François Vergne is a partner in the Gide's Employment Law practice group.  He assists and advises the general management, legal department and HR department of French and international groups on their employment and labor law issues in France and in the European Union, notably within the scope of complex transactions, namely restructuring and outsourcing operations, large-scale collective redundancy plans, collective status negotiations, implementation of company retirement schemes or employee savings schemes, remuneration, and legal status of directors and corporate officers.

He notably provides clients with legal assistance on HR management and on social aspects linked to corporate reorganizations/difficulties; legal advice on all employment and labor law aspects in relation to merger-acquisition, restructuring and outsourcing operations; preventive audits and assistance within the scope of turnaround procedures; the implementation of mandatory and optional profit-sharing agreements and savings schemes; the organization of working time and working hours; and employment and labor-law related civil and criminal litigation.

He holds a Master of Laws (Public Law) from the University of Paris II, a Diploma from the Institute of Political Studies of Paris (Public Services Section), a Diploma of Advanced Studies (DEA) in UK and US Business Law from the University of Paris I and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the University of Pennsylvania Law School (Fulbright Foundation Scholarship).

He is a founding member of AVOSIAL and a member of the American Bar Association and the International Bar Association. He is a Contributing author to the French section of "Getting the Deal Through" (Labor & Employment) and is regularly cited as one of the best employment and labor lawyers in France in the major international legal guides (Chambers Global, Legal 500, Who’s Who Legal).

« François Vergne is able to draw on deep experience when assisting clients with restructuring processes and negotiations of collective agreements. He is skilled at assisting foreign companies operating in France, and one client praises his ability to navigate cross-border mandates, saying: 'like his ability to give high-level strategic legal advice.' »
Chambers Europe 2021

« Clients admire François Vergne's 'availability, responsiveness and hard-working' approach. He represents clients from the technology, energy and food and drink sectors in day-to-day employment issues and severance matters. »
Chambers Europe 2019

« Gide has a large and very experienced team of more than 20 lawyers, who are regularly instructed on challenging work. The team's current workload includes acting for clients in mass disputes involving several hundreds of employment terminations, sometimes in the context of insolvency proceedings. The practice is notably representing European ferry company DFDS Seaways in litigation arising from the employment termination of some 600 employees, as well as Recylex in disputes connected with the employment termination of 800 employees. It also advised on major restructuring projects. The firm is entrusted by high-profile French and international companies including stellar names in the energy and luxury goods sectors. Akers and Stora Senso are also clients. Baudouin de Moucheron, Foulques de Rostolan, David Jonin and François Vergne are highly regarded. »
Legal 500 EMEA 2019