Global Business Leader, General Counsel, Board Member | Trusted Advisor to Senior Management Teams & Boards of Directors | M&A | Retail & Banking  

A global and multi-cultural business leader, lawyer and General Counsel in the retail and banking industries,

Louise has deep leadership and hands-on management experience at leading institutions, overseeing complex matters, particularly in M&A phases, providing effective results across the full range of critical legal challenges and achieving valuable business outcomes. Her expertise includes high-profile M&A; tax optimization; negotiating domestic and international transactions (including agreements relating to M&A); financing; real estate; corporate and board governance; e-commerce; and guiding management teams and board members through complex issues with clear communication and gravitas. Her collaborative style and ability to understand and effectively support business operations and provide actionable strategic counsel to senior management inform all her work, as does her ability to develop and mentor high-performing legal teams and anticipate/overcome major legal issues. Having lived on three continents, Louise works effectively across many cultures. She has professional proficiency in French and Italian.

Louise was a Member of Marc Jacobs Holdings’ Board of Managers from 2013 to July 2022, and of LG Distribution from2020 to July 2022. She was on the Board of Directors of Warren Corporation, Loro Piana & C. and Tiffany & Co. (LVMH companies).

Formerly the SVP, Legal Affairs and General Counsel for LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton Inc., the US holding company for the world’s largest luxury goods retailer—a role she held since 2003—Louise serves as the strategic advisor to the LVMH Inc. Chairman, a Member of the Executive Management Team, a senior member of the Global Legal Team, and was part of the team that grew the LVMH North America business to its current size. During the Covid 19 period, Louise contributed to maintaining business continuity as senior leader on the LVMH North America COVID-19 response team. She advised management on corporate governance programs and corporate positions, was proactive in protecting LVMH from potential liabilities by advising on changing regulations and fostered growth by advising the Group on legal changes that could provide opportunities for the businesses. As well, Louise contributed to the expansion of the Group’s footprint by leading the deal team for all US M&A activity and worked closely with the Finance and Tax divisions to structure US subsidiaries in the most tax-efficient manner. Since 1999, LVMH grew its portfolio of brands (Maisons) from 50 to 70+ worldwide. Most recently LVMH expanded its hospitality division with the acquisition of the hotel and leisure company Belmond (2019) and completed its acquisition of Tiffany & Co. (2021). She oversaw US litigation and leveraged her institutional knowledge to promote effectiveness of group-wide initiatives, such as US anticounterfeiting and e-commerce.

Louise started her professional career as an Associate with Cole & Deitz (1984 – 1986), held leadership roles in Citibank’s International & Regulatory Relations Unit and Global Finance North America (1986 –

1991); was General Counsel for Credit Suisse’s US operations; served as Credit Suisse First Boston’s Director, Legal & Compliance Department, and as Senior Staff Attorney in charge of the Corporate Banking legal function (1997 – 1999).

Louise currently teaches at Fordham Law School, taught at Columbia Law School as a Lecturer in Law from 2016 – 2022, serves on the board of the not- for-profit March For Our Lives (since 2022) and Fordham Law School’s Dean’s Planning Council since 2012) She also served as a Board Member for the Classic State Company (NYC Off-Broadway Theater) from 1998 to 2007 and Jhpiego from 2014 to 2023. She has a JD from Fordham Law School, a Master of International Affairs (International Economics) from Columbia University School of International & Public Affairs, and a BA in International Studies from The Johns Hopkins University.

In 2022 Louise received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Luxury Law Summit.