Member Voices: Marie Frisch

Members Voices

Marie Frisch
New Key Contact Partner
Soulier Bunch (France)
Connect on LinkedIn

Briefly describe your role.

I head the M&A / Corporate Department at Soulier Bunch, where I advise French and international clients on domestic and cross-border M&A transactions and complex group reorganizations. My practice also has a strong focus on corporate governance and shareholder structuring.

I work closely with my clients, their management teams, and shareholders to build long-term relationships rooted in trust. This proximity gives me a clear understanding of their needs, allows me to anticipate key issues, and helps structure their projects beyond purely legal considerations.

I am a firm believer that legal advice must serve strategy. My role is to ensure that every project is not only legally sound but also fully aligned with my clients' broader strategic objectives. 

When advising international clients on complex transactions in France, what is a key strategic consideration you focus on to ensure a successful outcome?

When advising international clients on complex transactions in France, my priority is to fully grasp their underlying objectives and long-term strategy. This ensures that the legal structuring truly supports the overall project, rather than addressing the deal in isolation.

I also pay close attention to the transaction's wider context, including its human and regulatory dimensions. In France, these factors are often decisive in the successful completion of cross-border transactions.

Finally, I place a strong emphasis on assembling a reliable, high-performing team and establishing a seamless working framework. In complex international environments, clear coordination and responsiveness are the keys to ensuring a smooth process and a successful outcome.

As a Key Contact Partner, how do you plan to leverage your expertise in cross-border M&A and reorganizations to support our international partners and their clients?

As a Key Contact Partner, my objective is to provide our international partners within World Law Group, and their clients, with high-quality, reliable support for their matters in France.

I bring a strong understanding of the French business ecosystem, including its regulatory framework and the structuring constraints inherent in complex transactions, and provide practical, hands-on guidance, helping WLG member firms and clients navigate local challenges, connect with the right local professionals if needed, align expectations and keep transactions moving forward smoothly. 

I rely on a strong, experienced team and a high level of responsiveness to ensure that cross-border transactions and reorganizations are managed efficiently, with clear communication and a seamless workflow at every stage of the process. 

As Key Contact Partner, I also actively promote World Law Group within my firm, encouraging my colleagues to engage with it to fully leverage its collective strength. Building strong, personal relationships with fellow members and fostering mutual trust between firms is the key to successful global cooperation.

You hold a professional mediator’s diploma. How does this specialized training in conflict management influence your approach to high-stakes negotiations and complex agreements?

My training in mediation has shaped the way I handle complex negotiations in M&A and corporate matters.

I apply specialized mediation and negotiation techniques to look beyond initial positions, uncover the underlying interests of each party and reframe discussions to foster a more constructive dynamic.

This perspective is particularly valuable in high-stakes transactions, where tensions can arise. In such situations, progress often depends on the ability to align perspectives and, when necessary, restore dialogue. 

I approach every negotiation with a clear deal-maker mindset: my objective is to help parties find workable, strategic and long-term solutions that bridge gaps and ensure the transaction reaches a successful outcome.

To help us get to know you better, what does your perfect day off look like—or is there a particular place that always helps you recharge and stay inspired?

My perfect day off begins with a long French breakfast at the table with my husband and our three children, a cherished ritual where each of us has a book or a newspaper in hand. It’s a quiet moment of connection that I particularly value.

The rest of the day is spent outdoors, staying active and enjoying time together as a family and friends. This blend of calm, family presence, and fresh air is essential to my personal balance; it’s how I fully disconnect, recharge, and find fresh inspiration for the week ahead.