Cécile Gaubert joins De Gaulle Fleurance

Cécile Gaubert has officially joined De Gaulle Fleurance as a partner, bringing with her extensive experience in the space sector. With a robust background that includes 15 years as Head of Contracts and Claims in the Aviation & Space practice at Marsh, she has developed a deep understanding of the industry's intricacies. Following her transition into law, Gaubert founded a firm focused on space, and was General Counsel and a member of the Executive Committee at the space start-up Exotrail in 2022.

At De Gaulle Fleurance, Gaubert's role is set to strengthen the legal support provided to private players in the space sector, where she will cover regulatory and contractual matters, as well as cybersecurity, data protection, and intellectual property concerns. Additionally, she will advise public entities on drafting space legislation and contribute to the evolution of international space law, with a particular emphasis on developments within Africa.

In her commitment to the sector, Gaubert actively participates in various professional organisations, holding positions such as president of the space commission of the SFDAS (French Society of Air and Space Law) and member of both the IISL (International Institute of Space Law) and the ECSL (European Centre of Space Law). Furthermore, she is involved with the executive committee of the IDEST (Institute of Space and Telecommunications Law). Educationally, she possesses a DESS in Business and European Union Law from the Jean Monnet Faculty (Paris XI – France), complemented by a certificate in space law from the European Center for Space Law.

With a strong desire to impart her knowledge, Gaubert also teaches space law. “The space sector is booming, whether in Europe—where European space regulations are currently being drafted—or in Africa, which is beginning to develop this market,” she stated. Her insights reflect a dynamic landscape where investments are increasingly directed towards promising projects featuring small launch vehicles and satellite constellations. Gaubert highlighted that another notable trend is the acceleration of market consolidation as players aim to achieve critical mass for profitable investments, while governments hope to support national champions in this strategically important sector.

Jean-Baptiste Santelli, a member of the executive committee at De Gaulle Fleurance, expressed enthusiasm for Gaubert's appointment by stating, “We are delighted to welcome Cécile Gaubert to De Gaulle Fleurance. For several years now, we have been convinced that the space sector is a sector of the future that requires a comprehensive approach mobilizing all the legal expertise we already offer our clients." He added that the firm is committed to intensifying its services to the space sector due to Gaubert's arrival.

Cécile Gaubert will be contributing further to the discourse within the space community by participating in the Aerospace Valley Forum in Biarritz on June 4 and 5, solidifying her influential role in the evolving landscape of space law and policy.