Lydie Bontemps-Helmy

With a year of study at a U.S. law school and a Master’s Degree in international business law, Lydie began her professional career in Shanghai, China, where she spent five years and worked at a leading Franco-Chinese law firm.

Lydie focuses her practice on corporate law, domestic and international contracts, and commercial law.

She provides legal assistance to a French and foreign clientele comprising primarily multinationals, industrial and services companies, SMBs, investors and business owners in connection with domestic and cross-border corporate transactions, external growth transactions, transfers of businesses, group reorganizations and restructurings, and equity transactions.

Lydie also assists French and foreign businesses in the drafting and negotiation of all types of domestic and international contracts.

Lydie provides legal advice to corporate officers and senior executives in connection with the performance of their corporate mandate and employment contract, as well as in the pre-litigation phase related to the termination of the corporate mandate to anticipate any legal proceedings.

After more than four years working in Shanghai (China), she has developed a substantial expertise in assisting foreign investors in their expansion projects in France.

Selected Operation Summary

Corporate Law

• Managed and followed up the corporate legal secretarial works on behalf of French companies: approval of financial statements, change of corporate officer, transfer of registered office, etc.
• Drafted intra-group loan and cash agreements
• Drafted a shareholders’ agreement on behalf of a company offering comprehensive travel-experience and event management services
• Drafted a SPA in connection with the sale of an English industrial company to a Portuguese company, and the related representations & warranties
• Negotiated and drafted a settlement agreement between a Hong Kong company operating in the metallurgy industry and a shareholder
• Defended an association secretary suddenly terminated in a vexatious manner

Commercial Law

• Reviewed power plant construction contracts in Africa for a business partner of French leading international energy supplier EDF
• Drafted general terms of sale for various services offered by a French telecom operator and software publisher, as well as for a company operating in the sports industry
• Drafted and reviewed commercial lease agreements for companies operating in the industrial and service sectors, professional lease agreements, and sublease agreements
• Assisted French companies operating in various industries in the sale of their business going concern
• Drafted service contracts for retired former business executives

Industrial Property

• Assisted a company owning the industrial property rights to a famous cartoon character in connection with an infringement of its rights in China
• Drafted an industrial property rights transfer agreement for a company that had developed a cutting-edge musical instrument

Background

• Laurent Grandpré, Associate, 2023-2018
• Quadratur, Associate, 2018-2017
• De Wolf Axten, Shanghai office (China), Associate, 2017-2015
• UGGC Avocats, Shanghai office (China), Legal consultant, 2015-2014
• ALTIOS International, Shanghai (China), Consultant, 2014-2013

Professional Association

• Member of the Innovation and Professional Practice Committee of the Lyon Bar

Education

• Master’s Degree in international business law, contract law specialization, Faculty of Law of Tours,2007 
• Master’s Degree in Business law, Drake University Law School (Iowa, USA), 2006

Languages

• French
• English