Herbert Smith Freehills promotes Cyril Boulignat and Paul Morton to partner to support its development in Paris

International law firm Herbert Smith Freehills is pleased to announce the appointment of Cyril Boulignat and Paul Morton as new partners in the Corporate / M&A and Energy, Mining and Infrastructure practices in Paris. These promotions will take effect on 1^st May 2023. This year, 32 lawyers have been promoted to partner worldwide.

Cyril Boulignat joined the Corporate / M&A department in 2015, after working at Latham & Watkins and Debevoise & Plimpton. Cyril was promoted to Of Counsel in 2018. Specialised in corporate law, Cyril regularly advises and assists large French and foreign groups in mergers and acquisitions involving unlisted and private equity players. He also regularly advises clients on transactions in the renewable energy, TMT, retail / consumer products and financial services sectors. A member of the Paris Bar since 2008, Cyril holds an MBA from ESSEC (Paris, France; 2005) and a postgraduate degree in corporate tax from the University of Paris IX - Dauphine (Paris, France; 2005).

Paul Morton joined the Energy, Mining and Infrastructure department of the Paris office in 2012 as an associate, before working for 3 years in our Johannesburg office, and then returning to the Paris office as Of Counsel in 2020. He advises French and international clients on M&A, project development and commodity sales and offtake transactions in the energy and natural resources sectors. A Solicitor since 2010 and a member of the Paris Bar since 2015, Paul holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Economics from Glendon College, York University (Toronto, Canada; 2000), a Master of Arts in International Relations from Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada; 2002) and an LLB and a Diploma in Professional Legal Practice from the University of Edinburgh (Scotland; 2007 and 2008).

"I am delighted with this well-deserved promotion! Cyril is an excellent lawyer who advises our clients with great talent on complex M&A transactions. He is a real asset to accelerate the growth of our practice", says Hubert Segain, head of the Corporate / M&A practice in the Paris office.

"Paul's promotion is excellent news for our global Energy and Mining practices, in the context of the energy transition. His professionalism, intelligence and pragmatism are key to meeting the current requirements of our clients in Africa, Europe and elsewhere", declares Rebecca Major, head of the Energy, Mining and Infrastructure practice in the Paris office. 

"These promotions are part of the Paris office's ongoing development to attract and promote talented people. I am delighted that our partnership includes lawyers with outstanding track records like Cyril and Paul. I wish them all the success they deserve in their new roles", says Régis Oréal, Managing Partner of the Paris office.

The Corporate / M&A team at Herbert Smith Freehills Paris now counts six partners, one Of Counsel and around twenty associates, while the Energy, Mining and Infrastructure team has now six partners, one Of Counsel and around ten associates.