Alexandra Bigot is a partner in the Paris office of Latham & Watkins and a member of the firm’s Restructuring & Special Situations Practice.

Alexandra is recognized for her comprehensive approach to the strategic challenges faced by her clients in the event of financial difficulties, enabling her to ensure the protection of their interests in delicate contexts such as multi-jurisdictional restructurings. Alexandraregularly advises debtors, sponsors and hedge funds, with a particular focus on distressed leveraged buyouts (LBO) (including loan-to-own strategies). She also advises strategic buyers, hedge funds, and recovery funds seeking investment opportunities in insolvency proceedings and out-of-court restructuring cases.

Alexandra also gained specific experience as an investment director in a private equity fund.

Alexandra is a member of the highly recognized International Insolvency Institute, comprising experienced and respected practitioners, academics, judges, and financial industry professionals around the world.

Alexandra is a member of the Association de retournement des Entreprises (ARE).

Recognition Highlights

Named by IFLR1000 in its Women Leaders list, an elite ranking of the 300 leading female transactional attorneys in local markets globally, in 2021 and 2022.

“Technically one of the best in the Parisian market,” reports one impressed client, while another praises her commercial awareness and notes that she has “financial and operational sensitivity.” Chambers France 2020

Since 2012, Alexandra has been ranked by Chambers Europe in Band 1 among leading individuals practicing in Restructuring & Insolvency in France.

Named Structured Finance Lawyer of the Year. Best Lawyers 2014/2015/2017

Named Lawyer of the Year (Avocat de l’Année) for the Restructuring Practice in France. Option Droit & Affaires 2018

During the last 30 years, Alexandra has represented:

  • Apollo on High Grade Capital Solution (up to €1.5 Billion) to Air France-KLM Loyalty Program "Flying Blue"
  • Term loan B lenders steering committee in relation to the signing of the lock-up agreement by the Casino group
  • A potential industrial capital investor in the context of Orpea’s ongoing restructuring
  • Befesa as joint shareholder of Recytech, in the restructuring of Recylex (formerly Metaleurope)
  • Pimkie (AFM) within the context of its operational and financial restructuring and sale process
  • Fashion Cube (AFM) on its financial perpetuation
  • Smyths Toys in the context of the takeover of the assets and activities of Luderix International (operating the PicWicToys brand) by way of a receivership disposal plan
  • Hachette Collections within the context of the restructuring of Presstalis
  • The bilateral lenders of the GEFCO group as a result of the sanctions imposed on the main shareholder, the Russian company Russian Railways and the subsequent acquisition of the group by CMA-CGM
  • Ascométal in the context of a subsidized loan granted directly by the French State
  • Certares in the context of the backing process of the Pierre & Vacances – Center Parcs group
  • Bpifrance in the context of several amicable matters in which its involvement had been requested
  • Marathon Asset Management on the refinancing and early repayment of Foraco International SA’s bonded debt
  • Karavel/Promovacances in the context of its financial restructuring caused by the COVID-19 epidemic
  • The cross-holders coordinating committee in their financial restructuring of the Europcar group
  • Butler Industries in its bid for the acquisition of Courtepaille’s assets and activities under insolvency proceedings
  • Impala in the successful takeover of the cosmetics group Alès Groupe under insolvency proceedings
  • Grain de Malice (AFM) in its bid offer for part of the assets and businesses of Camaïeu in the context of insolvency proceedings*
  • Bpifrance Participations in the financial restructuring of Mecachrome’s capital base and in the implementation of a French state-guaranteed loan scheme*
  • BUT in relation to the financial difficulties of Paris Bedding (Dunlopillo) and restructuring of the Adova group*
  • A group of majority bondholders, including Anchorage Capital and Hayfin Capital, on the third restructuring of the Vivarte group, resulting through the implementation of a Fiducie (French trust) in the complete cancellation of its debt and its takeover by the bondholders and ending the financial restructuring of Vivarte for more than €3 billion since 2014*
  • SNEF in its projected takeover of Bourbon Maritime alongside the lenders*
  • Cromology (formerly Materis Paint) and its sponsor, Wendel, a Paris-listed private equity firm, on Cromology’s financial restructuring*
  • Famar in its second out-of-court financial restructuring*
  • Schmolz + Bickenbach in its successful bid for the acquisition of the assets and businesses of Asco Industries (Ascometal group) under insolvency proceedings and the subsequent negotiations regarding Ascoval*
  • Hachette Livre in various negotiations with book seller chains, editors or logistics service providers facing difficulties,* including:
    • Distressed situation and bankruptcy of Presstalis (media distribution)
    • Bankruptcy of Gibert Jeune (book seller chain)
    • Bankruptcy of Sauramps (book seller chain)
    • Bankruptcy of Mory (messenger)
    • Distressed situation of the real estate promoter of its new head office
    • Bankruptcy of Virgin Stores (cultural products outlet chain)
    • Bankruptcy of Gérard de Villiers (book editor)
    • Bankruptcy of Les Humanoïdes (book editor)
    • Sale of BSSL (educational products) sale of Flocnos (book editor)
    • Bankruptcy of Anne Carrière (book editor)
  • CMA CGM in its bid for the acquisition of Necotrans’ assets and businesses under insolvency proceedings*
  • Leaseplan in the out-of-court restructuring of Voitures Noires*
  • Anchorage, Hayfin and new money lenders in the second out-of-court restructuring of Vivarte (additional €800 million debt-to-equity swap)*
  • Macquarie in its bid for the acquisition of assets and businesses from Unitec*
  • Dolby Laboratories in the bankruptcy proceedings of X-Gem*
  • Camano in its bid for an asset deal under bankruptcy proceedings of Kindy*
  • Pillarstone in the out-of-court restructuring of Famar*
  • TechnipFMC in the out-of court restructuring of Oderbrecht Oil and Gas in Brazil*
  • Ardian and the mezzanine Co-com in the out-of-court restructuring of Camaïeu (debt-to-equity swap)*
  • Aleph Capital in its bid to take over Solocal (listed company)*
  • Qualium as main shareholder in the safeguard proceedings of Invicta*
  • One of the RCF lender in the out-of-court restructuring of Areva*
  • Solice in its out-of-court restructuring and its acquisition by Arcole Industrie*
  • KKR in its bid for the acquisition of the assets and businesses of Gérard Darel under bankruptcy proceedings*
  • BIM main financial shareholder in the safeguard proceedings of El Rancho*
  • Qualium in the restructuring and the sale of Genoyer to Naxicap Partners*
  • BUT in its successful bid for the acquisition of Fly assets and businesses under insolvency proceedings*
  • Fauché in its out-of-court restructuring*
  • Apollo and Monarch, who led a lender working group during their takeover of Latécoère (debt-to-equity swap on a listed company)*
  • The lenders and anchor investors in first Vivarte’s €2.5 billion restructuring, the largest-ever fully consensual French restructuring (debt-to-equity swap)*
  • Transdev as shareholder of SNCM (ferry operation between Corsica and France) in the context of its operational restructuring and bankruptcy proceedings*
  • Bpifrance as minority shareholder of Mecamidi under financial reorganization*
  • Impala in its takeover of CPI from the banks through a debt-to-equity swap*
  • Centerbridge and Angelo Gordon in their takeover of Frans Bonhomme through a debt-to-equity swap*
  • Ateliers Mériguet in its successful bids for assets and businesses under insolvency proceedings of:*
    • EDM projets
    • Ateliers de la Boiseries
  • Impala (Jacques Veyrat) in its bid for the takeover of SAUR (water utilities)*
  • Qualium as main shareholder in relation to the financial restructuring of Groupe Quick*
  • Vencorex in its industrial reorganization*
  • CDC Entreprises (now Bpifrance) as minority shareholder of Loret Telecom under safeguard proceedings*
  • Arcapita as main shareholder in the financial restructuring of CEPL*
  • The members of the mezzanine steering committee in the financial restructuring of Consolis*
  • CMA CGM in its negotiations with banks in the context of its financial restructurings*
  • ParkSquare as second lien lender in the financial restructuring of Mediannuaire, parent company of Pages Jaunes*
  • EADS:*
    • As minority shareholder of Recaero under safeguards proceedings
    • As shareholder in the distressed sale of Sogerma
  • Wendel and its subsidiaries in the financial restructuring of:*
    • Materis in its amend and extend proposal to its creditors
    • Deutsch Connectors in France and the USA
  • Anovo, a listed company, in its bankruptcy proceedings*
  • Butler Capital in its bid for the takeover of Mory under bankruptcy proceedings*
  • Pragma Capital in various restructuring matters related to its portfolio:*
    • Financial restructuring (amend and extend) of La Croissanterie
    • Financial restructuring (amend and extend) of Leyton
    • Financial restructuring (debt for equity swap) of Retif
    • Financial restructuring (amend and extend) of Trefilaction
    • Bankruptcy proceedings of Proven
  • The main shareholders of Novasep in the debt-to-equity swap implemented by its high yield bond holders*
  • Management vehicles in the safeguard proceedings of Helios Holding, Apax SPV which held the investment in engineering company, Sechilienne Sidec*
  • Oaktree in its takeover through a debt-to-equity swap of SGD Group, previously held by Sagard and Cognetas*
  • Wagon Automotive in its bankruptcy proceedings*
  • The senior lenders of Mecachrome under safeguard proceedings in France and equivalent in Canada*
  • CVC Capital in the financial restructuring of two portfolio companies:*
    • CPI in the 1st lenders-led implemented in France
    • Almar Jalatte
  • PAI, as shareholder, in the financial restructuring of Kaufmann & Broad*

*Matter handled prior to joining Latham

Bar Qualification

  • Avocat (Paris)

Education

  • DESS in Taxation, University of Paris XI, 1990
    with high honors
  • Master in Management, HEC Paris, 1990

Languages Spoken

  • English