Edouard Thomas
Edouard is a corporate lawyer specialising in domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and public company representations.
Edouard has advised a large number of leading French and international groups and investment funds for over 20 years, primarily on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, restructuring/reorganisation and stock exchange law (market operations and advice to listed companies). He acts in a wide range of sectors including in infrastructure, telecommunication, renewable energies, construction, consumer goods, facility management, financial institutions, and asset management.
Edouard is acknowledged by renowned legal directories, among which are Chambers Europe/Chambers Global, Legal 500 and Best Lawyers.
Chambers France 2026 states "Edouard is always available, hard working and has great business acumen." "Edouard has perfect knowledge of the telecommunications sector. His reliability and proactive approach make him a trusted adviser who delivers insightful guidance." "He is solution-driven and can really help to unblock complicated situations, while relieving the burden of his client by directing it to the critical points and making relevant suggestions." "Edouard Thomas is pragmatic and shows great tact in relationships, whether with his client or with the opposing party." Legal 500 EMEA states: " Edouard Thomas and […] have both outstanding technical skills coupled with interpersonal and commercial ones which are really an advantage when negotiating and executing a transaction." "Edouard Thomas is very commercial, committed, pragmatic in negotiations."
Experience & capabilities
Selected matters
- Cellnex, Europe’s leading operator of wireless telecommunications infrastructures, on:
- the sale of Towerlink France, the entity responsible for the group’s main data center operations in France, to Vauban Infra Fibre
- its €5.2 billion acquisition of French Towers Hivory from Altice France and Starlight Holdco (KKR), accompanied by an additional investment of €0.9 billion over the next 8 years (up until 2029) for the roll-out of 2,500 new sites
- its acquisition of the network of c. 7,000 Play sites and telecommunication infrastructures in Poland after Play had been acquired by Iliad
- its strategic partnership with Bouygues Telecom for the roll-out, marketing, and operation of a 31,500-kilometre fibre optic network throughout France, as well as for the financing (via bank and shareholder contributions) required for the planned investment in this project of a billion euros
- (i) its acquisition of 10,700 sites and telecommunication infrastructures in France, Italy and Switzerland from Iliad and Salt, for a total consideration of c. €2.7 billion as well as (ii) the agreements in relation with the development of built-to-suit programmes for the construction of 4,000 new sites (for €1.35 billion)
- DWS on:
- the investment in WAAT, a French pioneer in electric vehicle charging infrastructure in private environments, on the occasion of the €100 million fundraising
- the investment in Perfesco, a company specialised in the development of energy and operational efficiency projects and active exclusively in France
- Proximus Group on the sale of its pylons infrastructure in Luxembourg to InfraRed Capital Partners
- Eurazeo, a major player in asset management on private markets, on its investment in regional data center provider Etix Everywhere, through the Eurazeo Transition Infrastructure Fund
- Marguerite Fund Advisers on its investments in three concession projects aiming to finance, implement and maintain FTTH (Fiber-to-the-Home) projects in the French Alsace, Haute-Garonne and Grand Est regions
- Holding d'Infrastructures Gazières (a joint venture between the CDC group and CNP Assurances) on the acquisition of 100% of the share capital of Elengy (LNG terminal operator) by GRT Gaz (European leader in the transport of natural gas), two subsidiaries of the ENGIE group
- Alkion Terminals France, a subsidiary of InfraVia Capital Partners, on its acquisition of LBC Tank Terminal's activities in chemicals and oil storage terminals across France, Spain and Portugal
- Spie Batignolles on the acquisition of a majority stake in several medium companies in the building and construction sector
- Caisse d'Epargne Provence-Alpes-Corse (CEPAC) on its acquisition of Banque de la Réunion, Banque des Antilles Françaises and Banque de Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon from BPCE International, followed by the merger within CEPAC of the acquired entities
Background
Edouard is a graduate of the New York University School of Law and he also holds a degree in business law, a DESS in international business law and a DJCE from the University of Aix-en-Provence and a diploma in comparative law from University College London. He is a member of the Paris and New York Bars.
