In this episode of French Insider, Noel Rimalovski, Managing Director of GH Partners LLC joins host Brian Weimer, Telecom Team Leader of Sheppard Mullin, to discuss cross-border initiatives in the satellite and space industry. These initiatives include France’s CoFace compared to The EXIM Bank in the United States, the emerging small launch industry, and the potential for commercial opportunities on the moon.

What We Discussed in This Episode:

• How does working with France's CoFace differ from working with The EXIM Bank in the United States?

• How does The EXIM Bank compare to the way France approaches export credit agency financing?

• Who can access financing from an export credit agency? Can a French company approach The EXIM Bank?

• Aside from SpaceX, who are some of the players in the nascent industry of small launch providers?

• Are the small launch providers that have proliferated in recent years targeting SpaceX's market?

• Is the recent multi-orbit trend lately likely to continue?

• Why is it essential for space and satellite companies to ensure alignment with their government?

• Is there any real potential for large-scale commercial opportunities on the moon?

• Is the space industry transitioning into a more commercial chapter of financing?

• Is there a push for more sustainable projects in the space industry?

About Brian Weimer

Brian Weimer is a partner in Sheppard Mullin’s Washington, D.C. office, where he also serves as Leader of the firm's Telecom Team and Co-Leader of the CFIUS Team. Brian provides regulatory and transactional advice across the entire telecommunications ecosystem. As leader of the firm’s Space & Satellite practice, he is perhaps best known as a leading lawyer for the satellite industry.

About Noel Rimalovski

Noel Rimalovski brings a deep background in M&A and corporate finance to GH Partners. Throughout his 20-year career, he has provided advisory services to clients, including sales and acquisitions, restructurings, capital raisings, valuations and fairness opinions to domestic and international clients in the Telecommunications, Media, Technology, Industrial and Consumer sectors.

Before joining GH Partners, Noel served as Senior Vice President at Macquarie Capital (USA), 2007-08, in the Telecommunications, Media, Entertainment and Technology Group. While at Macquarie, he completed $1.8bn of investments in the telecommunications sector. Prior to Macquarie, he was Director in the Mergers & Acquisition Group of Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein and its predecessor Wasserstein Perella, where he completed over $20 billion in transactions in the Industrial, Consumer, Technology, Telecommunications and Media sectors. Prior to joining WP, Noel gained experience as a banker on structured financings, securitizations and proprietary investments at Millennium Capital Markets and Lazard Frères.

Contact Information

Brian Weimer

Noel Rimalovski

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This episode is a replay of Episode 30 which originally aired on March 18, 2024.

In this episode of French Insider, Greg Berk, a partner at Sheppard Mullin, joins host Inès Briand to discuss immigration and business travel to the United States, including the particulars of the ESTA visa waiver program, obtaining an O-1 visa, H-1B visa, or green card, and what travelers can expect from the CPB upon entry.

What We Discussed in This Episode:

• What is an ESTA visa waiver?

• How long can you stay in the U.S. on an ESTA waiver?

• How soon can someone come back to the U.S. with an ESTA waiver?

• Who needs a work visa, and what types of work visas are available?

• How specialized must an individual be to qualify for a special talent (0-1) visa?

• What is an H-1B visa?

• When should French entities start planning to send individuals to the U.S.?

• When does someone need a green card? How do they obtain one?

• Are there tax implications when obtaining a green card?

• Can a green card be relinquished if the holder leaves the U.S.?

• Why does the CPB occasionally check social media accounts?

• Can the CPB deny a visa holder entry?

• Why might someone be called in for a secondary inspection? How should they deal with this?

• How can travel to Cuba or another restricted country impact an ESTA? Would it affect other types of visas?

About Greg Berk

Greg Berk, a partner in Sheppard Mullin’s Labor and Employment Practice Group, is based in Orange County, California. He heads the firm’s immigration practice and is a Certified Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

With more than 25 years of experience advising on various U.S. immigration issues, Greg is a trusted resource for global employers seeking guidance on recruiting and retaining foreign executives and top talent for their U.S. operations. He also works with investors on E-2, L-1, and EB-5 matters as well as I-9 and other immigration compliance matters. He is the author of "Immigration Checklists and Practice Pointers – A Desk Reference," a book published by the American Bar Association for General Counsel and HR managers.

About Inès Briand

Inès Briand is an associate in Sheppard Mullin’s Corporate Practice Group and French Desk Team in the firm’s Brussels office, where her practice primarily focuses on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisition transactions (with special emphasis on operations involving French companies). She also has significant experience in general corporate matters and compliance for foreign companies settled in the United States.

As a member of the firm’s French Desk, Inès has advised companies and private equity funds in both the United States and Europe on mergers, acquisitions, commercial contracts and general corporate matters, including expansion of French companies in the United States.

Contact Information

Inès Briand

Greg Berk

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In this episode of French Insider, Romain Poirot, Managing Partner of French Morning and Frenchly, joins host Karl Buhler of Sheppard Mullin to discuss the French Morning Media Group, from its inception to where it is today, and how it creates a sense of community for francophone people away for home. This episode was recorded in French.

What We Discussed in This Episode:

• French Morning’s history - the premises and its development in the United States, Canada and in the UK

• Local news and creating a community

• The impact on Covid and French Morning’s media diversification through webinars.

• Topics covered and events organized

• French elections coverage - live debates and streaming

• Sports events - football, rugby… gatherings behind « Les bleus »

• French Morning Media Group and its different subsidiaries

• Growth strategy of the magazine and plan for the future

About Romain Poirot

Romain Poirot has a diverse work experience spanning multiple industries. Romain started his career in 2010 as an Assistant of Sales and Purchases in the Back Office at Magirus. In 2011, they worked as a Sales and Marketing Assistant at Inlingua and also served as a Team Manager for Street-marketing events at France Prestige. From 2012 to 2016, he worked at ALTIOS International, where they were involved in International Business Development activities, including researching and prospecting the US market, qualifying potential clients, and assisting in trade show preparations. In 2009, he joined Red Bull as a Student Brand Manager.

In 2016, he became a Managing Partner at Frenchly, a leading publication for Americans traveling or living in France. In 2017, they joined Maudits Français as a Managing Partner. Since 2013, they have been the Managing Partner and Head of Revenue at French Morning USA, the leading publication for French expats living in the United States & UK.

Romain Poirot attended Pace University in 2012 for a brief period, although the degree and field of study are unspecified. From 2009 to 2012, they studied at EM Strasbourg Business School, where they earned a Bachelor of Marketing and International Business. Additionally, in 2010, Romain studied Spanish and business in Spanish at Universidad de Alicante for a short duration.

About Karl Buhler

Karl Buhler is an associate in the Corporate and Securities Practice Group and French Desk in the firm's New York Office. Karl focuses his practice on domestic and cross-border transactions. He handles in mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and complex commercial agreements in industries such as technology, communications, life sciences, energy, defense and aerospace. In particular, he advises foreign companies with the installation and development of their operations in the United States.

Karl was born and educated in France. He began his legal career in China, practicing corporate law in both Beijing and Hong Kong with a focus on mergers, acquisitions, and project finance in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Karl then relocated to Paris, where he continued to focus on corporate transactions, but also expanded his expertise to international arbitrations and litigations arising from contracts and transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint venture, and infrastructure agreements.

Contact Information

French Morning

Roman Poirot

Karl Buhler

Thank you for listening! Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every week.

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In this episode of French Insider, Greg Berk, a partner at Sheppard Mullin, joins host Inès Briand to discuss immigration and business travel to the United States, including the particulars of the ESTA visa waiver program, obtaining an O-1 visa, H-1B visa, or green card, and what travelers can expect from the CPB upon entry.

What We Discussed in This Episode:

• What is an ESTA visa waiver?

• How long can you stay in the U.S. on an ESTA waiver?

• How soon can someone come back to the U.S. with an ESTA waiver?

• Who needs a work visa, and what types of work visas are available?

• How specialized must an individual be to qualify for a special talent (0-1) visa?

• What is an H-1B visa?

• When should French entities start planning to send individuals to the U.S.?

• When does someone need a green card? How do they obtain one?

• Are there tax implications when obtaining a green card?

• Can a green card be relinquished if the holder leaves the U.S.?

• Why does the CPB occasionally check social media accounts?

• Can the CPB deny a visa holder entry?

• Why might someone be called in for a secondary inspection? How should they deal with this?

• How can travel to Cuba or another restricted country impact an ESTA? Would it affect other types of visas?

About Greg Berk

Greg Berk, a partner in Sheppard Mullin’s Labor and Employment Practice Group, is based in Orange County, California. He heads the firm’s immigration practice and is a Certified Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

With more than 25 years of experience advising on various U.S. immigration issues, Greg is a trusted resource for global employers seeking guidance on recruiting and retaining foreign executives and top talent for their U.S. operations. He also works with investors on E-2, L-1, and EB-5 matters as well as I-9 and other immigration compliance matters. He is the author of "Immigration Checklists and Practice Pointers – A Desk Reference," a book published by the American Bar Association for General Counsel and HR managers.

About Inès Briand

Inès Briand is an associate in Sheppard Mullin’s Corporate Practice Group and French Desk Team in the firm’s Brussels office, where her practice primarily focuses on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisition transactions (with special emphasis on operations involving French companies). She also has significant experience in general corporate matters and compliance for foreign companies settled in the United States.

As a member of the firm’s French Desk, Inès has advised companies and private equity funds in both the United States and Europe on mergers, acquisitions, commercial contracts and general corporate matters, including expansion of French companies in the United States.

Contact Information

Inès Briand

Greg Berk

Thank you for listening! Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every week.

If you enjoyed this episode, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show in Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other listeners find this show.

This episode is a replay of Episode 23 which originally aired on June 30, 2023. It was recorded in French.

In this episode of the French Insider, Didier Choix, Founder and Managing Partner, and Jean-Damien Perrier, Partner of the DDA & Company group, a Franco-American investment bank specializing in mergers and acquisitions in France and the United States, join Valérie Demont, Partner at Sheppard Mullin, to discuss M&A transactions between France and the United States, including how to choose the right target, the differences between French and American deals, and how to best prepare to conquer the American market.

What We Discussed in this Episode

• How can one best prepare to acquire a company in the United States?

• • Screening

  • Definition of objectives

  • Proficiency in English

• How to find a United States target? 

• What are the challenges faced?

• Is networking working?

• The approach of the American leader 

• What are the major differences between a deal in the United States and a deal in France?

• • Limited access to information

  • Valuation

  • Funding

  • Working Capital v. lock box

  • Vendor due diligence

  • GAAP accounting v. IFRS

  • Lack of audit of financial statements

  • Salaries of officers and employees in the United States

• What are the common mistakes of French companies in their first acquisitions in the United States?

• “Bridging the gap”: how can French companies put together a competitive offer compared to American buyers (auction process, etc.)?

• Timeline of an acquisition

• Main advice for an entrepreneur looking to acquire a target in the United States

Contact Information

Inès Briand 

Karl Buhler 

Didier Choix - Founder and President - DDA & Company, LLC | LinkedIn

Jean-Damien Perrier - New York, New York, United States | Professional Profile | LinkedIn

Valérie Demont | Sheppard Mullin

DDA & Company, spécialiste conseil en corporate finance (ddacompany.com)

France Attorneys | Sheppard Mullin

Additional Resources

French Insider Episode 23: M&A in the US: How French Businesses Can Find a Target & Seal the Deal | Sheppard Mullin

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This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.