Michael Foundethakis heads the Firm’s Banking & Finance Group in Paris and EMEA. He also heads the Baker & McKenzie’s Global Project Finance Group serves as a member of the Global Emerging Markets Committee. Mr. Foundethakis is highly recommended as a leading banking and finance lawyer by Chambers Global, Legal 500, JUVE and IFLR. Additionally, he was the exclusive winner of the ILO Client Choice Award 2011 in Banking for Germany.

Practice Focus

Mr. Foundethakis has broad experience acting for both lenders and borrowers in a wide range of international finance transactions. He is primarily involved in cross-border acquisition finance, project finance — including vendor financing — structured commodity finance, financial restructurings and the trading of distressed loans in the secondary debt market. Much of this work involves dealing with export credit agencies, multilateral development banks and other government institutions. Mr. Foundethakis also covers emerging markets, particularly Central and Eastern Europe, the CIS and Africa.

Representative Legal Matters

• Acting for One Equity Partners in relation to the sale of the Vacuumschmelze Group (VAC) for approximately USD1 billion to the OM Group - the largest private equity deal in Germany in 2011.
• Acting as a lead counsel to the creditors' Steering Committee (including commercial lenders, trade finance banks, export credit agencies and bondholders) of BTA Bank in Kazakhstan in relation to the USD16.7 billion restructuring of its financial indebtedness
• Acting for Allianz Capital Partners (ACP) and Deutsche Seerederei (DSR) in connection with the financing of the EUR1.56 billion leveraged buyout of Scandlines AG.
• Acting for Commerzbank AG in relation to a EUR400 million dual tranche term loan to Investec Bank Ltd. in the Republic of South Africa.
• Acting for WestLB and BayernLB in relation to a EUR500 million acquisition financing line of credit for United Internet.
• Acting as counsel to the international creditors' Steering Committee of First Ukrainian International Bank in relation to the restructuring of its financial indebtedness; the first successful restructuring of the international debt of a Ukrainian bank.

Professional Associations and Memberships

• International Chamber of Commerce - Member
• Law Society of England & Wales - Member
• Munich Bar Association - Member
• Paris Bar Association - Member

Admission

England & Wales~United Kingdom (1995)

Education

College of Law at Guildford  (L.S.F.) (1993)
College of Law at Guildford  (C.P.E.) (1992)
American School of Classical Studies (Athens)  (R.M.) (1991)
University of Pennsylvania  (B.A.) (1990)
University of Pennsylvania  (M.A.) (1990)

Michael Foundethakis a rejoint Baker & McKenzie en 1999 et a été nommé Associé en 2003. Avant de prendre la direction de l’équipe Banque / Finance du bureau de Paris en octobre 2010, il a exercé au sein des bureaux de Londres et de Munich. Michael Foundethakis conseille des grands groupes bancaires ainsi que des clients industriels emprunteurs dans leurs opérations financières transfrontalières. Il dispose d’une expérience approfondie en financement d’acquisitions, financement de projets, restructurations ainsi que dans le négoce de dette de sociétés en difficulté sur le marché secondaire. Il conseille ses clients (banque, sponsors et institutions multilatérales) dans le cadre de leurs transactions transfrontalières.

Admissions aux Barreaux

England & Wales~United Kingdom (1995)

Formation

College of Law at Guildford  (L.S.F.) (1993)
College of Law at Guildford  (C.P.E.) (1992)
American School of Classical Studies (Athens)  (R.M.) (1991)
University of Pennsylvania  (B.A.) (1990)
University of Pennsylvania  (M.A.) (1990)