Melinda Arsouze is a U.S. qualified partner specializing in international capital markets. With over ten years' experience in this field, she has advised on numerous major cross-border securities offerings, including block trades, initial public offerings, privatisations, high yield transactions and debt issuances, in the context of public offerings and privately placed transactions in Europe and the United States. A fluent French speaker based primarily in Paris, Melinda works in close coordination with Gide's capital markets teams throughout the international network and has extensive experience in EMEA practice, including in Turkey, North Africa and Asia.

Melinda joined Gide in Paris in 2008 after a number of years at a major U.S. law firm. She is a member of the New York Bar and a graduate of the Columbia University School of Law.

Melinda Arsouze is regularly listed as a leading expert in capital markets by international legal directories Chambers, Legal 500 and IFLR1000.

« Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. has a core focus on French issuer IPOs, but also has in-depth knowledge of US instruments, including Nasdaq listings, Regulation S and 144A transactions. Arnaud Duhamel is the key adviser and cross-border specialist Melinda Stege Arsouze is particularly active in private placements in the US. Counsels Théophile Strebelle and Guilhem Richard provide significant support. Recent work includes acting for Lysogène and Société Générale on Lysogène’s IPO on compartment C of Euronext Paris; advising BNP Paribas on a €143m capital increase for Société de la Tour Eiffel through preferential subscription rights; and handling Gensight Biologics’ private placement to investors in the US and Europe. The team has a strong following in the biotech sector, where clients also include Erytech Pharma and Inventiva. Goldman Sachs, Jefferies and Veolia are also clients. »
Legal 500 EMEA 2018

« Clients highlight Melinda Stege Arsouze's 'reactiveness and availability.' She is US-qualified and her areas of expertise include IPOs, capital increases and convertible bonds. »
Chambers Global 2018

« Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. demonstrates strength across the board of debt capital market financings, with 144A debt transactions by French issuers and Euro private placements areas of particular expertise. The team has a largely domestic workload but also excels in complex, cross-border matters, such as the work undertaken for Groupe FNAC on the issuance of €650m senior notes, which are governed by New York law, listed on the Irish Stock Exchange and admitted to trading on the Irish Stock Exchange’s Global Exchange Market. In another cross-border highlight, the team advised Veolia Environnement on the first issuance of a panda bond by a French issuer. Domestic highlights include advising Europcar Groupe on the issuance of 144A high-yield senior notes. Other clients include Société Générale, Gecina and BNP Paribas. Practice heads Arnaud Duhamel, Hubert Merveilleux du Vignaux and US-qualified Melinda Stege Arsouze are the key names. Laurent Vincent was promoted to counsel. »
Legal 500 EMEA 2018

« Melinda Stege Arsouze is highlighted in particular for her experience in IPOs. She is an expert on US securities law, and her recent work highlights include leading the team in advising GenSight Biologics on its IPO listing on NASDAQ. »
Chambers Global 2017

« Gide Loyrette Nouel produces ‘excellent and efficient work’ and ‘knows very well the standards on the banks’ side and the needs from the issuers’ side’; it has notable experience in mandates involving the public sector. The practice recently assisted the banking syndicate with Vallourec’s €480m capital increase and advised Veolia Environnement on a €700m OCEANE issuance. Arnaud Duhamel ‘shows real judgement in difficult situations rather than sitting on the fence’ and Melinda Stege Arsouze provides US expertise’. »
Legal 500 EMEA 2017

« Gide Loyrette Nouel is ‘one of the few French firms able to compete with the Anglo-Saxon firms’, for issuer and underwriter representations alike. The practice has ‘deep knowledge of French law’ and is also able to provide US law advice including with regard to private placements and US IPOs. The team recently completed a high volume of work in the life sciences sector, notably including advising DBV Technologies SA on its Nasdaq IPO. The practice also assisted the underwriters regarding Solairedirect’s IPO on Euronext Paris and Rule 144A US offering. The team is ‘highly responsive and efficient’. Key figures in the practice include Arnaud Duhamel and Melinda Arsouze, who are both 'very good advisers'. »
Legal 500 EMEA 2016

« US-qualified Melinda Stege Arsouze handles international capital markets matters, with a particular focus on the equity side. »
Chambers Global 2016