Jean-Claude Petilon is a partner in the firm's Paris office. He is dual qualified in French and US law.
Jean-Claude has specialized in projects related to Africa for more than 25 years and was the founder of the African department of Coudert Brothers and headed the Paris African practice of Dewey & LeBoeuf. He has expertise principally in the areas energy (petroleum electricity/water power projects), mining, privatizations (both as an advisor to governments and private operators), drafting legislation and regulations, telecommunications, infrastructure, ICC and ICSID arbitration, and project financing.
Jean-Claude has acted for African governments and has assisted in the restructuring of institutional sectors such as energy, tourism, public enterprises, transportation and telecommunications. He also has extensive experience in acting for major mining and petroleum companies in negotiating international contracts and special tax regimes and in obtaining financing for the implementation of their projects.
Jean-Claude is recognized as an expert in such publications as Chambers Global, European Legal Experts, Legal 500 the International Who's Who guides, and Privatization Public Private Partnership Review.
Honours and Awards
- Recognised by Chambers Europe as a 'Leader in their field' within 'Projects: International Projects' (France) (2012 edition)
- Recognised by Chambers Global as an Africa-wide 'Leading Individual' within the 'Corporate/Commercial' and 'Projects and Energy' fields and is considered as "an excellent expert on mining". Jean-Claude is also recognised as a 'Leading Individual' and 'Foreign Expert' within the 'Projects: International Projects' (France) field (2012 edition)
- Recognised as one of the 'Most Highly Regarded Individuals' within the field of Mining law by the International Who's Who Legal and praised for being "well known for his African expertise" (2011 edition)
- Recognised by Chambers Global as a leading lawyer within 'Corporate/Commercial' and 'Projects & Energy' (Africa). Jean-Claude is also recognised as a regional expert within the fields of 'Projects: International Projects' and 'Corporate/M&A' (France). Considered a "leading expert on francophone Africa" and "one of the best in the market"; clients praise him for "knowing everyone and everything related to the mining sector." (2011 edition)
- Recognised by Who's Who Legal as a leader in the fields of Mining and Oil & Gas (2011 edition)
- Recognised by Legal Experts as an authority in the field of Project Finance/Energy (2011 edition)