ValérieDemont

PartnerCo-Chair, French Desk
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Valerie Demont

Overview

Valérie Demont advises international companies and private equity funds on cross-border mergers and acquisitions and U.S. market entry. She counsels publicly traded conglomerates, family-owned enterprises and private companies expanding from Europe and South Asia into the United States through acquisitions or organic growth. Valérie is co-leader of the firm’s South Asia team.

Long-term relationships built on trust, cultural fluency and commercial pragmatism define Valérie’s practice. Clients have turned to her to guide them from their first U.S. investment through successive stages of expansion. Known for a collaborative style and strategic insight, Valérie helps clients navigate cultural differences, manage risk and achieve business goals efficiently. Many clients rely on her as outside general counsel, coordinating day-to-day U.S. legal matters and connecting them with trusted resources across disciplines and industries.

Valérie’s cross-border practice draws on a deep understanding of global business environments and a practical grasp of how business strategies and operations from different locales translate to the U.S. market—or not. Uncommonly conversant in the business cultures of Europe and India, she bridges perspectives to deliver commercially-savvy, real-world solutions.

Fluent in French, Valérie serves as co-chair of Sheppard’s French Desk and leads multilingual, multicultural groups serving clients across France, Switzerland, Belgium, Canada, India and emerging markets. A frequent speaker and contributor on cross-border trade, she is recognized for her facility in working across borders and languages—for clients in a wide variety of industries—to make complex transactions work.

Experience

Ms. Demont has represented:

  • a leading private equity healthcare specialist fund in its acquisition of a pioneer in infectious disease clinical guidance and antimicrobial stewardship based on machine learning and generative artificial intelligence (gen AI)
  • a UK-based leading supplier of SaaS platforms across discovery, study management, regulatory submission and clinical trial analysis in its acquisition of an advanced and cloud-based SaaS preclinical study management platform
  • a world leader in energy solutions in its acquisition of a national provider of industrial and process automation solutions
  • a European global player in the field of custom orthopedic prosthetics with multiple acquisitions of orthotics and prosthetics providers in the United States
  • a leading private equity healthcare specialist fund in its acquisition of a fast-growing player in cutting edge DNA and RNA gene sequencing
  • a world leader in construction in its acquisition of a family-owned specialist in road works and small-scale civil engineering projects
  • a UK-based leading global insurance software provider in its acquisition of a leading digital client engagement platform
  • a world leader in the design, construction and maintenance of energy-efficient, networked infrastructure in its acquisition of a telecommunications infrastructure company
  • a US publicly-traded leader in data analytics and digital operations and solutions company in its acquisition of a data management solutions firm working with large banks, financial services and healthcare companies
  • a leading international, independent next-gen management and AI consulting firm in its acquisition of a full-service digital agency integrating data, design, and media with conceptual and emotional storytelling
  • an NYSE listed global creative platform in its acquisition of an internet software and services company
  • a French consulting services company with several acquisitions of consulting firms in the United States
  • a French investment company in its acquisition of hospitality-focused architecture firms based in California 
  • Europe's leading multichannel fulfillment provider in its acquisition of a provider of direct-to-consumer and order fulfillment services in the United States
  • a NASDAQ-listed BPO and data analytics company with its acquisition of a global technology + consulting and services leader 
  • a French manufacturer of expert solutions for low voltage power and energy performance in its acquisition of a manufacturer of bolted pressure contact switches and of a manufacturer of power transformers
  • a NASDAQ-listed insurance technology company in its sale to a private equity fund
  • a French private equity fund in its acquisition of three bioanalytical laboratory companies and businesses
  • a NASDAQ-listed BPO and data analytics company in its acquisition of a healthcare data analytics company
  • a NASDAQ-listed insurance technology company in its acquisition of a publicly-traded policy administration software company
  • a US insurance technology company in its acquisition of an InsurTech product company
  • an NYSE-listed global creative platform in its acquisition of an industry leader in the creation, optimization, publishing and monetization of 3D models resulting in the creation of the world's largest 3D marketplace
  • a French publicly-traded energy group in its acquisition of an energy distribution business in the U.S.
  • a U.S. publicly-traded IT services company in its sale to a French publicly-traded IT services company
  • a French bank with the $500 million sale of its equity interests in a U.S. publicly traded company
  • a private equity fund with an acquisition and a separate joint venture in the trucking and transportation logistics company
  • a private equity fund with its acquisition of a cutting tool business in Canada and the U.S.
  • a private equity fund in connection with multiple acquisitions in the fastener industry
  • a private equity fund with its acquisition of a leading home fashion supplier
  • an Indian IT services company with its acquisition of a cloud-based consulting business
  • the owners of schools focused on special education needs with the sale of the business to a private equity fund
  • an Indian publicly traded IT company with several U.S. acquisitions of IT services providers for the insurance industry
  • a U.S. publicly traded India-based BPO company with several U.S. acquisitions of IT services providers
  • a leading global provider of business information solutions to law firms, corporations and governments with its acquisition of a leading Indian publisher
  • a French publicly-traded group In an acquisition of a U.S. technology engineering firm with India operations
  • a French publicly-traded group in an acquisition of a U.S. integration firm
  • a French software company in an acquisition of a Canadian software company with U.S. operations
  • a French medical imaging software company in connection with the establishment of its U.S. operations
  • a French medical equipment rental company in connection with the establishment of its U.S. operations
  • a French technology company with its sale to a French publicly traded media and technology company
Credentials
Education

LL.M., Columbia Law School, 1995

LL.M., University of Paris II - Pantheon-Assas, 1994

LL.B., University of Rennes, 1991

Admissions

New York

Honors

Top 100 India-focused Global Lawyers, India Business Law Journal, 2019-2022

Memberships

Girls Who Invest: Ms. Demont is outside pro bono counsel of Girls Who Invest, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building the pipeline of women in asset management and executive leadership in the asset management industry.

The French Insider: Ms. Demont is a leader of The French Insider, the firm's monthly podcast for leaders doing business in the United States and Europe.

Liz Pantry: Ms. Demont is a member of the Executive Leadership Team of Liz Pantry, a food pantry on Manhattan’s upper east side.

Sing for Hope: Ms. Demont is the former outside pro bono counsel, former member of the board of directors and former chair of the finance committee of Sing for Hope, a nonprofit organization that mobilizes professional artists in volunteer service programs for schools, hospitals and communities.

New York City Bar: Ms. Demont is the former chair of the subcommittee on Best Practices for Women Attorneys of the New York City Bar and is the co-author of the New York City Bar’s report on “Best Practices for the Hiring, Training, Retention and Advancement of Women Attorneys” issued in February 2006.

Columbia University School of Law: Ms. Demont is a former adjunct professor at Columbia University School of Law where she taught a seminar on cross-border transactions focused on doing business in India.