Stéphane Vernay is a member of the Projects (Finance & Infrastructure) practice group. With over 30 years of experience in the Projects industry, he focuses on projects in the energy, infrastructure and natural resources sectors. He acts in particular on large scale power generation projects (thermal, nuclear and renewable), on infrastructure projects (ports, airports or railways) as well as in the environmental sector. Stéphane advises developers, sponsors, financial institutions and public authorities. He advises on projects in Europe, Africa, Asia, LATAM and Australia.

He is currently advising a major international utility group on several +1600MW/unit nuclear power plant projects in India, the United Kingdom, the People's Republic of China, the Czech Republic and Poland as well as, on several hydro, solar and wind power projects (onshore and offshore) in Africa and Asia. On the M&A front, he has advised MSC on the Euro 5,7 billion acquisition of Bolloré Africa Logistic, which has been selected as "Deal of the Year 2021" by Jeune Afrique in June 2022 and is currently advising MSC on various projects in Europe and Africa.

He has also developed particular expertise in the fields of national and international contracts in the aerospace and defense industries, advising on construction, maintenance and service contracts related to space launchers, ships, aircraft, submarines, simulators, satellites and other military products. He has advised a French defense contractor on the $30 billion Australian Future Submarine Program and he currently advising the French DGA on various missions.

Stéphane Vernay is ranked in the Legal 500 Hall of Fame as well as in Chambers Global in Projects&Energy: International - France 2022, in IFLR1000 and in Decideurs 2022 in natural resources and renewable energies. In 2022, he was ranked among the 100 most influential corporate lawyers in French-speaking Africa by Jeune Afrique.

He spent more than 12 years in Gide's Chinese team as co-head of the Beijing office and helped open the Hong Kong office in 2006.

« Marie Bouvet-Guiramand, John Crothers, Victor Grandguillaume, Nicolas Jean et  Stéphane Vernay sont les grandes figures de l’équipe pour l’international.  »
Legal 500 Paris 2022 - Financement de projets

« Les associés experts dans le domaine des grands projets  Stéphane Vernay, John Crothers, Marie Bouvet-Guiramand, Nicolas Jean et Victor Grandguillaume sont recommandés. Le spécialiste des opérations de fusions-acquisitions Alexis Pailleret contribue également. »
Legal 500 Paris 2022 - Energie

« Stéphane Vernay is an outstanding business lawyer. He possesses a far-reaching legal expertise and masters all fields of law. In addition, he has broad experience in terms of jurisdiction and industries. As a result, he is able to provide high-value advice for structuring a complex industrial project. He is solution-oriented in the way he addresses legal and contractual issues. He is reliable, hardworking and always delivers on time. »
Legal 500 EMEA 2022 - Project Finance

« [...] Marie Bouvet-Guiramand, John Crothers, Victor Grandguillaume, Nicolas Jean and Stéphane Vernay are all excellent.  »
Legal 500 EMEA 2022 - Project Finance

« [...] Project experts Stéphane Vernay, John Crothers, Marie Bouvet-Guiramand, Nicolas Jean and Victor Grandguillaume are all excellent. »
Legal 500 EMEA 2022 - Industry focus: Energy

« Stéphane Vernay's diverse practice encompasses transactional and development project matters across Africa and Asia. He is particularly active in the energy sector, including solar and hydro power projects. »
Chambers Europe & Global 2022 - Projects & Energy: International

« [...] Marie Bouvet-Guiramand, John Crothers, Victor Grandguillaume, Nicolas Jean and Stéphane Vernay are the key names for international work. »
Legal 500 EMEA 2021

« [...] Project partners Stéphane Vernay, John Crothers, Marie Bouvet-Guiramand, Nicolas Jean and Victor Grandguillaume are the key contributors. »
Legal 500 EMEA 2021 - Industry focus : Energy

« Stéphane Vernay boasts a highly international practice, with particular expertise on the African continent, acting for clients on energy and power projects. He is also well versed in M&A transactions within the energy sector. One impressed client describes Vernay as an 'outstanding business lawyer', before going on to say: 'He is solution-oriented in the way he addresses legal and contractual issues. He is reliable, hard-working and always delivers on time.' »
Chambers Europe & Global 2021

« Stéphane Vernay is an 'outstanding business lawyer' according to clients, who add: 'He has broad experience in terms of jurisdictions and industries. As a result, he is able to provide high value advice for structuring complex industrial projects.' He handles energy and transportation projects, with particular expertise in African matters. »
Chambers Global 2019

« Gide Loyrette Nouel's wide-ranging expertise and international reach makes the team a popular choice for large-scale projects, especially in France and Africa. The group has considerable French PPP expertise and is notably assisting the Ministry of Transport with the landmark Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport express rail project. Thomas Courtel is highly regarded for domestic work. The team is also advising on key infrastructure projects in Africa and other parts of the world. It is assisting EBRD and IFC as advisers to the government of Kazakhstan with the country's very first PPP pertaining to the building of a road project. The group also has a leading presence in large-scale international energy projects and in recent highlights, it is advising EGL and the contracting states on the development of Ruzizi III 147MWh hydropower plant in the Grands Lacs region in Africa, as well as EDF on the development of six EPR nuclear reactors in India. Stéphane Vernay, John D Crothers, Marie Bouvet-Guiramand and counsels Victor Grandguillaume and Nicolas Jean are other key names. Nicolas Jean was recently promoted to partner. »
Legal 500 EMEA 2019