International law firm Bird & Bird appoints Jean-Claude Vecchiatto as a partner in Paris.
Vecchiatto joins the firm's Banking & Finance practice group and will head the International Aviation & Defence sector group in France. Former Vice President Legal Affairs at Airbus, he was responsible for Finance and Projects.
In his 12 years at EADS and Airbus, Jean-Claude managed group corporate and project finance risks including complex aerospace and defence projects, satellites and communication systems across several jurisdictions. He was also involved in the negotiations of a number of landmark projects, including the Skynet refinancing, FSTA, Galileo, Yahsat, Comsat NG and MFTS.
Before joining Airbus, Jean-Claude worked as a French "avocat" and English Solicitor for nearly 10 years at White & Case and Clifford Chance, where he advised financial institutions and borrowers in relation to structured, corporate and project finance transactions. Jean-Claude is also a former Commercial Court Judge in France.
As part of the firm's International Aviation & Defence sector group's strategy, Jean-Claude will help integrate the group's capabilities and specialist skills in in France and across the firm's international offices.
Paul Briggs, co-head of Bird & Bird's Aviation & Aerospace Group says: "It's a pleasure to welcome Jean-Claude to our friendly and ambitious team at Bird & Bird. Most major law firms now claim to have a sector strategy but for us it's who we are. We have lawyers in the team recruited from Rolls Royce, BAE Systems – me included – and our joint head, Leo Fattorini, joined us from Virgin Atlantic. Recruiting Jean-Claude from Airbus further strengthens our sector experience and is central to our Airbus relationship and our ambitious wider plans for France and the Aviation & Defence sector as a whole.
Jean-Claude Vecchiatto added: "I am delighted to join a firm like Bird & Bird which offers clients both in-depth technical knowledge and understanding of the industry. I am looking forward to using both my in-house and private practice experience to build the International Aviation & Defence sector group in France and enhance the firm's existing global reputation in this area.”