Christine Lagarde (born 1 January 1956) is the current Minister of Economic Affairs, Industry and Employment of France, appointed in June 2007. She was previously Minister of Agriculture and Fishing and Minister of Trade in the government of Dominique de Villepin. Lagarde is the first woman ever to become minister of Economic Affairs of a G8 economy.

In 2008, Lagarde was ranked the 14th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes Magazine. A noted antitrust and labour lawyer, Lagarde made history as the first female chairman of the international law firm Baker & McKenzie. She has been awarded France's highest honor, the Légion d'honneur.

Lagarde was born in Paris as Christine Lallouette to academic parents. She attended secondary school in Le Havre (Seine-Maritime) and at the Holton-Arms School in Bethesda (USA). She studied at the Law School of University of Paris X: Nanterre. She later lectured there after graduating. She also has a post-graduate diploma (DESS) in labour law, and a Master’s degree in English.