Adrien Morisse

Adrien Morisse is an associate at Hughes Hubbard & Reed’s Infrastructure, Technologies, Data Protection and Cybersecurity department. 

Adrien has developed specific sectorial expertise, both in France and the EMEA region, in the following areas:

• Active and passive electronic communication infrastructures (e.g., radio, wireline, fiber optic networks, telecom towers, satellites, HAPS);
• IT contracts (e.g., contracts for electronic communications services, online public communication, hosting and software licensing agreements, New Space contracts, agreements on provision of metaverse platforms, blockchain services, IT project management, IT litigation, forensics and expert appraisals);
• Media (audio-visual media services, satellite broadcasting regulation, satellite launch litigation);
• Privacy & Cybersecurity (e.g., personal data regulatory compliance, data-breach and cyber-crisis management, network and information security, Internet of things, autonomous vehicles).

Adrien assists clients with data protection regulatory compliance for their internal procedures and investigations related to (i) preventing corruption, money laundering and terrorist financing, (ii) whistleblowing, and (iii) ESG.

He assists clients in the TMT, private equity and infrastructure funds sectors, as well as stakeholders in the pharmaceutical, banking/finance, retail, aerospace and transportation industries, and more generally, companies in the industrial and service sectors. Adrien also acts on behalf of international donors, governments and regulatory authorities to (i) implement legal and regulatory frameworks adapted to technological developments, (ii) to obtain relevant licenses, permits and authorizations, (iii) to set up public-private partnership projects, network and service deployments and (iv) resolve disputes between private stakeholders or between these stakeholders and States.

Prior to joining HHR, Adrien worked in the Legal Department at a major B2B telecommunications operator in the United Kingdom, and also as part of the commercial contracts, litigation and arbitration teams at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, White & Case, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe in Paris and as an associate in the TMT departments at the law firms Simmons & Simmons and Dentons Europe AARPI.

EMEA Market

• Advised Pan-African electronic communications operator (i) on license renewal issues, (ii) on the data sovereignty principle, and (iii) on the extraterritorial application of the GDPR.
• Advised the World Bank as part of an in-depth comparative analysis of the electronic communications regulations and personal data protection frameworks in 27 African and Middle East countries.
• Seconded to a Pan-African electronic communications operator: assisted the operator with negotiating its commercial contracts (connectivity, IoT, hosting on telecom towers), managing telecommunications infrastructure projects, and in particular, analyzing applicable regulations, completing legal formalities related to incorporation and licencing of operational companies (building permits, licenses to set up and operate electronic communications infrastructures, visas, authorization to employ foreign nationals, etc.)

Infrastructure and Electronic Communications Services

• Assisted numerous operators as part of transactions involving telecommunication towers, notably in the European Union and French Caribbean regions (acquisitions, divesting and build to suit).
• Assisted Orange with implementing Orange Concessions.
• Regularly advised a hosting service provider on processing requests received from EU judicial and administrative authorities in the framework of preliminary investigations.
• Assisted an electronics communications operator with the acquisition and use of 5G active equipment from a Chinese manufacturer.
• Seconded to a major electronics communication operator: assisted with negotiating commercial contracts (e.g., Cloud, WAN, Business VPN) and contractual disputes.
• Assisted an international supplier with a dispute relating to radio frequencies with the ANFR.
• Regularly advised a satellite broadcasting company in the context of (i) broadcasting suspension decisions adopted by various European broadcasting authorities, and (ii) application of international sanctions against Russia to its activities.

IT Sector

• Assisted an international fund with the acquisition of a high-tech company for an amount of €1.3 billion.
• Represented a US software company during a court-appointed in futurum expert appraisal related to the implementation of an ERP.
• Seconded to a software company specializing in artificial intelligence for managing vehicle insurance claims.
• Advised an EU software company on an audit of its soft and hard copyleft components. 
• Represented a New Space company on a cross border litigation related to delayed launch of microsatellites.

Privacy & Cybersecurity

• Assisted various groups from different sectors (hardware distribution, music labels, mutual insurance companies, etc.), and/or their insurers in managing data breach incident response and cyber crisis management (including notification to the competent authorities, the data subjects, criminal complaints, liability actions).
• Regularly assisted clients with managing personal data during the implementation of compliance plans or investigations when behaviors or facts requiring such internal investigation measures are detected.
• Advised numerous clients during acquisitions by setting up operational due diligence on compliance with applicable regulations on personal data and cybersecurity.
• Assisted a company specialized in innovative therapies on data protection aspects of the acquisition of a French private biobank specializing in cryopreservation.
• Assisted various clients on their use of cookies and conducting operations concerning targeted advertising, in the health, luxury and consumer goods industries.
• Assisted a major French engineering company with cyber bank account fraud.
• Assisted a major car manufacturer with compliance with the future “NIS 2.0” Directive on cybersecurity.
• Advised a stakeholder in the aerospace sector on the evolution and compliance to international data (either personal or not personal) regulations.