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. 

Marie-Laure also has particular expertise in structuring private equity and real estate investment funds. 

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

Marie-Laure’s recent work includes advising, in the tax aspects:

Private Equity/Corporate transactions

• a consortium of new and existing investors comprised of IK Partners, Keensight Capital, Parquest Capital and GIC in the acquisition of the Unither group, a European pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization.
• 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.
• Equistone:
  • 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.
• Eurazeo in signing an agreement with TowerBrook Capital Partners to become a reference shareholder in EFESO Management Consultants, a leading international pure player consulting group in industrial operations strategy and performance improvement.
• Latour Capital in a majority investment in the holding company of Pharmacie Lafayette (Hygie31), a major player in the health and wellness sector.
• Mablink Bioscience, a biotechnology company that seeks to bring new and better treatment options to cancer patients with unmet needs, in its sale to Lilly & Co.
• The management of IPACKCHEM, a global market leader in the production of high-performance plastic packaging, as they entered into exclusive negotiations for the sale of the group to Greif, a leading supplier of industrial packaging products and services.
• Sofinnova Partners, Intermediate Capital Group as lead investors as well as new investors Tekla and CTI Life Sciences, in the €130 million Series C Financing of Amolyt Pharma, a global company specializing in developing therapeutic peptides for rare endocrine and related diseases.
• 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

• Andera Partners in tax aspects of the fundraising of Andera MidCap 5, for a total amount of €750 million.
• Cerea Partners in tax aspects of the fundraising of Cerea Mezzanine IV, for a total amount of €300 million.
• Jolt Capital in tax aspects of the €100 million extension of Jolt Capital IV, following the reopening of its fourth fund early 2023, to reach €371 million total.
• Mérieux Equity Partners in tax aspects of the final closing of Merieux Participations 4, for a total amount of €570 million.

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

• Ranked as Leading individual in Transactional/Corporate Tax in the last edition of the Legal 500 EMEA guide
• Ranked in Band 4 in Tax in the last edition of the Chambers Europe guide

As a successful woman professional, Marie-Laure 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.