Gilles August

Founding partner - Senior Partner

Member of the Paris Bar
Member of the New York Bar

Gilles August is the co-founder of August Debouzy, currently serving as senior partner. Gilles has headed up our operations since 1998, now leading our corporate division.

Over the last 25 years, Gilles has advised key international and French economic players, with a particular focus on M&A, private equity, corporate law, and arbitration.

An innovator and entrepreneur who believes in modernizing the legal profession, Gilles launched our "Start You Up" legal incubator program, and created the annual Olivier Debouzy award. Gilles was named Knight of the Legion of Honour in 2007.

Practice Area

Education

Master of Laws (LL.M), Georgetown University Law Center, Washington D.C, 1986
University of Paris II, Panthéon, DEA (post-graduate degree) in Business Law, 1984
Graduate of École Supérieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales (ESSEC), 1983
University of Paris II Panthéon, Master in Private Law, 1981

Bars admission

Bruxelles, 2001
New York, 1986
Paris, 1984

Languages

French I English

CHAMBERS AND PARTNERS EUROPE 2023
• Corporate/M&A: Band 5

CHAMBERS AND PARTNERS GLOBAL 2023
• Corporate/M&A: Band 5

LEGAL 500 EMEA 2023
• M&A: Tier 4/6
• Insolvency: Tier 3/4
• Industry focus: Energy: Tier 3/3
• Banking and finance: Transactional work: Tier 4/4
• Private equity: Venture/growth capital: Tier 2/4
• Private equity: LBO: Tier 4/4

IFLR 1000 2022
• M&A: Tier 5/5
• Individual rankings - Notable practitioner
• Gilles August: M&A

OPTION DROIT & AFFAIRES 2022
• M&A who's majority of operations concern companies above 300 million euros: Tier 3/5
• LBOs whose majority of transactions concern companies between 50 to 300 million euros: Tier 3/5
• Capital-innovation: Tier 3/5

BEST LAWYERS 2024
• Gilles August

DÉCIDEURS STRATÉGIE FINANCE DROIT
• M&A – Operations between 75 and 500 million euros: Leading
•Acquisition financing (M&A and LBO): Highly recommended
• Venture capital: Highly recommended
• Capital-development: Excellent
• LBO Mid-cap: Highly recommended
• Management advice - LBO: Recommended
• Capital - innovation: Highly recommended
• Structuring and funds creation: Recommended
• Venture capital - Healthcare, pharmaceuticals & biotech: Highly recommended
• Capital, joint venture, and corporate transactions - Healthcare, pharmaceuticals & biotech: Highly recommended