Dechert have confirmed that leading M&A lawyer Laurent Faugerolas has joined the firm as a partner.

Faugerolas joins the US firm after a near three year hiatus from legal practice, which he had left to establish a boutique M&A advisory consultancy firm in London. Faugerolas specialises in corporate finance, and is focused primarily on both public and private M&A, takeovers and equity capital markets.

Faugerolas will split his time between London and Paris, a decision that takes into account his clients needs on both sides of the English channel, a large part of whom will be Americans looking to do business in Europe. As well as his experience in the French M&A market, he also handles equity capital markets work.

His previous work includes advising Total on its takeover of Elf Aquitaine and Petrofina; Renault on its acquisition of an interest in Nissan; and EDF and Deutsche Bank on the acquisition of an interest in Montedison.

Previous roles include a two year spell at Weil Gotshal & Manges in Paris, and a longer tenure at Willkie Farr & Gallagher

The move is Dechert's first French lateral M&A hire in some time.