Image of Herve Ekue

Hervé Ekué

Managing Partner

Email

herve.ekue@aoshearman.com

Phone

+33 1 40065359

Offices

Paris

V-CARD
Hervé is Managing Partner and a member of the Executive Committee and Board.

He joined Allen & Overy in France in 2001 and was the Allen & Overy Managing Partner of France between 2018 and 2024.

Hervé specialises in debt capital markets and derivatives, including derivative transactions across a broad range of asset classes, structured repurchase transactions and securities lending. He also advises financial institutions and corporates on financial law and financial restructuring, with a focus on the structuring and issuance of debt, hybrid, digital and derivative securities.

Enjoying significant recognition from his peers, Hervé has been Chambers’ top-ranked lawyer in Debt Capital Markets in France for many years and is the only ranked “Star Individual”. In 2023 he was ranked in France as part of the “Top 40 lawyers of the CAC40 companies” (Forbes/LJA).

Experience

Representative matters

  • The syndicate of banks on EDF's issuance of green bonds financing nuclear energy projects aligned with the EU Taxonomy, the first of its kind in the European market.
  • The banking syndicate (arrangers, lenders and hedging banks) on the setting up of a new EUR1.2 billion financing in Europe for Phoenix Tower International.
  • The underwriting syndicate, including BNP Paribas as Global Coordinator, Sole Bookrunner and Lead Manager and several international investment banks as Co-Managers, on the EUR1,000,000,000 Perpetual Fixed Rate Resettable Additional Tier 1 Notes issuance of BNP Paribas.
  • Ubisoft on the placement of bonds convertible into and/or exchangeable for new or existing shares (“OCEANEs”) due 2028 by way of a public offering only to qualified investors, for a nominal amount of EUR470 million.
  • The banking syndicate including BNP Paribas and J.P. Morgan as global coordinators and joint bookrunners in relation to L’Oréal’s inaugural public bond offering for an aggregate nominal amount of EUR 3 billion, including a sustainability-linked tranche.
  • A consortium of banks on European Investment Bank’s issue of a digital bond on Ethereum public blockchain. The EUR100 million two-year bond was the market’s first multi dealer led, primary issuance of digitally native tokens using public blockchain technology.

Pro bono

  • As Allen & Overy Managing Partner of France, Hervé made Allen & Overy France a leader in the firm’s global DE&I priorities. Hervé ultimately created programs within the office (including Legal à Egal, Premiers Pas…), having developed an ambitious but concrete action plan with the support of a diverse committee of representatives from across the office. Clients were central to Hervé’s approach, often collaborating with or inviting key contacts to events and training sessions relating to gender, social diversity, disability, or sexual orientation. Within the market, Hervé is considered a leader for DE&I and often invited to debate including with government ministers, speak at conferences and give press interviews.
  • Deeply committed to corporate and social responsibility, Hervé has also been a strong supporter of pro bono initiatives at global and local levels and has contributed to the development of the Paris office own pro bono program. The associations supported on a pro bono basis include: AADH (Alliance des avocats pour les droits de l’Homme), Article1, Barreau de Paris solidarité, Droit comme un H !, IT IS NOW, Paris Peace Forum, Safe Passage, Rejoué, #Led By Her, Chemins d’avenirs, Clinique juridique de la Sorbonne, Café Joyeux, La cravate solidaire.

Published Work

  • Diversité et inclusion dans le monde du droit - Le Point - 20 avril 2023
  • Video: Blockchain and cryptocurrencies, February 2022
  • Interview with Chloé Enkaoua, L’AGEFI Hebdo, “L’avocat en entreprise”, February 2021
  • Filming for the series “Je le jure”, Doctrine, February 2021
  • Tribune, La Tribune, « Le 17 mai, agissons collectivement pour un monde plus inclusif », May 2021
  • Contribution : "Rapport Contrat-Cadre ISDA 2002 (Droit Français)" du Haut Comité Juridique de la Place Financière de Paris, November 2020
  • L’AGEFI, Dossier spécial "Dérivés", May 2020
  • Tribune pour le dossier spécial « Finance Verte », L’AGEFI Hebdo "La finance durable a besoin d’un cadre réglementaire plus adapté", March 2020
  • E-alert France: "New -Related Ordinance", March 2019
  • E-alert France: "Le droit français précise les conditions d'éligibilité au rang senior non préféré en définissant la notion d'élément non structuré", August 2018
  • Révision d’EMIR : les deux objectifs de la réforme, Bulletin Joly Bourse, May-June 2018
  • Les nouvelles obligations d’échange de garanties pour les dérivés non compensés centralement au titre d’EMIR : révolution et continuité, Bulletin Joly Bourse, July-August 2017

Speaking Engagements

  • Speaker, “Artificial Intelligence & Debt Capital Markets: Is AI sufficiently trustworthy, ethical and inclusive?", ICMA (International Capital Market Association), March 2024
  • Speaker at A&O EU Law Academy for Digital Finance & Blockchain matters, 3 sessions in 2023
  • Keynote speaker, The Night of Creators in Barcelona "Overview of certain European legal issues related to digital finance", June 2022
  • Speaker, Client Webinar « Le Règlement Prospectus III (RPIII) : 1 an après », December 2020 - January 2021 - February 2021
  • Speaker, “CSRD & Climate Law: the new extra-financial information obligations”, Presentation, November 2021
  • Welcome speech, “Cryptocurrency”, French China Foundation, November 2021
  • Speaker, "Cessation du Libor – Conséquences pratiques", Presentation, October 2021
  • Speaker, "Digital Finance Package", Presentation, July 2021
  • Speaker, « Les 10èmes dialogues de l'inclusion et de la RSE », Forum de l’engagement, DATE
  • Speaker, "Mettre la finance au service de la transition écologique", Les Rencontres Economiques Aix en Seine, July 2020
  • Speaker, "Brexit et Produits Dérivés", Derivatives Breakfasts, May 2019
  • Speaker, "La convention cadre ISDA 2002", Derivatives Breakfasts, December 2018
  • Speaker, "Finance verte : A quoi servent les green bonds ? », Club des Jeunes Dirigeants Financiers, December 2018
  • Speaker, “ L'initiative ISDA", La Nuit du Droit, October 2018
  • Speaker, "La technologie au service de la régulation et de la conformité", Paris Regtech Forum, October 2018
  • Speaker, "Le Règlement Prospectus III – Facteurs de risques et résumé – Nouvelles annexes du règlement - Emissions secondaires", Legal seminar, March 2018

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • Member, ICMA (International Capital Market Association)
  • Member HCJP (Haut Comité Juridique de la Place)
  • Member, Paris EUROPLACE
  • Member, Institut Montaigne

Recognition

“Hervé is available and has a perfect knowledge of the market. He has a very sensible and commercial approach”
Chambers Global France (Capital Markets: Debt), 2023
“He is an extraordinary partner and expert in his field. He is very skilled to manage diverse groups of clients, finding commercially sensible solutions for the parties under very tight calendars and under very stressful conditions”
Legal 500 EMEA - France (Capital Markets: Debt), 2023

Awards

  • Star Individual, Chambers Global/Europe - France (Capital Markets: Debt), 2024
  • Star Individual, Chambers Global/Europe - France (Capital Markets: Debt), 2023
  • Band 2, Chambers Global/Europe - France (Capital Markets: Derivatives), 2023
  • Leading Individual, Legal 500 EMEA - France (Capital Markets: Debt), 2023
  • Star Individual, Chambers Global/Europe - France (Capital Markets: Debt); 2022
  • "Lawyer of the Year", Best Lawyers - France (Banking and Finance Law Capital Markets Law -Derivatives Structured Finance), 2023

Qualifications

Admissions

Paris, 1999

Academic

Master in Banking & Finance, University of Paris V Descartes, 1995-1996

Post Graduate Degree, Private & Business Law, University of Paris V Descartes, 1994-1995

Languages

French, English, Spanish
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.