"Leonardo, Thales, and Airbus Join Forces to Establish European Space Sector Leader"

Global law firm Freshfields assisted Leonardo in the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Thales and Airbus for the creation of a European leader in the space sector. The memorandum aims to unite Leonardo, Airbus, and Thales to enhance Europe’s strategic autonomy in the space sector, which is vital for critical infrastructure and services such as telecommunications, global navigation, Earth observation, scientific research, exploration, and national security. The new company will be jointly owned by Airbus (35%), Leonardo (32.5%), and Thales (32.5%), operating under joint control with balanced governance among shareholders. It is expected to employ approximately 25,000 people across Europe and generate an estimated annual revenue of around €6.5 billion (pro forma, end of 2024), with an order backlog equivalent to more than three years of expected revenues. The Freshfields team involved in this transaction included: **Italian and French Offices:** - Nicola Asti (Partner, Corporate and M&A) - Guillemette Burgala (Partner, Corporate and M&A) - Arnaud Mouton (Counsel, Corporate and M&A) - Giulio Politi (Senior Associate, Corporate and M&A) - Elena Martegiani (Associate, Corporate and M&A) - Sarah Emile (Associate, Corporate and M&A) - Ludovico Goglino (Associate, Corporate and M&A) - Edoardo Pesenti (Trainee, Corporate and M&A) - Matteo Piccione (Trainee, Corporate and M&A) **Antitrust and FDI:** - Gian Luca Zampa (Partner) - Giorgio Candeloro (Counsel) - Samuel Scandola (Associate) - Francesco Tognato (Associate) **Tax Structuring:** - Vicent Daniel Mayeur (Partner) - Julia Videau (Senior Associate) **Labor Law:** - Luca Capone (Partner) - Gwen Senlanne (Partner) - Mara Ruberto (Senior Associate) - Célia Kirren (Senior Associate) - Vincenzo Finocchiaro (Associate) **Finance:** - Francesco Lombardo (Partner) - Andrea Giaretta (Senior Associate) - Francesca Misciasci (Senior Associate) **Litigation:** - Federico Mercuri (Partner) - Umberto Parmigiani (Senior Associate) - Maddalena Iovinella (Senior Associate) **Administrative Law:** - Nico Moravia (Counsel) - Stefania Guarino (Senior Associate) **German Office:** - Barbara Keil (Partner) - Thomas Granetzny (Partner) - Verena Nosch (Partner) - Matin Rehberg (Counsel) - Manuel Jaeger (Principal Associate) - Philipp Schneider (Associate) - Giulia Zöller (Associate) - Samuel Schulze (Associate) **UK Office:** - Richard Lister (Partner) - Alon Gordon (Partner) - Toby Halford (Senior Associate) - Emmanuel Bandoh (Associate) - Francesca Teng (Associate) - Magdalen Christie (Associate) - Danial Zulfiqar (Trainee Associate) **Spanish Office:** - David Franco (Partner) - Raquel Florez (Partner) - Carla Gomez (Counsel) - Sara Moukayed (Associate) **Belgian Office:** - Vincent Macq (Partner) - Julien Creytens (Associate) - Guillaume Nelis (Associate)

"Leonardo, Thales, and Airbus Join Forces to Establish European Space Sector Leader"

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