Gwen is a trusted advisor in employment and labour law, helping clients to achieve seamless organisational transformation within an increasingly stringent regulatory environment.
As the global head of our People and Reward practice group, Gwen guides clients through pivotal moments of change, from cross-border mergers and acquisitions to company restructurings and workforce reduction programs. By anticipating and solving the full spectrum of employment and labour law-related issues, he minimises legal risk and positions his clients for success.
Gwen also has significant expertise in dealing with sensitive employment issues including exits of senior executives, design and implementation of compensation packages and internal investigation.
In addition to providing strategic advice, Gwen has a strong litigation practice and specialises in helping businesses minimise the risks associated with union, works council, and senior employee disputes. His profound understanding of global internal investigations equips clients with the tools required for effective compliance and governance.
Through his significant experience and understanding of employment and labour law complexities throughout Europe, Gwen has been able to guide its clients though the preparation and implementation of major transformations impacting their organisation, both in the context of follow-up merger integration processes or internal restructuring efforts.
Gwen is a member and speaker at IBA (International Bar Association.
Fluent in French and English, Gwen frequently partners with major French and international corporations across several sectors, including life science, industrial and financial services. He excels at managing the complexities of their most sensitive employment and labour issues locally or across Europe.
Transactional
- Advising Bristol-Myers Squibb on a number of international and local HR legal projects in relation to employment and labour law issues relating to mergers and acquisitions and subsequent integration processes.
- Advising UBS in relation to various labour and employment law matters relating to its acquisition of Credit Suisse and subsequent integration measures.
- Advising JD Sports Fashion plc in connection with the proposed acquisition of Groupe Courir, a leading player in the European sports footwear and apparel sector.
- Advising Stanley Black & Decker in relation to the sale of its global electronic security solutions and healthcare solutions businesses to Securitas AB for $3.2 billion in cash.
- Advising Boehringer Ingelheim in relation to the strategic global swap of its consumer healthcare business with Sanofi’s animal health business and the integration process associated with it.
- Advising Volkswagen AG on its takeover offer for Europcar Mobility Group.
- Advising a global institutional investor on the employment aspects of sale of the railway operations of Bombardier, Bombardier Transport, by Alstom for $8.4bn.
- Advising EQT Private Equity on the employment aspects of its investment in Cerba HealthCare, a leading player in medical diagnosis.
Non-transactional
- Advising UPM on several internal reorganisations including site closures and on all subsequent employee claims.
- Advising a US-based leading pharmaceutical company in relation to its various workforce reduction programs and other sensitive employment law issues in the past 15 years.
- Advising a German-based conglomerate in relation in relation to its various workforce reduction programs in the past 15 years.
- Advising a US- based leading pharmaceutical company in relation to its various workforce reduction programs and other sensitive employment and labour law issues in the past 20 years.
- Advising an industrial client in the investigation and exit of a union leader who had threatened to leak employee personal data.
- Advising a financial institution in the investigation and negotiated departures of three of their senior managers following allegations of moral harassment made by former employees.
- Advising an industrial client in the investigation and exits of two employees who had engaged into criminal activities (embezzlement of company’s assets and fraud).
- Advising a professional services firm in relation to an investigation relating to one of their partners and subsequent dispute.
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