Lilja & Co. Opens Paris Office and Appoints Valéry Barrier as Managing Partner

As Managing Partner, Valéry Barrier will further strengthen Lilja & Co.’s European equity capital markets advisory platform, lead the firm’s business in France, the Benelux and neighbouring countries, build the firm’s presence in Paris and form a team that works seamlessly with all other Lilja & Co. offices.

Valéry Barrier said: “France and Benelux offer a highly attractive opportunity for a firm with Lilja & Co.’s focus, culture and level of expertise. Paris is a major financial centre, and many issuers and shareholders across the region are looking for dedicated, deeply experienced, high-conviction advice as they navigate increasingly complex capital markets decisions. Iam excited to build the Paris office, work seamlessly with the Lilja & Co. partners Bob Lilja, Steffi Berlinger, Jochen Hennig and Thomas Schöber as well as other colleagues across the firm to establish Lilja & Co. as a trusted adviser in the region.”

Valéry Barrier brings 29 years of pan-European experience in Corporate Finance Advisory and Equity Capital Markets and previously held senior positions at Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse and Merrill Lynch. The expansion comes at a time when equity capital markets are showing signs of cyclical recovery, notwithstanding macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty.

A core element of Lilja & Co.’s client proposition is its senior team

The firm’s existing Partners have worked together at the firm for 20 years, and every transaction is led by two or more Partners, giving clients the benefit of more than 50 years of dedicated advisory experience at every step of the process.

Robert Lilja, Founding and Managing Partner of Lilja & Co., said: “Opening our Paris office and welcoming Valéry as Managing Partner marks an important milestone in Lilja & Co.’s development. For more than 20 years, we have built the firm around a very clear idea: to provide clients with truly independent, specialist equity capital markets advice on their most defining transactions. The opening of a Paris office, to be led by Valéry, reflects both the strength of that platform and our ambition to continue building on a long-standing track record of trusted advice across Europe.”

Stefanie Berlinger, Managing Partner of Lilja & Co., added: “Our clients come to us when the stakes are high, and they need senior judgment, specialist expertise and advice that is entirely aligned with their interests. That is what differentiates Lilja & Co.: we are focused exclusively on equity capital markets, we are independent and conflict-free, and every mandate benefits from hands-on senior attention. In today’s environment, where timing, positioning and execution matter enormously, that model is more relevant than ever and Valéry’s experience will contribute to our clients’ success across the platform.”

Founded in 2004, Lilja & Co. is an independent advisory firm focused exclusively on strategic private and public equity capital advisory and closely related strategic situations. Lilja & Co. has advised on c. 50 ECM transactions with aggregated proceeds/placement volumes of c. € 100bn in recent years. Lilja & Co.’s advisory model is built around its specialist focus, independent judgment and senior-led execution.

Sophie Stevenard