PARIS - WB Legal and Legal Netlink Alliance are happy to announce that, as of end-January, the alliance’s Paris partner firm is WB Legal, founded by Serge Wilinski and Philippe Berteaux.

WB Legal was created last year in France when these two very experienced lawyers, each with 20+ years of hands-on legal practice, have joined forces to build an independent law firm with an international outlook. Top practice areas covered by the currently seven-strong team of WB Legal are: corporate law, mergers and acquisitions; private equity; employment law, insolvency and restructuring; litigation, arbitration and mediation; financing; tax applied to corporations and individuals; commercial law (contracts, intellectual property); real estate transactions and their financing.

"Receiving WB Legal among our members was a natural consequence of Serge Wilinski's years of dedication to the network and of the energy he so generously contributes everyday to development of Legal Netlink Alliance. I am delighted we'll continue our teamwork to the benefit of our clients and our members equally", said Mihai Voicu, LNA Europe Board President, during the general meeting in Rome when the new membership was approved.

More on WB Legal founders

Berteaux: Philippe is a graduate of the University Panthéon Assas Paris II. Avocat since 1993, Philippe started out his career at Borloo & Associés, a prominent law firm in restructuring and insolvency practices. Later in 1999, he joined Lantourne & Associés as a senior associate of the restructuring department. In 2007, Philippe created his own boutique assisting mid-cap companies in insolvency and restructuring matters. In 2012, Philippe joined Marvell Avocats as the partner in charge of the restructuring department. In 2022, he founded WB Legal together with Serge Wilinski. 

Philippe advises French and international clients on restructuring and insolvency law but also on complex business litigation and corporate matters. His solid knowledge of accounting and financial issues as well of the law courts is appreciated by clients when dealing with restructuring or corporate matters as well as business disputes. 

Philippe has been listed as a top practitioner in his fields of competence in the French edition of “Leaders league” since 2009 without interruption. Since 2010, he has been a member of the association “ARE”, a union of practitioners specializing in restructuring matters.

Wilinski: For many attorneys in LNA, Serge Wilinski needs no introduction - he has been part of the alliance for 23 years now and a member of the Europe Board in the past seven years, leading our expansion efforts. Throughout those years, Serge has cooperated directly with almost all LNA member firms.

“Just as we speak, for instance, we are deep into some corporate and tax aspects in France for a big Icelandic fisheries group that was referred to us six years ago by our friends from Landslog”, says Serge Wilinski, providing on the spot one of the tens of examples of trans-border legal projects carried out with other LNA member firms.

Wilinski graduated from the Université Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne in international business law. Attorney since 1991, Serge started out his career in renowned international firms: first Theodore Goddard, he then joined Ashurst in 1995. Later in 1997, he started his own practice and was one of the founding partners of the firm Wilinski Scotto et Associés later known as WSA. In October 2011, Serge became one of the founding partners at Marvell which he left in 2022. 

After having practiced in the field of company law, Serge advises his clients on employment law. This dual expertise gives him a particular insight, which is greatly appreciated when dealing with complex company reorganization involving several legal specialties.

“Knowing Serge Wilinski since many years both through close cooperation on case work for joint clients, as well as extensive collaboration while serving on the Board of Directors of LNA Europe, we are delighted to welcome WB Legal into the fold of our organization and look very much forward to continue working with him and his partner Philippe Berteaux as an excellent lawyer, a trusted colleague, and a personal friend.” - said Albrecht Prestel, LNA Europe Board Vice-President.