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In this episode of French Insider, Greg Berk, a partner at Sheppard Mullin, joins host Inès Briand to discuss immigration and business travel to the United States, including the particulars of the ESTA visa waiver program, obtaining an O-1 visa, H-1B visa, or green card, and what travelers can expect from the CPB upon entry.
 
What We Discussed in This Episode:
What is an ESTA visa waiver?
How long can you stay in the U.S. on an ESTA waiver?
How soon can someone come back to the U.S. with an ESTA waiver?
Who needs a work visa, and what types of work visas are available?
How specialized must an individual be to qualify for a special talent (0-1) visa?
What is an H-1B visa?
When should French entities start planning to send individuals to the U.S.?
When does someone need a green card? How do they obtain one?
Are there tax implications when obtaining a green card?
Can a green card be relinquished if the holder leaves the U.S.?
Why does the CPB occasionally check social media accounts?
Can the CPB deny a visa holder entry?
Why might someone be called in for a secondary inspection? How should they deal with this?
How can travel to Cuba or another restricted country impact an ESTA? Would it affect other types of visas?
 
About Greg Berk
Greg Berk, a partner in Sheppard Mullin’s Labor and Employment Practice Group, is based in Orange County, California. He heads the firm’s immigration practice and is a Certified Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. 
With more than 25 years of experience advising on various U.S. immigration issues, Greg is a trusted resource for global employers seeking guidance on recruiting and retaining foreign executives and top talent for their U.S. operations. He also works with investors on E-2, L-1, and EB-5 matters as well as I-9 and other immigration compliance matters. He is the author of "Immigration Checklists and Practice Pointers – A Desk Reference," a book published by the American Bar Association for General Counsel and HR managers.
 
About Inès Briand 
Inès Briand is an associate in Sheppard Mullin’s Corporate Practice Group and French Desk Team in the firm’s Brussels office, where her practice primarily focuses on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisition transactions (with special emphasis on operations involving French companies). She also has significant experience in general corporate matters and compliance for foreign companies settled in the United States.
As a member of the firm’s French Desk, Inès has advised companies and private equity funds in both the United States and Europe on mergers, acquisitions, commercial contracts and general corporate matters, including expansion of French companies in the United States.
 
Contact Information
Inès Briand 
Greg Berk
 
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On this episode of French Insider, Erik Sloan, Chief Revenue Officer of Cboe Canada and the Global Head of Company Listings for Cboe Global Markets, joins host Andrew Bond to explore how Cboe operates a global network of securities and derivatives exchanges that help companies efficiently navigate global capital markets, including the factors that set the Cboe exchanges apart from other exchanges and the types of companies well-suited to list their securities on one or more of the exchanges in the Cboe network. 
 
What We Discussed In This Episode:
What led you to Cboe Global Markets?
What markets is Cboe in? Where might the exchange expand?
What differentiates Cboe from country-based exchanges like Nasdaq or the NYSE?
What value would Cboe bring to a French company considering public listings in both Europe and the United States?
What types of companies do you feel are a good fit for the Cboe marketplace?
How does the Cboe help companies navigate regulatory hurdles in various jurisdictions?
After a French company is listed on Cboe in the United States, what is the procedure for expanding its listing to another foreign market?
What would you consider Cboe’s greatest successes so far?
What have been Cboe’s biggest challenges?
What is your best advice for either a private company seeking to go public on Cboe exchange or a publicly traded company considering a move from another exchange?
 
About Erik Sloane
Erik Sloane has been with Cboe Canada since its inception and helped define and implement its foundational stock exchange and fund distribution platforms. He’s since held several senior roles, including Head of Funds & Trading and Head of Product Management. As Chief Revenue Officer, he is currently responsible for driving growth by working closely with capital-raising companies, asset managers, sell-side firms, buy-side firms and other industry stakeholders.
Erik launched his career at a global business and technology consultancy firm. Prior to joining Cboe Canada, he led project management at the Alpha Exchange, where he previously oversaw delivery of its core technology platform. He’s also chaired several industry advisory groups instrumental in shaping Cboe Canada's strategy and currently serves on the Operations Committee of the Canadian ETF Association (CETFA). 
 
About Andrew Bond
A partner in the Corporate Practice Group in Sheppard Mullin’s Century City office, Andrew Bond has a broad-based securities practice. In addition to assisting clients with cross-border mergers and acquisitions and capital market transactions, he counsels Canadian clients on listing requirements for the NYSE, NASDAQ, and platforms operated by the OTC Markets Group. Andrew previously practiced in Canada, where he advised both U.S. and Canadian issuers on registered securities offerings, private placements, and Securities Exchange Act compliance.
 
Contact Information
Erik Sloane 
Andrew Bond
 
Additional Resources
Cboe Canada
 
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This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

This episode is a replay of Episode 23 which originally aired on June 30, 2023. It was recorded in French.
In this episode of the French Insider, Didier Choix, Founder and Managing Partner, and Jean-Damien Perrier, Partner of the DDA & Company group, a Franco-American investment bank specializing in mergers and acquisitions in France and the United States, join Valérie Demont, Partner at Sheppard Mullin, to discuss M&A transactions between France and the United States, including how to choose the right target, the differences between French and American deals, and how to best prepare to conquer the American market.

 
What We Discussed in this Episode
How can one best prepare to acquire a company in the United States?
Screening
Definition of objectives
Proficiency in English
How to find a United States target? 
What are the challenges faced?
Is networking working?
The approach of the American leader 
What are the major differences between a deal in the United States and a deal in France?
Limited access to information
Valuation
Funding
Working Capital v. lock box
Vendor due diligence
GAAP accounting v. IFRS
Lack of audit of financial statements
Salaries of officers and employees in the United States
What are the common mistakes of French companies in their first acquisitions in the United States?
“Bridging the gap”: how can French companies put together a competitive offer compared to American buyers (auction process, etc.)?
Timeline of an acquisition
Main advice for an entrepreneur looking to acquire a target in the United States



Contact Information
Inès Briand 
Karl Buhler 
Didier Choix - Founder and President - DDA & Company, LLC | LinkedIn
Jean-Damien Perrier - New York, New York, United States | Professional Profile | LinkedIn
Valérie Demont | Sheppard Mullin
DDA & Company, spécialiste conseil en corporate finance (ddacompany.com)
France Attorneys | Sheppard Mullin
 
Additional Resources
French Insider Episode 23: M&A in the US: How French Businesses Can Find a Target & Seal the Deal | Sheppard Mullin
 
Thank you for listening! Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every week.
If you enjoyed this episode, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show in Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Amazon Music, Stitcher, or Spotify. It helps other listeners find this show.
This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

In this episode of French Insider, Victoire Lester, CEO of Coucou, joins host Sarah Ben-Moussa to discuss the experience of building a company in the United States from the ground up, including Coucou’s approach to hiring and training native-speaking French language instructors, its strategy for attracting American customers, and their experience recruiting and managing a mixed-nationality workforce.
 
What We Discussed in this Episode
Can you tell us a bit about your background?
How did you become involved with Coucou?
What was behind the founding of Coucou? Where did the idea come from?
How does Coucou go about hiring and training instructors?
How does Coucou’s approach to hiring impact the learning experience?
What was it like coming to the U.S. and building a company from the ground up?
What motivated Coucou to expand its offerings?
What was Coucou’s experience during COVID? Where did the company come out on the other side?
Can you tell us a bit about the streaming platform being developed by a Coucou founder?
What was Coucou’s strategy for attracting U.S. customers?
Can you speak to the experience of recruiting and managing a mixed-nationality workforce of French and American people?
What were some resources Coucou utilized during the last 10 years of growth?
Would you recommend companies retain a public relations agency?
What’s one piece of advice you’d offer a French entrepreneur seeking to launch a company in the U.S.?
 
About Victoire Lester
Victoire Lester is CEO of Coucou, a New York City and Los Angeles-based language school offering culturally savvy, native-taught French classes, in person or online. A Paris native, she joined Coucous as a part-time French instructor in 2016 and was promoted to director of operations just three years later. As CEO, Victoire handles marketing, product development, and operations. She was also responsible for Coucou’s successful transition to an online program in 2020, which has been instrumental in the company’s growth.
When she’s not helping Coucou grow, Victoire enjoys spending time with her family, practicing yoga, and indulging in her love of wine, cheese, and oysters.
 
About Sarah F. Ben-Moussa
Sarah F. Ben-Moussa is an associate in the Corporate Practice Group in Sheppard Mullin’s New York office, where her practice focuses on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, financings and corporate governance matters. As a member of the firm’s French Desk, she has advised companies and private equity funds in both the United States and Europe on mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, financings, complex commercial agreements, and general corporate matters.
As a member of Sheppard Mullin’s Energy, Infrastructure and Project Finance team, Sarah also represents renewable energy companies, borrowers, financial sponsors, portfolio companies, commercial banks and other financial institutions in a variety of financing transactions. Her practice focuses on a variety of transactions in the energy sphere, representing renewable energy companies in project-level debt and equity financings of wind and solar facilities. 
Before joining Sheppard Mullin, Sarah spent a year and a half studying and working in France,  focusing on corporate transactions and commercial contracts in Europe and internationally. Sarah is also committed to pro bono work, focusing on cases involving children seeking asylum or other immigration-related relief.
 
Contact Information 
Victoire Lester
Sarah F. Ben-Moussa 
 
Additional Resources
Coucou
Coucou on TikTok
Coucou on Instagram
Coucou on Facebook
Coucou on YouTube
 
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This episode is a replay of Episode 11 which originally aired on March 2, 2022.  It was recorded in French.
What are the best strategies for setting up a business in the United States? Valère Horath, vice president of global sales and co-founder of Quipment SAS, has direct experience with this question. In this episode, he discusses his personal experience with the decision of developing in the US, the strategy for coming to the US, and the challenges of starting and growing a business in the US. He also explains some of the differences between running a business in France and the United States, including the importance of contracts in relationships with customers.
 
What We Discussed in This Episode:
About Valère Horath and Quipment;
The decision to set up in the United States;
The strategy for starting a business in the United States;
The main differences between American and non-American clients;
How to be successful in the U.S. market.
 
About Valère Horath
 Valère Horath is the vice president of global sales and co-founder of Quipment SAS. Quipment is a company specializing in the provision of medical and laboratory equipment. The equipment and supplies provided by Quipment make it possible to measure the effectiveness and side effects of drugs before they are put on the market. Quipment's customers are mainly pharmaceutical companies, Biotechs and CROs that must carry out very rigorous clinical trials in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of drugs. For this, they need to equip doctors with calibrated equipment, the reliability of which is indisputable. In addition, these studies are international: Quipment therefore has equipment in all continents and in >60,000 hospitals globally. It has warehouses in France, USA and Japan. To date, the company is in the 100-500 employee range.
 
Contact Information:
Valère Horath
 
Thank you for listening! Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every week.
If you enjoyed this episode, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show in Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Amazon Music, Stitcher, or Spotify. It helps other listeners find this show.
This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.
 

In this episode of French Insider, Jim Gatto, a partner in Sheppard Mullin’s Washington D.C. office and co-chair of its AI team, joins host Sarah Ben-Moussa to discuss what companies should know as they embrace generative AI, including key legal issues, the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act, and unique due diligence concerns when acquiring or investing in companies that develop or use generative AI.
 
What We Discussed in This Episode:
What is generative AI, and why has it become so newsworthy?
What are the key legal issues raised by AI?
Who is liable if the output produced by generative AI infringes?
Can you provide a broad overview of the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act? 
How does the EU compare to the current landscape in the U.S.?
Is it legal for companies to use your output to train their own AI models?
What unique issues should be considered when conducting diligence for acquisitions or investments in companies using or developing generative AI?
What are some of the most important things companies should do to minimize the risk when using AI?
 
About James G. Gatto
James G. Gatto is a partner in the Intellectual Property Practice Group in Sheppard Mullin’s Washington, D.C. office, where he also serves as Co-Leader of the firm’s Artificial Intelligence Team and Leader of the Open Source Team.
Jim’s practice focuses on AI, blockchain, interactive entertainment and open source. He provides strategic advice on all aspects of intellectual property strategy and enforcement, technology transactions, licenses and tech-related regulatory issues, especially ones driven by new business models and/or disruptive technologies. 
Jim has over 20 years of experience advising clients on AI issues and is an adjunct professor who teaches a course on Artificial Intelligence Legal Issues. He is considered a thought leader on legal issues associated with emerging technologies and business models, most recently blockchain, AI, open source and interactive entertainment. 

 
About Sarah F. Ben-Moussa
Sarah F. Ben-Moussa is an associate in the Corporate Practice Group in Sheppard Mullin’s New York office, where her practice focuses on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, financings and corporate governance matters. As a member of the firm’s French Desk, she has advised companies and private equity funds in both the United States and Europe on mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, financings, complex commercial agreements, and general corporate matters.
 As a member of Sheppard Mullin’s Energy, Infrastructure and Project Finance team, Sarah also represents renewable energy companies, borrowers, financial sponsors, portfolio companies, commercial banks and other financial institutions in a variety of financing transactions. Her practice focuses on a variety of transactions in the energy sphere, representing renewable energy companies in project-level debt and equity financings of wind and solar facilities. 
Before joining Sheppard Mullin, Sarah spent a year and a half studying and working in France,  focusing on corporate transactions and commercial contracts in Europe and internationally. Sarah is also committed to pro bono work, focusing on cases involving children seeking asylum or other immigration-related relief.
 
Contact Information:
James G. Gatto
Sarah F. Ben-Moussa
 
Additional Resources:
Copyright Office Artificial Intelligence Initiative and Resource Guide | Law of The Ledger
Training AI Models - Just Because It’s Your Data Doesn’t Mean You Can Use It | Law of The Ledger
Solving Open Source Problems with AI Code Generators – Legal Issues and Solutions | Law of The Ledger
Congress Proposes National Commission to Create AI Guardrails | Law of The Ledger
Sheppard Mullin French Desk Blog
Sheppard Mullin Launches Artificial Intelligence Industry Team | Sheppard Mullin
 
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