Ropes & Gray Deepens European Private Capital Platform with Market-Leading Private Equity and M&A Team

Global law firm Ropes & Gray announced today the arrival of three market-leading French private equity and M&A partners to its European private capital practice, alongside counsel David Chatteleyn and a team of associates. Partners Gaëtan Gianasso and Denis Criton will split their time between Paris and London, while Michael Colle will be based in Paris. Their arrival significantly expands the firm’s transactional capability in France and further strengthens Ropes & Gray’s integrated private capital offering across Europe.

Together, the team brings a market-leading reputation in French private equity and M&A, with a strong track record advising leading sponsors on complex and high-profile transactions. Their arrival represents a key milestone in the continued expansion of Ropes & Gray’s European private capital platform.

“Our global clients are navigating an increasingly sophisticated and dynamic market,” said Julie Jones, Chair. “Gaëtan, Denis and Michael bring deep experience, strong client relationships, insights, and leadership that strengthen our European platform and position us to deliver even greater value to clients as they execute market-defining transactions across the continent and beyond. The addition of these partners expands our power to provide seamless, innovative counsel in the evolving European and global private capital markets.”

Gaëtan Gianasso is one of France’s leading M&A and private equity lawyers. In 2025, he was named France’s private equity lawyer of the year by Option Finance and Option Droit & Affaires. Gaëtan is also recognised as a Leading Individual for Private Equity by Chambers Europe and Legal 500 EMEA and is praised for his balanced and pragmatic approach to complex negotiations.

Denis Criton is also one of France’s leading M&A and private equity lawyers, with over 20 years’ experience representing French and international investors in complex M&A and private equity transactions. He has been consistently recognised by Chambers Europe and Legal 500 EMEA as a leading practitioner.

Michael Colle advises on a broad range of M&A and private equity transactions, including hybrid capital, with particular experience in healthcare, life sciences, technology, and consumer sectors. He is recognised as “One to Watch” for Private Equity and M&A by Best Lawyers France 2026.

The team also includes counsel David Chatteleyn, who advises private equity sponsors, corporates and portfolio companies on complex M&A and private equity transactions.

“We are delighted to welcome Gaëtan, Denis, Michael and their team to our Paris office and more broadly to our European platform,” said Fabrice Cohen, Paris managing partner and co-head of the European private equity transactions practice at Ropes & Gray. “We have known Gaetan and Denis very well for many years and hold them in the highest regard. Their experience and client relationships will add further depth and synergies to our transactional capabilities and reinforce our position as leading and trusted advisers to sponsors and corporates on their most complex transactions.”

“The team’s experience advising on prominent private equity and M&A matters will further drive the upward trajectory of our practice in France and across Europe,” said Amanda Morrison, global private capital transactions co-chair. “Their addition reflects our strategic focus on expanding our presence in key markets critical to our clients’ global ambitions.”

Ropes & Gray’s European offices in London, Paris, Milan, and Dublin operate as a single, integrated hub, delivering seamless advice to clients on their most important cross-border matters.

“Joining Ropes & Gray is a unique and exciting opportunity to contribute to the continued build-out of its dynamic European platform alongside a market-leading team,” said Gaëtan Gianasso.

“We look forward to collaborating with our new colleagues to deliver the highest level of service to our clients in France, throughout Europe and around the world,” said Denis Criton.

Gaëtan, Denis and Michael are the latest partners to join Ropes & Gray’s Paris office and its pan-European private capital practice amid rising client demand for the firm’s cross-border expertise. Their arrival follows earlier 2026 partner additions: Edouard Chapellier and Jonathan Abensour in Paris, Paul Dali and Lavinia Ralli in London, and Alessandro Capogrosso in Milan.

Now totalling 15 partners, the firm’s rapidly growing European private equity transactions team also includes Fabrice Cohen and Emmanuel Mimin in Paris; Cataldo Piccarreta, Elizabeth Todd, John Newton, Paul Dali, Shona Ha, Vicky McGrath, Lavinia Ralli in London; and Giorgia Lugli, Alessandro Capogrosso and Luca Maranetto in Milan.

Ropes & Gray launched its Paris office in March 2025. With the arrival of Gaëtan, Denis and Michael and their team, the firm’s French practice now numbers 32 lawyers, including eight partners.