Saloua Ouchan

Global law firm Freshfields is advising Onodrim Industries, an Amsterdam-based European defense technology company, on its €40 million seed funding. The round was led by Founders Fund, Lakestar, and General Catalyst, with participation from leading funds and angels across Europe and the US. Onodrim Industries is a European defense and industrial technology platform developing the next generation of hardware, software, and industrial capacity required for Europe's long-term security, resilience, and prosperity. More information about the transaction can be found here . The Freshfields team is led by partners Scott Blumenkranz, Saloua Ouchan and associates Noel Zamani, James Blyth, David Hart, Sophie Aubrun, Jovian Marcelo and Erdem Goren, transactional support lawyer Iskander Ong and law clerk Juliet Kim. Partner Thijs P. Flokstra advised on the notarial aspects, and partners Bob van Kasteren and Joe Soltis and associate Daan van Schaik advised on tax matters.

Feb 18

1 min

With effect from 1 May 2022, Saloua Ouchan and Menno Verboom have been appointed partners at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP. Both Saloua as well as Menno become a partner within the Freshfields’ Corporate/M&A practice. Saloua is specialised in M&A, private equity, growth equity, funding rounds, carve-outs and joint ventures. As part of her practice, Saloua has a strong focus on technology and media and has worked on many transactions involving IP, data and content aspects. She also advises a broad range of corporate clients, financial sponsors and pension funds. Saloua started her career in the judiciary and decided to make the switch to private practice in 2009. As a lawyer, she gained (international) experience in various areas of the corporate law practice and has worked in Singapore for 4 years. As well as being registered as a lawyer in the Netherlands, she is also registered as a solicitor in England. Menno is an all-round M&A lawyer with a strong focus on private equity. He has experience with a wide range of transactions and investment structures, competitive auction processes and management incentive plans, whereby he advises both Dutch and international clients. As well as being a lawyer, Menno is also an economist, and therefore ideally placed to understand and handle commercial opportunities and risks in transaction negotiations and documentation. Over the last 5 years, Menno has built his own successful practice as one of the leading partners at the boutique M&A law firm Vriman. For the first 12 years of his career up to 2017, Menno was a lawyer at Freshfields in Amsterdam and in London. Dirk-Jan Smit, Amsterdam office managing partner: “We are delighted to add Saloua and Menno to our corporate partner team in Amsterdam. With her energy, drive, modern leadership qualities and cutting edge legal skills, Saloua is the lawyer of choice for many clients and is an inspiring example for young lawyers. Menno's return to our office underlines the successful growth of our M&A practice. We know Menno as a strong M&A lawyer and a very collegial team player. He is a true client lawyer, with an impressive track record. Saloua and Menno will play an important role in the further expansion of our Dutch and international M&A and private equity practice.” An overview of all partners appointed worldwide at Freshfields can be found here. Nederlandse versie

Apr 7

2 min

Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer advised Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (‘CPP Investments’) on its long-term investment partnership with Power2X. The partnership plans to invest an initial EUR 130 million to accelerate the growth of Power2X as a development platform and fund green molecule projects. Under the terms of the deal, CPP Investments will acquire a majority interest in Power2X. Headquartered in Amsterdam, Power2X develops large-scale new energy assets and infrastructure focusing on decarbonising industrial value chains. The investment supports Power2X’s mission to become a long-term developer, owner and operator of next-generation energy assets with a focus on green hydrogen and other clean molecules such as green methanol and ammonia. The Freshfields team advising CPP Investments was led by partner Saloua Ouchan, with support from Marius Weyers, Nayoung Kwon, Emelde Rubaij-Bouman, Nick Surgey, Tijn Mandema, Sebastiaan Bonapart, Jordi Wals (Corporate), Eelco van der Stok and Daan van Schaik (Tax), Paul van den Berg, Rosa Warning and Clara Mendez de Vigo (Antitrust and Regulatory), Brechje Nollen, Julia Van Heusden and Babette Koning (People & Reward), Bert Spijkervet (Notarial) and Jan-Jaap Koningsveld (IP).

Jul 14

1 min

Met ingang van 1 mei 2022 zijn Saloua Ouchan en Menno Verboom benoemd tot partner bij Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP. Zowel Saloua als Menno treden als partner toe tot de Freshfields Corporate/M&A praktijk. Saloua is gespecialiseerd in M&A, private equity, growth equity, funding rounds, carve-outs en joint ventures. Binnen haar praktijk heeft Saloua een sterke focus op technologie en media, inclusief transacties met een IP, data en content aspect. Daarnaast adviseert zij een breed scala aan corporate cliënten, investeerders en pensioenfondsen. Saloua begon haar carrière in de rechterlijke macht en maakte in 2009 de overstap naar de advocatuur. Als advocaat heeft zij ervaring opgedaan binnen uiteenlopende onderdelen van de ondernemingsrechtpraktijk, waaronder ook 4 jaar in Singapore. Saloua is naast advocaat in Nederland ook geregistreerd solicitor in Engeland. Menno is een all-round M&A advocaat met een sterke focus op private equity. Hij heeft ervaring met alle soorten transacties en investeringsstructuren, Nederlandse en internationale cliënten, competitieve verkoopprocessen en management incentive plans. Menno is zowel jurist als econoom, en daarmee bij uitstek geschikt om ondernemingspotentieel en -risico’s te begrijpen en te ondervangen in transactie-onderhandelingen en -documentatie. De afgelopen 5 jaar heeft Menno als een van de leading partners van de M&A boutique Vriman een succesvolle eigen praktijk opgebouwd. De eerste 12 jaar van zijn loopbaan in de advocatuur, tot 2017, was hij al werkzaam bij Freshfields, in Amsterdam en in Londen. Dirk-Jan Smit, managing partner van het Amsterdamse kantoor: “Wij zijn ontzettend verheugd Saloua en Menno als nieuwe aanwinsten aan ons corporate partner team toe te voegen. Saloua is met haar aanstekelijke energie, drive, moderne leiderschapskwaliteiten en uitmuntende legal skills voor veel cliënten de “lawyer of choice” en een inspirerend voorbeeld voor jonge advocaten. De terugkeer van Menno naar ons kantoor onderstreept de succesvolle groei van onze M&A praktijk. Menno kennen we als een sterke M&A advocaat en een zeer collegiale teamspeler. Hij is een echte client lawyer, met een indrukwekkende track-record. Saloua en Menno zullen een belangrijke rol spelen bij de verdere uitbouw van onze Nederlandse en internationale M&A en private equity praktijk.” EINDE English version

Apr 7

2 min

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) has announced the appointment of 27 new partners with effect from 1 May 2022. The new partners are drawn from all of the firm’s market-leading practices and reflect the breadth and depth of Freshfields’ global expertise. The group brings diverse experience, skills and insights to the partnership. Freshfields’ Senior Partner Georgia Dawson said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome such a talented and diverse group of colleagues to our global partnership. We are excited about what they will bring to Freshfields and our clients, and the contribution they will make to the long-term success of the firm and the communities in which we live and work.” The full list of new partners is set out below: Antitrust, Competition and Trade Tom McGrath, London Merit Olthoff, Brussels Jan Rybnicek, Washington, DC Ermelinda Spinelli, Milan / Rome Dispute Resolution Nina Bayerl, Munich Kate Gough, London Eric Leikin, CE / Vienna Xin Liu, Hong Kong Daniel Travers, Düsseldorf Ricky Versteeg, London Anne-Laure Vincent, Paris Tom Walsh, New York Global Transactions Samira Afrasiabi, London Alon Gordon, London Sami Jebbour, Paris Ziyad Nassif, London Elizabeth Oberholzer, Munich Saloua Ouchan, Amsterdam Philipp Pütz, Düsseldorf Sarah Su, Hong Kong Johannes Vogel, Frankfurt David Yi, Hong Kong Tamara Young, London Zheng (Jonathan) Zhou, New York People & Reward Thomas Granetzny, Düsseldorf Frank Schaer, Frankfurt Tax Kathi Kubik, Vienna

Apr 7

1 min