September 22, 2005

ARSENE has recruited two partners and 6 tax professionals: Alain Recoules for the VAT/Customs/Financial Services practice and François Lugand for the Real Estate department.

Alain Recoules is leaving Landwell, PWC’s correspondent law firm in France, to join Arsene along with Cécile Natali, David Hirsch, Patrice Corbin and Marc Brocardi.
Born in 1964, Alain Recoules joined Arthur Andersen International in 1989 after receiving a DESS (post-graduate degree) in company tax management. After working for several years in the Financial Services practice, in 1998, he became the partner in charge of the VAT/Customs practice that he created at Andersen Legal. While at Andersen Legal, he helped to build a team specializing in the tax audit of computerized accounting systems.

In addition to his expertise with regard to VAT and International Trade regulations, Alain Recoules has acquired special expertise, in both France and Europe, of the retail and leisure sectors and with regard to computer services companies, together with solid knowledge of the banking and fund management company sector.

In 2002, he added his expertise to the Landwell VAT/Customs practice of which he was the joint head; he was also actively involved in developing the Financial Services practice at Landwell.

Marc Brocardi, a lawyer specialized in customs and an experienced former manager at Landwell will also be bringing his recognized expertise to the VAT/Customs practice, particularly in relation to customs litigation. For several years he has assisted major French and foreign corporations in dealing with complex customs issues and will thus permit the firm to offer a combined VAT/customs approach.

François Lugand is leaving Taj (formerly the tax and legal arm of Deloitte & Touche) and is joining Arsene with Franck Llinas and Stéphanie Hamis. The 36-year old lawyer, with a Magistère de Juriste d'affaires (Paris II Assas) degree, a DESS (post-graduate degree) in Business Law and Taxation (Paris II Assas) and another DESS (post-graduate degree) in company taxation (Dauphine), François Lugand began his career in 1992 with Monassier & Associés. In 1994, he joined Arthur Andersen International followed by Clifford Chance in 1997. In 2001, he was admitted to practice as a notary and joined the Monassier Patrimoine & Entreprise group network, while continuing to act as a real estate tax consultant for Andersen Legal. In July 2002, he joined the tax and legal arm of Deloitte & Touche.

At Arsene, his main role involves setting up and developing the firm's real estate practice.