Philippe Danesi

Partner
Country Managing Partner, France
Head of Employment, France
Philippe's knowledge is formidable. His energy, availability, dedication and strategic insights make him a perfect counsel. He is an absolute pleasure to work with. He goes above and beyond on every single case and has been doing so for years.
Client, Chambers Europe 2023
About

Philippe Danesi helps national and multinational clients with all aspects of employment law, particularly the employment aspects of complex restructuring operations and related litigation.

He has in-depth knowledge of issues that arise with working time and work-related psychological risks, and particular experience in the IT, aviation, life sciences and transport sectors.

Philippe has specific experience in negotiating and implementing social plans, outsourcing, transfer of undertakings, post-merger/acquisition integration, collective departure plans, and collective performance agreements. He also focuses on the negotiation and implementation of working time strategies and collective bargaining agreements, and the negotiation and establishment of European works councils.

He assists clients with crisis situations and related collective litigation, and with monitoring collective and strategic negotiation with employee-union representatives and governmental authorities on major collective topics. He represents clients before labour, civil, criminal and administrative courts in France.

He also advises clients on structuring complex staff representation organizations, data protection issues, whistleblowing and internal investigations, and on the exit negotiation of top-tier managers and corporate officers, either on a collective or individual basis.

Philippe recently advised a leading global express delivery, courier and shipping company on several significant restructurings of its functions and operations, which involved transformation and collective dismissals aimed at safeguarding competitiveness. He accompanied the group in France through every stage of the restructures, including preparation for and announcement of the projects, internal and external communications, relations with the French Labor Administration, procedures with employee representatives, negotiation with trade unions, and implementation.

He also recently supported a key player in the e-mobility and gig economy sector in France on a range of matters, from guidance on its initial set-up to growth and expansion in the EU market, including advice on tax, corporate and regulatory issues.

Philippe has led DLA Piper’s employment team in France since 2015. He was elected member of the International Board in 2020 and was a member until he became Managing Partner for France in November 2021. He has a particular interest in ESG matters and assists an increasing number of clients in this area, particularly the social aspects.

Philippe regularly speaks at conferences and seminars on employment issues.
Professional QualificationsAvocat admitted to the Paris Bar

EXPERIENCE

Philippe's experience includes advising:

  • A leading global express delivery, courier and shipping company on several significant restructurings of its functions and operations, involving transformation and collective dismissals aimed at safeguarding competitiveness. Philippe accompanied the group in France through every stage of the restructures, including preparation for and announcement of the projects, internal and external communications, relations with the French Labor Administration, procedures with employee representatives, negotiation with trade unions, and implementation.
  • A leading US global pharmaceutical company and provider of consumer self-care products (with more than 9,000 people globally) on integration, organizational design and the related social plan following the acquisition of a leading European healthcare group controlled and managed by French-based legal entities and top management. This involved consultation with multiple staff representative bodies on the economic, operational and social aspects of the project.
  • A key player in the e-mobility and gig economy sector in France on a range of matters, from guidance on its initial set-up through to growth and expansion in the EU market, including advice on tax, corporate and regulatory issues.
  • A US company before various jurisdictions on co-employment/fraud claims amounting to a total of more than EUR80 million and concerning more than 550 employees. All claims were dismissed at either first instance or appeal.
  • Several companies on investigations into harassment, discrimination claims and whistleblowing.
  • A multinational technology company on the restructuring of its field sales team in France. This was in response to the impact of COVID-19, changing consumer habits, new competitors and the launch of a new business sector. The restructure needed to take place simultaneously with, and be identical to, others taking place in the client’s other operating countries, and with the same pace of implementation as those in common law countries, all requiring a high level of responsiveness.
  • A project management, engineering and construction company in the energy industry on a significant litigation matter. The plaintiffs were two unions and the Works Council (CSE). The issues related to psychosocial risk factors and suicides, assessment and action planning, medical service at work, working hours and overtime, collective bargaining agreement negotiation, and a EUR600,000 damages claim.
  • A leading metal packaging company on its restructuring. This involved a gradual shutdown of one site, the implementation of a social plan, and a redeployment of production to other sites.
Languages
  • English
  • French
Education
  • University of Paris XII Paris-Diderot, Master's degree (DESS) in business law

  • Specialized degree in Labour Law

Awards and recognitions

Employment team recognition

  • Tier 2, Legal 500 EMEA 2023

Individual recognitions

  • Band 3, Employment, France, Chambers Europe for over 20 years
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers – Labor and Employment – 2020-24
  • DLA Piper France recognized in Palmarès des Meilleurs Cabinets d'Avocats [Best law firms] 2022, Le Point, France
  • "It is always good to be able to work with Philippe; he is very easy to work with. He is very efficient, straight to the point and offers interesting, innovative strategies." Chambers Europe 2023

Publications and Media

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Member of AvoSial (Avocats d’entreprise en droit social), a syndicate of employment lawyers in France with over 500 members
  • Elected as a member of the DLA Piper International Board, 2020

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