Johanna Gonnord

Senior employment lawyer at an international firm.

Involved in high-stakes cases for groups and scale-ups: social audits and due diligence for fundraising and M&A operations, restructurings, international mobility, and multi-country coordination (up to 20 jurisdictions).

This experience allowed me to develop in-depth expertise in investors' and acquirers' expectations regarding social risks and HR structuring.

Lawyer admitted to the Paris Bar, I have been practicing in my own firm since December 2020, primarily assisting startups, tech companies, executives, and HR managers in the strategic and operational management of their employment law matters.

I handle all issues related to individual and collective relations, with a pragmatic, solution-oriented approach tailored to the constraints of growing companies (speed, recruitment, risk, cash flow, investor stakes).

1) Individual Employment Law (HR Daily & Risks)

Structuring hirings and initial teams, drafting and securing contracts (executives, days-based contracts, sensitive clauses), managing terminations (dismissals, negotiated terminations, settlements), pre-litigation, and labor court litigation.

2) Collective Employment Law & Transformations

Collective relations, social negotiations, support for reorganizations and restructurings, management of sensitive situations, and implementation of compliant, clear, and operational HR processes.

3) Social Audit / Due Diligence (Fundraising & M&A)

Preparing and securing companies before fundraising or acquisition: social audit, risk identification (contracts, working hours, compensation, collective status, Syntec compliance, HR documentation), remediation plan, assistance in communications with investors/acquirers, and coordination with corporate/M&A counsel. Objective: reduce deal risk, accelerate the process, and secure valuation.

Before and concurrently with developing my firm, I practiced in international business law firms (including EY Law and Herbert Smith Freehills) on high-stakes cases, particularly in restructurings, international mobility, and multi-country projects. These experiences now inform an independent practice with a high standard of quality.