Gaëlle MERLIER

Partner

Gaëlle MERLIER

Practice areas

Life sciences
Assistant
Valérie SKARJINSKY

Gaëlle MERLIER is co-head of the Life Sciences Department.

Gaëlle’s expertise spans advisory work on regulatory and contractual matters as well as the management of complex, serial litigation in commercial matters and health product liability. She also assists her clients during criminal investigations and in their dealings with the health authorities (particularly in the context of ANSM, DGCCRF, DDPP inspections, etc.). Furthermore, Gaëlle advises her clients on mergers-acquisitions and investments in the health sector (pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, clinical laboratories and other regulated health professions). Finally, she contributes to the launch of compliance programmes (anti-gift legislation, Sapin 2 Act, lobbying, etc.).

Gaëlle MERLIER graduated from Paris 1 – Panthéon Sorbonne University, where she gained a postgraduate qualification in European Law then a Master of Laws in Health and Food Safety.

After taking the oath in 2009, she first joined the law firm Hogan Lovells then the Paris office of Clifford Chance in 2011, where she was Counsel for Healthcare & Life Sciences, before moving to DELSOL Avocats in January 2022.

Gaëlle MERLIER has been designated as a « Next Generation Partner » in Healthcare & life sciences by Legal 500 in 2023 as well as « Rising star » several times.
Since 2024, she has been designated « Up and Coming » lawyer in Pharma/Life Sciences : Regulatory category by Chambers and Partners.
She has been recognized by Best Lawyers since 2023 in “Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice” and “Health Care Law” (Best Lawyers, in partnership with Les Echos).

Gaëlle has led the :

  • Health Product Litigation Seminar within the two-year master’s degrees in « Health, Food and Environmental Safety Law » and « Medical Risks » at Paris 1 – Panthéon Sorbonne since 2011,
  • « Obligations in corruption prevention (Sapin 2 Act) » lectures as part of the two-year « Business Law Applied to the Healthcare Industry » master’s degree at Saint-Etienne University since 2019.

News

Best Lawyers 2026 ranking

DELSOL Avocats is delighted with the individual ranking of 27 of its lawyers in the The Best Lawyers ™ in France ranking, especially as it reflects the recognition of our peers. Alexis BECQUART Non Profit/Charities Law Jeanne BOSSI MALAFOSSE Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice Information Technology Law Privacy and Data Security Law...

Read

DELSOL Avocats advised the Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal Toulon - La Seyne-sur-Mer on the takeover of the Sainte-Marguerite clinic by Almaviva Santé

DELSOL Avocats advised the Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal Toulon - La Seyne-sur-Mer (CHITS) on the takeover of the Sainte-Marguerite clinic in Hyères (south of France) by Almaviva Santé, a group specialising in private hospital services in France and owned by the Kuwaiti Wren House fund. This takeover is part of a disposal plan approved by...

Read

Legal 500 EMEA 2025 rankings

DELSOL Avocats is proud to be ranked in 8 Legal 500 EMEA 2025 categories : Construction – Tier 3 Data privacy and data protection – Tier 3 Employment – Tier 4 Industry focus : Healthcare and life sciences – Tier 2 Mergers & Acquisitions – Tier 5 Private equity : venture/growth capital – Tier 3 Tax - Tier 5 The regions – Tier 1 DELSOL Avocats...

Read