Alternative dispute resolution

We represent legal entities and individuals before the French courts of first instance and appeal. We are experienced in resolving complex disputes involving parties from different jurisdictions. The question of which court has jurisdiction and which law is applicable to the dispute often arises early on, and we help our clients carry out this preliminary analysis. When a dispute governed by French law is brought before a foreign court, we assist foreign lawyers in the preparation of pleadings.

In particular, we can help you with the following disputes: Inheritance disputes;
Real estate disputes;
Litigation relating to the collection of debts, penalties and interest;
Disputes relating to supply contracts, purchase and sales contracts, etc.;
Litigation concerning compensation for damages and losses;
Company law disputes;
Tax disputes;
Litigation relating to the protection of copyright and neighboring rights, as well as litigation relating to the infringement of intellectual property rights (including the illegal use of a trademark)

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When preparing a summons to appear before a court and during the work on the case until the end of the litigation, our firm:
- performs a full legal analysis of the situation and assesses the case’s chances of success;
- takes cognizance of the elements of the case, if the client is defending himself or if the case was initiated at the client’s request prior to our referral;
- draws up a legal strategy and has it approved by the client;
- selects the evidence needed to win the case;
- assists the client in the preparation and selection of evidence;
- in agreement with the client, provides high-quality translation of written evidence from Russian, Ukrainian or English into French;
- prepares and submits pleadings to the state court or arbitral tribunal (summonses, submissions or briefs in response, complaints, motions, including those aimed at securing the claim by means of seizure or prohibition of certain acts, declarations, etc.)

At the same time, we are strong advocates of alternative dispute resolution, which has enabled us to gain considerable experience in this field, both before and during litigation. At the client’s request, and in coordination with the client, our firm participates in negotiations with the opposing lawyer to clarify the parties’ positions and assess the situation. In the event of an out-of-court settlement, our firm approves the agreement before the court and ensures that it is fully implemented. Our experience in contentious and pre-litigation matters has enabled us on numerous occasions to represent foreign companies, notably Russian, Ukrainian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Uzbek and Moldavian, in commercial disputes in France. Before initiating legal proceedings, we search for assets of the opposing party in France, if necessary with the participation of a private detective, and assess the chances of success of the foreign judgment enforcement procedure in France. If the case is submitted to the Court of Cassation, which requires the intervention of an avocat aux conseils, our firm selects and prepares the elements of the case file necessary for this legal specialist to understand the case. Our firm also takes part in discussions with the legal counsel on the choice of arguments and the grounds for the cassation appeal. Our firm also participates in the preparation of the defendant’s written submissions, and generally ensures interaction between the client and the counsel. We ensure the enforcement in France of foreign judgments and, in particular, of judgments handed down by courts in countries with which France has not signed a legal recognition agreement, requiring the application of a special procedure to obtain an exequatur. We also represent our clients before the French tax and customs authorities.

Our expertise includes

Alternative dispute resolution
Litigation
Execution procedures
Representing clients before government authorities to settle disputes