Jean Michel has developed strong expertise in advising and representing companies in cross-border M&A transactions, particularly in the energy, hospitality and real estate sectors, as well as in international structuring and development of energy and infrastructure projects.
He has been involved in complex international arbitration proceedings (ad hoc, ICC, AAA, TAB, OHADA, and IEMA rules), particularly in the context of investments in Southern Europe, North Africa, and West Africa. He is regularly appointed as an international arbitrator. He is a member of the CEIA, the ICAB Arbitration Commission, and the IBA Arbitration Committee; and is listed as an arbitrator by the CCJA-OHADA, the ICC National Committee in Ghana, and the IEMA.
Jean Michel promotes the idea of a new Marshall Plan at the European level, which would aim to make massive investments to accelerate the energy transition and generate sustainable growth within the EU and also on the African continent. In this regard, he is developing innovative ideas and concepts in connection with the E5T Endowment Fund, which is dedicated to the energy transition, as well as within his think tank, Nova Roma.
Education
- Sciences Po · Paris: BA-MA Economics and Finance (1989)
- University of Paris 1 · Panthéon Sorbonne: LLB (1992) and LL.M (1993)
- University of California, Berkeley: LL.M (1995)
- Autonomous University of Barcelona: MRes-Economics (2020)
- University of Paris 1 · Panthéon Sorbonne: PhD in International Arbitration Law, summa cum laude (1999), under the supervision of Professor Christian Gavalda · "On the primacy of transnational rules of law in the resolution of international business disputes by arbitration. A comparative study: France · Switzerland · North America," published in French in 2000 and 2002 by ARNT (Paris)
Academic teaching
- Sciences Po · Paris: Assistant Professor in charge of a graduate seminar on international commercial contracts, including cases of international commercial arbitration, assisting Prof. Dominique Blanco (2000-02)
- EDHEC Business School · Nice: Senior Lecturer, in charge of a lecture on international business law, including a seminar with international arbitration cases (2001-07)
- French Southeastern Bar Association School: Senior lecturer in charge of various international arbitration workshops (2006, 2008 and 2012)
- Institute of Peace and Development Law · University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis: Senior Lecturer, course-seminar on international business law, including lectures and seminars with international arbitration cases (2009-14)
- Sciences Po · Paris campus of Menton: Assistant Professor, in charge of an undergraduate seminar on comparative and international law, including a case of international arbitration, assisting Prof. George A. Bermann (visiting from Columbia Law School) (2010-11)
- Sciences Po · Paris campus of Menton: Adjunct professor in charge of undergraduate courses on international law and international business law, including lectures and seminars with international arbitration cases (2011-15)
Publications and conferences
- Co-author of a university textbook entitled Law in Business Schools, published in French by EDHEC/Ellipses, author of the chapters "Sources of domestic and international law," "Arbitration and Mediation," "Responsibility of States and diplomatic and consular actions" (2006)
- La Tribune Bulletin Côte d'Azur · "Interests and benefits of International Arbitration" (minutes of the Business Lawyers Society, ADA, symposium on the same subject) (2010)
- Presentation of a report and lecture on "Money/equity financing of a possible new Marshall Plan in relation to the acceleration of the ecological transition in the EU and the development of needed infrastructure in Africa," during the Summer University of the E5T Foundation at La Rochelle (October 2020)
- Directum Review No. 6 (Review of the Forum d'Advocacia de la Generalitat of Catalonia) · "For a money/equity financing of a new Marshall Plan" (December 2020)
- Directum Review No. 9 (Review of the Forum d'Advocacia de la Generalitat of Catalonia) · "For the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean governmental international organization" (June 2022)
- Confrontations Europe (European think tank, Paris) · "Economic and geopolitical relevancy of a new Marshall Plan," "Necessary amendment to the EU Treaties and implementation of a new Marshall Plan," "How to finance a new Marshall Plan without increasing states' indebtedness" (February-March 2022)
- Le Village de la Justice · "Acquisitions of Spanish companies by French companies: A transversal approach, innovative solutions for optimal structuring" (March 2023)
- Official Chamber of Commerce of Spain in France (COCEF-Paris) · speaker at a conference on the acquisition of companies between France and Spain: "The keys to successful legal and tax structuring" (May 2024)
- Université Paris-Dauphine Summer University, Tunis campus / E5T Foundation · "A new Euro-Mediterranean Marshall Plan to accelerate the ecological transition and sustainable growth in the Mediterranean!" (May 4, 2024)
- Conference on the so-called Beckham regime within the framework of the International Employment Lawyers Association (IELA), under the auspices of ICAB Barcelona (July 2024)
- French Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Barcelona (CCI Francesa de Barcelona) · "Structuring of the cross-border acquisition of companies: A transversal approach, Spain-France" (February 2025)
- E5T Foundation Conference, Rome · "Call for innovative financing · classified as monetary/equity · to accelerate the energy transition in the EU and sovereign reindustrialization within Europe" (June 30, 2025)