Sarah Gardes

Sarah Gardes

Associate
About
Sarah Gardes is an associate lawyer within the Corporate team in DLA Piper’s Paris office. She advises investment funds and companies in the context of Private Equity and M&A domestic and cross-border transactions.
Professional QualificationsAvocate admitted to the Paris BarAttorney-at-law admitted with the Supreme Court of Illinois
Education
  • Washington University School of Law, Juris Doctoris
  • EDHEC Business School, LL.M. in Law and Tax Management
  • EDHEC Business School, Diplôme Grande Ecole

EXPERIENCE

  • Advising Eurazeo in its acquisition of a stake in Moria Surgical, alongside Naxicap Partners and the management, in the context of a new LBO on Moria Surgical, comprising the structuring of the transaction, the financing of the transaction, the negotiation of the transactional documentation on both the transaction itself (SPA, contributions in kind, governance, management package, etc.) and a simultaneous build-up acquisition by Moria Surgical.
  • Advising STG (Symphony Technology Group) on the acquisition from Eurazeo, BPI, Sofiouest and the founders of Klaxoon, a French-based global collaboration solutions provider, through its portfolio company, Wrike Inc. 
  • Advising Atlantic Vantage Point and its partners in its MBO in the context of its spin-off from AXA IM.
  • Advising Armen (GP Stake Fund) in the context of its acquisition of a minority stake in Vendis Capital (management company).
  • Advising Hy24 Partners on its mixed equity and debt investment of EUR 200 million, through its Clean H2 Infra Fund, in HysetCo, a French pioneer in hydrogen mobility solutions. This investment aligns with Hy24 Partners’ global strategy as the world’s leading clean hydrogen pure-play investment manager, supporting sustainable hydrogen projects worldwide.
  • Advising Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) and HSO Group, a global Microsoft services partner headquartered in the Netherlands, on the auction sale of HSO Group to Bain Capital, a global private investment firm, including on the comprehensive cross-border vendor legal due diligence exercise on HSO Group.
  • Advising the management team of Atlantic Vantage Point (AVP), formerly AXA Venture Partners, on their management buyout from AXA following the announcement of the sale of AXA IM to BNP Paribas Asset Management. Our role included advising on the structuring of the acquisition vehicle, the governance framework of the newly independent AVP, and the overall transaction strategy.
  • Advising White Summit Capital on a EUR 150 million equity and debt investment in Energy Efficiency-as-a-Service (ESCO) projects in France through Powesco.
  • Advising MML Capital, an international private equity firm investing in mid-sized companies alongside management teams, on its investment in the Arηs Group, together with the group’s founders and key employees.
  • Advising a corporate venture capital firm on its minority investment in convertible bonds issued by a French AI start-up.
 
Languages
  • French
  • English

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Team recognitions

  • Legal 500 - Private Equity: LBO - Tier 3 – 2025
    “Availability, in-depth expertise, ability to support both SMEs and large international groups.”
  • Legal 500 - Mergers & acquisitions - Tier 4 – 2025
    “Great organisational capabilities combined with a focused professional approach and excellent connections worldwide.”
  • Option Droit & Affaires – Mergers & acquisitions – 5 stars – 2025
  • Option Droit & Affaires – Private Equity – 5 stars - 2025
 

Prior Experience

10 months in the Corporate law team of a French legal and finance advisory firm in Paris;
3 months in a New York law firm providing services in Corporate, IP and Employment law to French companies doing business in the United States.