Francis Donnat
Biography
Francis Donnat began his professional life as member of the "Conseil d'Etat" (French Administrative Supreme Court and legal advisor to the government) from 1998 to 2005. He was also legal adviser to the Ministry of National Education, and served as rapporteur to the Court of Budgetary and Financial Discipline (CDBF).
Between 2005 and 2012 he acted as chief of staff and référendaire to the French judge at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in Luxembourg.
He joined Google in 2012 as counsel, head of policy for France.
From 2016 to 2021 Francis Donnat acted as general secretary and member of the executive committee of France Télévisions, the French public broadcaster and first French media group.
He taught public law for many years at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques in Paris and public law and European Union law at the University of Strasbourg, where he was an associate professor.
He joined Baker McKenzie as a partner in 2021.
Practice Focus
Francis Donnat is a partner in the Firm's Paris office, where he advises on public law, European law, information technology and media law, large contracts, public corporate law and environmental law.
Francis Donnat brings his extensive knowledge of the digital and public sectors to Baker McKenzie's clients, as well as his extensive expertise in public law and European Union law, including environmental law, personal data law, media law and, more generally, complex matters linked to the regulation of network activities.
His diverse experience in private and public companies is a unique asset at the service of our clients for the legal conduct of their major projects.
Professional Associations and Memberships
- President (since January 2023) of the Business Law Section of the Society of Comparative Legislation (Société de Législation Comparée)
- Club des Juristes – Member (since 2012)
Admissions
- Paris~France (2021)
Education
- Ecole Nationale d'Administration in Paris (Promotion Valmy) (1998)
- Institut d'Etudes Politiques/Paris (1993)
Languages
- English
- French
- Spanish