawyers” in the “Insolvency & Reorganisation Law” and “Financing Law” sections of Best Lawyers.

Yaëlle joined BDGS Associés as a partner in 2021. Prior to that, she practiced at several leading international law firms, including Shearman & Sterling LLP (2018–2021), Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP (2013–2018), and Herbert Smith Freehills Paris LLP (2011–2012).

She was admitted to the Paris Bar in 2011 and holds an LL.M. in Corporate and Commercial Law from Bond University, Australia (2010), as well as two Master’s degrees from Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne — one in Banking and Finance Law (2008) and another in International Commercial Law (2006).

Yaëlle is fluent in both French and English.