Nicolas Jean joined Gide in 2008. He specialises in projects, project financing, and banking and structured financing. He acts primarily in sub-Saharan and North Africa, where he specialises in advising governments and public authorities on legislative and regulatory reforms to conduct change. To this end, he is currently steering the project to reform the regulatory framework that governs the banking and financial activities of the Central Bank of Mauritania. Nicolas is also supervising the reform of the tourist and leisure sector in Côte d'Ivoire and the mobilisation of related funds, and has recently coordinated the drafting of Côte d'Ivoire's new construction code.
In April 2020, Nicolas Jean has initiated Gide's African Debt taskforce which established the first Think Tank dedicated to African debt: A new ROAD (A New Round-Table On African Debt). Designed as a cross-disciplinary and international platform, A new ROAD brings together decision-makers, institutions, commercial banks and private operators as well as financial and legal experts to offer innovative solutions regarding the sustainability of African debt and the development of foreign investment.
Nicolas is recommended in Energy and Project Finance in the Legal 500 EMEA 2020 guide, and is among the 50 most influential business lawyers in French-speaking Africa (ranking by Jeune Afrique), and is ranked by Financial Afrik among the "100 qui transforment l'Afrique" (i.e. 100 experts who transform Africa - Financial Afrik of 17 December 2020).
Nicolas joined Gide’s Tunis office in 2008, before moving to the Structured Finance team in Paris from 2011 to 2015, and the Projects (Finance & Infrastructure) practice group in January 2016. He holds a specialised Master’s degree in International Business Law and Management from ESSEC business school (2008), and in Business Law and in European Business law from Nancy II University (2007). Nicolas is a lecturer in structured finance law at Science-Po Paris and in business law (Master’s level) at Lorraine University.
« Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.’s 29-lawyer team runs a comprehensive practice. The firm is a key player for large PPP and infrastructure projects in France. The international practice is equally strong and advises on major infrastructure projects in Africa. The group stands out for advising leading financial institutions, sponsors and governmental entities on landmark renewables and power projects, but also acts on several projects in Asia, including one of the continent’s ground-breaking nuclear projects in India and strategic oil and gas projects. The practice is co-headed by Stéphane Vernay and Marie Bouvet-Guiramand, both key names for international projects. Other key members for international projects include the highly-experienced John Crother, Nicolas Jean and Victor Grandguillaume who became a partner in February 2020. Thomas Courtel and Laetitia Lemercier are top names for domestic work. »
Legal 500 EMEA 2020