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.

« Melinda Arsouze enters the rankings this year on the back of positive market feedback. She is experienced advising on international equity capital markets transactions, including IPOs and capital increases. She is dual-qualified in France and the USA. Strengths: "She always has very wise judgement." »
Chambers Europe & Global 2023 - Capital Market : Equity

« Gide Loyrette Nouel combines life sciences and technology-sector expertise with extensive experience handling IPOs, share capital increases and convertible bonds. It attracts high-profile public and private sector clients, including financial institutions and major corporations. Headed by Arnaud Duhamel and Melinda Stege Arsouze, the group also has capabilities in French and US law. Duhamel advised Morgan Stanley as joint global co-ordinator alongside Goldman Sachs on the global offering of ordinary shares in DBV Technologies, including a public offering of ordinary shares in the form of American Depositary Shares in the US and a private placement of ordinary shares in Europe. A recent highlight in the life sciences sector saw Stege Arsouze act for GenSight Biologics in a €22.5m global Regulation S private placement and in a Rule 144A private placement. Other clients include Inventiva, Société Générale and the Agence des participations de l'État. »
Legal 500 EMEA 2019

« Gide Loyrette Nouel 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. »
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 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