Marie-Laure Bruneel

Marie-Laure Bruneel is a partner in Goodwin’s Tax Practice. She focuses on tax matters that arise from the structuring and financing of investments, M&A transactions, leveraged buyouts, restructurings and joint ventures. 

Ms. Bruneel also has particular expertise in structuring private equity and real estate investment funds. 

Prior to joining Goodwin in 2017, Ms. Bruneel was a partner at De Pardieu Brocas Maffei, and previously practiced at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

She is fluent in French and English.

Ms. Bruneel’s recent work includes advising:

Private Equity/Corporate Transactions

•  Cerba Healthcare, an international network of medical biology laboratories
  • In the acquisition of Viroclinics-DDL, a fast-growing global virology and immunology contract research organization,
  • In the acquisition of Lifebrain, the leading Group in Italy in laboratory medicine,
  • In the acquisition of Yourlab, a clinical pathology group based in western France
  • In the reinforcement of its capital structure with existing shareholders and its long-term partner, PSP Investments welcoming  EQT Private Equity as new shareholder and completing the exit of Partners Group, in the context of its sixth LBO.
• EMZ Partners and Sagard in the 4th LBO acquisition of Safic-Alcan, a French independent distributor of specialty chemicals, welcoming three new private equity funds, Equistone, IK Partners and GENEO Capital Entrepreneur.
• Equistone Partners Europe
  • In its majority investment in Sicame, a global supplier of electrical connectors and accessories to electricity distributors,
  • In the acquisition of a majority stake in Vertbaudet, Europe’s leading e-commerce platform dedicated to childhood,
  • In the acquisition of Gardengate, a leading European manufacturer of aluminum gates and doors.
• IK Partners in the acquisition ICS Learn, an online learning provider.
• Latour Capital in a majority investment in the holding company of Pharmacie Lafayette (Hygie31), a major player in the health and wellness sector.
• Lion Capital in the refinancing of the Picard group, a French producer and retailer of frozen foods.
• MCC and its founders in the sale of the Fabrication Electronique de Dordogne group (FEDD), one of the French leaders in printed circuit boards solutions, to Argos Wityu.
• Tikehau Capital
  • In the acquisition of Stokomani, a retailer of destocking, with more than 120 stores throughout France, including fashion, beauty, home decor, food,
  • In the acquisition of a minority stake in the Maxi Bazar group, a non-food discount products retailer.

Fund Formation

• Committed Advisors on the fundraising of Committed Advisors Primary Fund I, with a total commitment of €161 million.
• EMZ Partners on the closing of its ninth fund EMZ 9, with a total commitment of €1.043 billion.
• Latour Capital Management on the fundraising of Latour Capital III, for a total amount of more than 1 billion euros.
  
   

Ms. Bruneel is recognized for her expertise by International and French preeminent, peer-reviewed publications.

• Ranked as Leading individual in Tax by Legal 500 EMEA 2021.
• Ranked as Leading in LBO Tax by Décideurs (Leaders League) 2021.

As a successful woman professional, Ms. Bruneel is committed to promoting Women leadership both inside and outside of the firm. As such, she co-leads Goodwin’s Paris Women’s Initiative Committee and has been driving women-oriented mentoring sessions, client initiatives and networking opportunities.

Ms. Bruneel authored or co-authored several articles and publications in her practice areas, such as:

• “La fiscalité des sociétés d’investissements immobiliers cotées,” Paris, EFE, 2006.
• “Lutte contre la sous-capitalisation Objectif et enjeux pratiques,” Décideurs Stratégie Finance Droit n°125.
• “Entretien Capital Investissement" on tax issues that arise from management package, Décideurs Stratégie Finance Droit.