Etienne Gentil is of counsel in the Paris office of Latham & Watkins, where he previously was a partner for 15 years. Etienne acts primarily on leveraged financing, asset financing, and syndicated loans. He is the President of the Commission on French Securities Interest Reform for think-tank Paris Europlace.

Recognition

Recognised as a Highly Regarded Lawyer in France by IFLR1000 2022

Etienne has been repeatedly nominated in Who’s Who Legal - France in the Finance practice area, most recently in 2022.

French and English-qualified Etienne Gentil is a seasoned lawyer who often advises on cross-border financing transactions. He is well versed in borrower-side acquisition financing mandates. Chambers Europe 2019

Etienne has been nominated for many years in the transport, banking, and/or finance practice areas. Who’s Who Legal - France

“Market commentators praise Etienne Gentil for being a ‘friendly and technically very good’ practitioner. He is dual-qualified in English and French law and covers a wide range of bond and corporate finance transactions.” Chambers UK 2018

Etienne's experience includes representing:

  • Mobivia, a European leader in automotive maintenance, repair, and equipment, on the signing of its first line of credit linked to sustainable development commitments (Sustainability-Linked Loan), for €380 million
  • Loxam, Europe’s market leader and the fourth-largest global player in equipment and tool leasing, in its €400 million refinancing
  • Loxam in connection with a €130 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB)
  • Imerys, the world leader in mineral-based specialty solutions for industry, in its exclusive negotiations to sell its High Temperature Solutions business (HTS) to Platinum Equity
  • Fortress Investment Group in the Restructuring of Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux (Bordeaux FC)
  • Farallon Capital as subscriber of GreenYellow’s issue of €109 million convertible bonds with warrants attached. GreenYellow is a leading energy transition company and subsidiary of Casino Group
  • Marathon Asset Management in the refinancing and anticipated reimbursement of Foraco International SA's existing debt
  • Fortress Investment Group in the sale and refinancing of Bordeaux FC, a French professional football club
  • PAI in the financing of the recommended P2P all-cash offer for all shares of Koninklijke Wessanen N.V.
  • Eurazeo in the financing of its LBO acquisition of Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center from Montagu PE
  • The MLAs in their financing of the P2P acquisition of April, the French listed insurance brokering company
  • Apera Capital in its unitranche LBO financing of the acquisition of Vanadium by Inside Secure
  • Partners Group Credit in its unitranche LBO financing of the acquisition of Alltub by OEP Tubes
  • Fortress in its LBO financing of the acquisition by GACP of the Football Club Girondins de Bordeaux division from the M6 Group
  • Permira Advisers in the first and second lien LBO financing of its acquisition of Exclusive Networks
  • Bridgepoint in the unitranche LBO financing of its acquisition of HTL
  • Bain Capital in the LBO financing of its acquisition of Consolis
  • Carlyle International Energy Partners in the financing of its acquisition of assets of Shell Gabon

Bar Qualification

  • Avocat (Paris)
  • England and Wales (Solicitor)

Education

  • Graduate Degree Business Law, University of Paris I (Pantheon-Sorbonne), 1984
  • LLB, King's College London, 1984

Languages Spoken

  • English
  • French
  • German