Gerard Mazet, one of the leading Paris based M&A lawyers of the last quarter century, has retired from the partnership of Sullivan & Cromwell.

Mazet (pictured) stepped down as a partner at the US firm this month to become senior counsel. He has been with Sullivan & Cromwell since 2001 after joining from Paris stalwart Jeantet & Associes where he previously served as managing partner.

Although he has been less high-profile in recent years Mazet still has a reputation as one of France’s leading M&A advisers. Headline multi-billion euro mandates include acting for Alcan on its takeover of Pechiney, representing France Telecom on its acquisition of minority shares in Orange and advising Aventis on its hostile bid for Sanofi-Synthelabo.

Sullivan & Cromwell now has four full-time partners based in Paris.