William Bourdon

William Bourdon (born 1956), is a French lawyer of the Paris Bar Association who practices criminal law, particularly specializing in white-collar crime, communications law and human rights. He particularly specializes in defending the victims of globalization and crimes against humanity. He has been with Bourdon Simoni Voituriez since 1979. He is widely considered one of the most powerful international lawyers. William Bourdon is the son of engineer and manufacturer Philippe Bourdon, the grandson of Pierre Bourdon, former Michelin chief engineer, and the great-grandson of manufacturer Édouard Michelin, founder of groupe Michelin. He studied at Lycée Janson-de-Sailly, then at the Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. He holds a master's degree in (Private law) and is a graduate of Sciences Po Bourdon was Under Secretary-General (1994–1995), then Secretary-General of the Fédération internationale des droits de l'homme from 1995 to 2000. In October 2001, he founded Sherpa, whose goal is to "defend the victims of crimes committed by economic operators." He is also currently the organization's president. Sherpa is housed on the premises of France Libertés; William Bourdon is a membe