Category: Life of the firm

His practice focuses on advising company directors and executives on the prevention and management of financial distress, refinancing and restructuring transactions, negotiations with creditors, as well as out-of-court and formal insolvency proceedings before the French commercial courts. He also advises companies seeking to acquire distressed businesses, notably through court-supervised sale processes, and assists international investors holding interests in distressed French groups. Fluent in English, he regularly advises international investment funds and corporate clients on navigating the French restructuring framework and protecting their interests.

A graduate of Panthéon-Assas University (Paris II), Philippe Berteaux was admitted to the Paris Bar in 1993. He began his career at Borloo & Associés, a pioneering restructuring law firm in France, before joining Lantourne & Associés, where he contributed for several years to the development of the firm’s Restructuring and Insolvency practice. After founding his own firm in 2007, he joined Marvell Avocats in 2012 as a partner and Head of Restructuring, before co-founding WB Legal in 2022.

Throughout his career, Philippe Berteaux has developed an approach to restructuring based on a strong conviction: while a thorough command of legal, financial and corporate matters is essential, genuine added value lies in an in-depth understanding of the commercial courts, insolvency administrators and court-appointed representatives, combined with extensive experience in negotiation and litigation. He brings this hands-on expertise to a client base primarily comprising SMEs, mid-cap companies and entrepreneurs, as well as banks and investment funds.

Consistently recognised by Leaders League since 2009 and ranked by Décideurs, Option Finance and Best Lawyers, Philippe Berteaux has also been a member of the Association pour le Retournement des Entreprises (ARE), the French turnaround association, since 2010.

“Restructuring is a hands-on practice. Technical expertise is essential, but it is not enough. What makes the difference is knowing the key players, understanding the courts and knowing how a case develops all the way through to the hearing. I joined Altaïr Avocats because I found an entrepreneurial culture, genuine collaboration between partners and recognised expertise in Corporate, M&A and Tax, enabling us to advise clients across the full spectrum of their needs. For me, it was the natural choice.” — Philippe Berteaux, Partner, Altaïr Avocats

His arrival is fully aligned with Altaïr Avocats’ growth strategy. By strengthening its restructuring capabilities, the firm further enhances its ability to advise executives, investors and investment funds facing complex situations, while creating strong synergies with its Corporate, M&A, Tax and Litigation teams. Philippe Berteaux will notably contribute to developing the firm’s private equity client base and strengthening its presence among businesses and economic stakeholders across France.

“With Philippe, we are welcoming a highly regarded practitioner whose experience is an ideal complement to our Corporate platform. His expertise in insolvency proceedings, his in-depth knowledge of the commercial courts and his ability to advise clients both at the preventive stage and in contentious situations enable us to provide even more comprehensive support in transformation, crisis and distressed M&A situations.” — Christophe Héry, Co-founder, Altaïr Avocats

Philippe Berteaux is joined by Mathilde Lavenu, Associate, and Sonia Afonso, Paralegal.

A lawyer with a proven European and international profile

Holder of a Master’s degree (Master 2) in European Business Law from the University of Paris II – Panthéon-Assas and an LLM in European Business Law from Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, Albane Watine is admitted to the Paris Bar. Her Franco-German background and fluency in French, English and German make her a preferred point of contact for companies operating in an international environment, particularly Franco-German and European.

Before joining Altaïr Avocats in October 2021, she practiced at various international law firms in economic law and competition law, as well as within a merger control unit of the European Commission (Directorate-General for Competition).

Recognized expertise in economic law

Albane advises French and foreign clients on the negotiation of their commercial contracts and the structuring of their commercial networks (selective distribution, exclusive distribution, franchising, commercial agency, licensing, etc.). She also handles French and European competition law matters: anticompetitive practices, restrictive trade practices, unfair competition and merger control. She acts in both advisory and contentious matters, working in particular in the healthcare, agri-food, automotive, retail and digital/tech sectors.

Albane has developed particular expertise working with companies in the home, design, furniture and tableware sectors — an ecosystem of premium brands and international players for whom contractual and distribution issues are central to commercial strategy, and for whom she organizes sector-specific legal training.

Active on the international stage, she is a member of AIJA (the International Association of Young Lawyers) and, in that capacity, regularly speaks at international conferences on distribution law and commercial litigation in international contexts. She has notably spoken on the regulation of digital platforms, alongside international experts brought together to discuss the economic and legal issues raised by digital transformation, on the impact of the Digital Services Act, and on the application of competition law to the content-creator market.

“We are especially pleased to announce Albane’s promotion to Counsel. With the rigor and determination we know her for, Albane has shown that she can manage complex matters and demanding clients while playing a full part in the firm’s collective momentum. This promotion marks an important milestone in her career and reflects our commitment to recognizing and retaining the talent that actively contributes to building Altaïr Avocats. The best is yet to come!” — Christophe Héry, Founding Partner

This promotion reflects Altaïr Avocats’ commitment to recognizing and celebrating the talent that contributes, every day, to the firm’s excellence and to the quality of service it provides to its clients.

This recognition is all the more appreciated given that the Trophées du Droit, organized by Leaders League, honor legal professionals and celebrate, each year, both the leaders of the French market and its rising talents.

This distinction pays tribute to the commitment of Christophe HERY, Partner, Albane WATINE, Senior Associate, as well as Mégane Boussereau and Jade Mignucci, Partner, who worked alongside our clients on matters where legal rigor must remain in the service of highly operational challenges.

Thank you to our clients for their trust, and to the team for its rigor and daily commitment.

Thank you to our clients for their trust, and to the Economic Law Team – Albane Watine (Senior Associate), Mégane Boussereau (Associate) and Jade Mignucci (Associate) – for their day-to-day commitment.

Altaïr Avocats is reaching a new key milestone in its development and reaffirming its ambition: to strengthen its position as a leading business law firm serving companies, executives and investors on their most strategic matters.

As part of this momentum, the firm is significantly reinforcing its tax practice with the arrival of Philippe Pescayre, former managing partner of Alerion Avocats, and Julien Lebel, joining as partners together with their team.

This reflects Altaïr Avocats’ determination to make its tax practice one of the drivers of its positioning, through an integrated and pragmatic approach geared toward creating value for businesses.

« Joining Altaïr Avocats means carrying forward a strong ambition for a tax practice that is already well recognized in the market, conceived as a strategic lever serving our clients’ challenges. The goal is to set this team on a demanding, pragmatic growth path that is open to international scope », says Julien Lebel.

Effective since early January, the integration of Philippe Pescayre and Julien Lebel’s team is fully in line with Altaïr Avocats’ growth strategy, based on consolidating high-value-added expertise and scaling up its Paris office. It supports the firm’s change in scale and its commitment to pursuing a strategy of integrating recognized teams, particularly in the fields of employment law, financing, mergers and acquisitions, and restructuring.

« After nearly thirty years of practice and a formative experience as managing partner, I wanted to join a project combining an entrepreneurial spirit, collective ambition and agility. I want to help build a Paris office set to change scale », says Philippe Pescayre.

This integration continues the entrepreneurial project undertaken by Altaïr Avocats since its founding in 2019, marked by continuous growth and the progressive expansion of its areas of expertise and locations.

« The arrival of this excellent team illustrates our determination to combine external growth with the structuring of our key areas of expertise. It is part of the firm’s growth trajectory », concludes Christophe Héry, co-founder of Altaïr Avocats.

With nearly thirty years of experience, Philippe Pescayre practices in personal wealth taxation, corporate taxation and real estate taxation, as well as tax audits and litigation. He is recognized for his expertise in the international taxation of individuals and advises a client base of executives, business owners, family shareholders and entrepreneurial groups, particularly in the real estate and industrial sectors. Regularly ranked by leading directories, he is also active within international professional networks, including the IACF and the IBA.

A tax lawyer for seventeen years, Julien Lebel works mainly in corporate tax law and wealth taxation, both in advisory and contentious matters. He has recognized expertise in business succession planning (notably Dutreil arrangements), in structuring real estate investments involving furnished-accommodation (“parahôtellerie”) issues, and in advising professional athletes — a practice still little covered in the market.

The two partners are joined by William Mathiotte, Counsel, whose practice is dedicated exclusively to wealth and trust taxation, and Mathilde Colonna d’Istria, Associate.

For more information:

CF News, Altaïr Avocats accélère en fiscalité
https://www.cfnews.net/L-actualite/Nominations/Avocat/Altair-Avocats-accelere-en-fiscalite-556145

MesInfos.fr, Philippe Pescayre et Julien Lebel rejoignent Altaïr Avocats
https://mesinfos.fr/75000-paris/philippe-pescayre-et-julien-lebel-rejoignent-altair-avocats-238577.html

On behalf of the firm and all of its partners, Altaïr Avocats remains committed to standing by you with unwavering rigor: securing your strategic decisions, supporting your growth, and anticipating the legal challenges that shape your company’s lasting performance.

We extend our warmest wishes for an ambitious 2026, filled with lasting successes!

This milestone marks the beginning of her career as a lawyer and her official entry into the profession. Jade joins the Economic Law / Commercial Litigation department alongside Christophe Hery, Albane Watine and Mégane Boussereau as an associate.

Her arrival is part of the ongoing development of our team and strengthens the support we provide to our clients in the management of commercial disputes and economic law issues.

The entire Altaïr Avocats team extends its warmest congratulations and welcomes her.

The firm is listed as an ‘Renowned Practice’ in the Décideurs | Leaders League 2025 ranking for the quality of its support in financing and market transactions.

Congratulations to our partner, Valérie Foudriat-Fernandez, for her commitment and role in developing this practice at Altaïr Avocats. Together with her team, Valérie brings her expertise in stock market and corporate law to bear on a daily basis, offering tailor-made and personalised services and thus creating a lasting relationship of trust with her clients and partners.

This recognition has been made possible thanks to the trust of our teams, clients and partners!