PDGB

What PDGB does

PDGB is a Paris-based business law firm (SELARL) founded in 1985, operating from 174 avenue Victor Hugo in the 16th arrondissement. The firm delivers legal advisory services to corporate clients, social economy organizations (associations, cooperatives, mutuals), and public institutions, spanning approximately 10 practice areas including tax, social/employment law, competition and EU law, corporate/M&A, real estate, IP/technology and data protection, insurance law, energy and environmental law, and restructuring. PDGB does not sell software, technology products, or APIs; its product is professional legal expertise delivered through partner-led engagements with 51-100 professionals.

The firm's business model is traditional professional services billing on a quote-based model tailored to matter complexity and client needs. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Client acquisition is primarily referral- and reputation-driven, supported by sustained presence in Chambers, Décideurs Magazine, Legal 500, Best Lawyers, and Le Point rankings, plus thought-leadership outputs such as newsletters and authored guides (including the Legal 500 Cartels France 2025 guide). Cross-border matters are served through the TerraLex international network of independent law firms rather than through proprietary international offices.

PDGB is privately held, co-managed by Xavier Hugon and Philippe Julien, and independently owned by its partners with no disclosed venture capital, private equity, or institutional investment. Between 2021 and 2024 the firm executed a sustained lateral-hiring campaign, adding partners and counsel in tax (Benoît Dambre, Benoît Descours, Julien Wlodarczyk, Odile Courjon) and creating a new competition/EU law practice (Virginie Coursière-Pluntz). In May 2022 the firm formalized a co-manager governance structure, and in July 2020 it rebranded around a 'Committed to sustainable consulting' positioning with CSR initiatives including bee sponsorship, waste recycling, and an academic partnership with the University of Paris Dauphine Master 2 in Law and CSR.

Name

PDGB

Legal name

PDGB SELARL

Website

https://pdgb.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

PDGB is a Paris-based business law firm founded in 1985 serving corporate clients, social economy organizations, and public institutions. It delivers multi-disciplinary legal expertise across tax, employment, competition, corporate/M&A, real estate, IP, insurance, and energy law through 51-100 professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Advisory Services: Traditional law firm billing model based on professional legal services rendered to corporate clients, associations, and public entities across multiple practice areas including tax, employment, competition, corporate, real estate, and IP law.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PDGB is a French business law firm providing multi-disciplinary legal advisory services to corporations, associations, and public entities across approximately ten practice areas including tax law, social/employment law, competition and EU law, corporate M&A and private equity, real estate, litigation, IP/technology and data protection, insurance law, energy and environmental law, and the social and solidarity economy. Services are delivered on a partner-led, quote-based engagement model with cross-border reach through the TerraLex international network.

Product overview

PDGB is a French law firm (SELARL) providing legal advisory services across multiple practice areas including taxation, social law, competition law, M&A/private equity, real estate, litigation, IP/tech/data protection, insurance law, energy law, and social and solidarity economy. The firm does not offer software products or technology platforms; it is a professional services firm delivering legal consulting services to corporate clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tax Law Advisory

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• TerraLexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerraLex is an international network of independent law firms providing cross-border legal services. PDGB participates as a member firm, enabling the firm to refer international matters and provide coordinated legal services across multiple jurisdictions through trusted partner firms worldwide.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bredin Prat: Bredin Prat is a top-tier Paris business law firm renowned for M&A, litigation, and competition work. It is a direct rival of PDGB for premium French corporate mandates and shares many of the same directory rankings (Chambers, Legal 500) in competition and corporate law.
• Gide Loyrette Nouel: Gide is one of the largest Paris-headquartered full-service business law firms with deep M&A, finance, and dispute resolution practices. It competes with PDGB for the same French corporate and international clients but at meaningfully greater scale and global footprint.
• Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier: Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier is an elite Paris M&A and corporate law firm that competes for high-end French transactional mandates. It is comparable to PDGB in geography and client focus but operates at a higher-end market positioning.
• Willkie Farr & Gallagher (Paris): Willkie's Paris office provides M&A, corporate, finance, and competition advice to French and international clients. It is comparable to PDGB in practice areas but competes from a global platform and at the larger end of the Paris market.
• Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton (Paris): Cleary Gottlieb's Paris office is a leading international firm with premier M&A, antitrust, and corporate practices. It competes with PDGB for high-end French and cross-border mandates but operates at substantially greater scale and global brand.

Direct peers

• Reinhart Marville Torre: Reinhart Marville Torre is a Paris mid-size business law firm with strong employment, restructuring, and corporate practices. It is directly comparable to PDGB in scale and practice mix and is a fellow mid-size French independent competitor.
• FTPA: FTPA is a Paris-based mid-size law firm covering tax, corporate, employment, and IP for French and international clients. Its size, location, and multi-disciplinary model make it a close comparable to PDGB.
• Jeantet: Jeantet is a Paris-rooted business law firm of similar scale, with practices in corporate, tax, employment, IP, and dispute resolution. It competes with PDGB for French corporate mandates and is recognized in the same Chambers and Décideurs rankings.
• August Debouzy: August Debouzy is a Paris business law firm of broadly comparable size and multi-disciplinary structure, covering M&A, employment, IP/Tech, competition, and public law. It is one of the closest like-for-like rivals to PDGB in the French mid-size independent segment.
• Hoche Société d'Avocats: Hoche is a Paris-based mid-size business law firm offering M&A, tax, employment, and competition practices. It is closely comparable to PDGB in headcount range, practice mix, and target client profile of French corporates and SMEs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pdgb
• Xx.com/pdgb_avocats
• Facebookfacebook.com/PDGB-Avocats-1640311476217012

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PDGB