Michel Pitron has been a Gide partner for some 25 years. After practising in various fields of corporate law and setting up the Gide Hanoi office in Vietnam, Michel specialised in crisis management strategy and handling civil, criminal and commercial disputes, particularly in the fields of contract, corporate and banking law.

He acts for governments and major companies in the financial, industrial, oil and audio-visual sectors on key stakes disputes.

Michel pleads in both French and English before national, arbitration and international courts (ICTY, ITLOS). He is currently representing the Côte d’Ivoire before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in its dispute against Ghana regarding the delimitation of the maritime frontier.

Former member of the Paris Bar Council (2002-2004) and Former Secretary of the Paris Bar Debating and Mooting Society (1984), he also writes many articles and regularly speaks at international conferences, most recently on corruption and bribery.

Michel is referenced in various legal directories (Chambers, Legal 500...) as an excellent litigator.

« Michel Pitron enjoys a well-established reputation in the market, particularly for his litigation in the banking and finance sector. He is also experienced in disputes over corporate and contract matters. »
Chambers Europe 2018

« Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. is regularly retained by leading French and international banks to handle sensitive disputes. The practice is notably defending BPCE, Dexia Crédit Local SFIL and BNP Paribas in more than 100 cases involving French local entities. The 23-lawyer team also handles commercial and corporation litigation, and international cases; it is notably involved in a major case in the oil downstream sector in Africa. Bruno Quentin, Patrick Ouart, who is recommended for his ‘analytical and tactical vision’, Michel Pitron and Jean-Philippe Pons-Henry are key names. »
Legal 500 EMEA 2018 | Commercial Litigation

« The ‘available, responsive and efficient’ Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. is notably involved in several high-profile public sector cases and represented one of SNCF’s top-managers following the Bretigny train accident in 2013, and SNCF Mobilités following a major train accident which occurred in Eckwersheim in 2015. Other recent work includes defending one of public agency Business France’s top managers regarding favouritism investigations linked to the organisation of a French tech event in Las Vegas in 2016 and advising on several fraud and corruption issues in Africa. Bruno Quentin is highly recommended. Also involved are Michel Pitron and the ‘highly knowledgeable’ Jean-Philippe Pons-Henry, who is also a ‘great listener’. »
Legal 500 EMEA 2018 | Litigation: White-collar Crime

« Clients highlight Michel Pitron for his 'listening capacity and relevant advice.' He advises clients on civil, banking and commercial disputes. He acted for BNP Paribas, Natixis and RBS on cases ensuing from the Madoff scandal. He also advises governments and African states on crisis management strategy. »
Chambers Europe 2017

« At Gide Loyrette Nouel, Michel Pitron gains recommendations from numerous peers across Europe for his stand-out litigation expertise. He has exceptional commercial and banking law experience and regularly acts for major corporations as well as governments. »
Who's Who Legal 2017

« Gide is a top choice for financial services litigation. It is managing ten Madoff-related cases and representing BPCE, SFIL, RBS and Dexia Crédit Local in more than 80 cases regarding structured loans. Bruno Quentin and Michel Pitron are key figures along with disciplinary litigation expert Jean-Guillaume de Tocqueville. Former magistrate Patrick Ouart joined the team. »
Legal 500 EMEA 2016

« Head of the litigation practice Michel Pitron is highly experienced in civil and commercial disputes as well as crisis management. He has notable expertise in financial and contractual disputes and regularly acts for African states and multinational companies on complex dispute resolution. »
Chambers Global 2016