Business litigation lawyers in Paris

A service, production, music or software development agreement can lead to claims for payment, performance, termination or damages.

Notices, exclusivity terms and evidence of delivery matter alongside the contract's legal characterisation (Article 1217 of the French Civil Code). A defendant may challenge the breach, causation or the amount claimed.

Infringement, unauthorised use of a copyrighted work, breach of image rights and disparagement require different legal grounds. Public defamation is governed by the Act of 29 July 1881; non-public defamation has a separate regime.

Neither is interchangeable with commercial disparagement. We characterise the statements before starting a claim.

Contracts, invoices, correspondence, judicial officer reports and technical records establish the facts. Where appropriate, we seek pre-action disclosure under Article 145 of the French Code of Civil Procedure, an infringement seizure or expert evidence. Online material should be preserved with its date and context; a screenshot is not automatically inadmissible.

An unpaid campaign invoice, disputed commission, withheld distribution revenue or defective SaaS service calls for a review of reciprocal obligations, documentary evidence and liability limitations. An order for payment or interim payment may suit a sufficiently established debt; a substantial dispute may require trial on the merits.

Shareholders' agreements, a founder's exit, removal of a director, post-investment disputes and co-production disagreements can affect governance as well as damages. We prepare claims and defences by examining the articles of association, agreements and corporate decisions.

Abrupt termination of an established commercial relationship, poaching or disparagement require analysis of the prior relationship and proven loss. Some restrictive-practice claims belong before designated courts; we check jurisdiction before issuing proceedings and consider whether negotiation better preserves the relationship.

Depending on the facts and admissibility, we assess whether to file a complaint, apply to join proceedings as a civil party, or use a direct summons. We prepare the claim for compensation and relevant applications. A complaint does not automatically lead to prosecution or content removal; identifying an anonymous person may require separate judicial steps.

We examine the case from its earliest stages, prepare for interviews, challenge disputed evidence and represent the client before the competent criminal court. The appropriate submissions depend on the procedure, alleged facts and defence rights. No outcome is presumed.

The same facts may warrant criminal steps and a separate civil claim. Removal or protective relief may fall to the appropriate civil judge, whereas a complaint follows criminal procedure. We coordinate requests and check each applicable deadline, including the particularly short periods for certain press offences.

Unauthorised content, account suspension or a debt that is not seriously disputed may justify interim relief under Articles 835 or 873 of the French Code of Civil Procedure, depending on the court. A short-notice hearing requires authorisation and justified urgency (Article 485). Removal or reinstatement is never guaranteed.

At trial, the court examines liability, contractual terms and evidence debated by both parties. Technical disagreements over software delivery, revenue sharing or intellectual property ownership may require expert evidence. The possibility of appeal and enforcement informs the claim from the outset.

Formal notice, negotiation, mediation and settlement can resolve a dispute while protecting each party's rights. A shareholders' exit, distribution disagreement or contested payment calls for clear and enforceable written terms.

Disputed exclusivity, undelivered services, unpaid royalties, a terminated licence or missing catalogue accounts. We examine agreements, accounts and correspondence for both the claimant and the party accused of breach. See influencer agreements and artist contracts.

A business may contest data portability obligations, a software provider may defend a client's claim, and an individual may seek protection for creative work or reputation. Technical evidence, platform terms and the rights involved determine the strategy.

A shareholder conflict, disagreement with a business partner, unauthorised use of someone's image or personal criminal investigation is not confined to corporate clients. The facts and the parties determine whether the civil, commercial or criminal route applies.

Account suspension, withheld revenue, unauthorised account access or disputed content may call for a platform appeal, a contractual claim or, depending on the facts, court proceedings. The notice and appeal mechanisms under the DSA are not a substitute for judicial relief.

Where image rights, reputation or online harassment are at stake, we preserve evidence and assess removal, compensation and criminal steps separately. A cybersecurity incident can also give rise to contractual liability or other proceedings.

A business or professional may face an investigation by the CNIL, DGCCRF, ARCOM or a sector regulator. Responding to an investigation, addressing allegations and challenging a decision may involve different forums and deadlines.

We assess available remedies according to the authority, the applicable law and the procedural stage, including in advertising and data protection matters.

An opposition, invalidity or revocation proceeding concerning a trade mark, or a dispute over a registered design, may take place before the French IP office (INPI) or the EUIPO. These proceedings differ from an infringement claim in court.

We check the registration, evidence and applicable deadlines before choosing a route.

Keep original contracts, amendments, invoices, correspondence and disputed online material, including dates. An official report, pre-action disclosure or expert evidence should address a specific evidential gap. Criminal evidence must also be handled consistently with procedural rights.

The ordinary limitation period for personal civil claims is generally five years (Article 2224 of the French Civil Code), but special rules apply. Public defamation governed by the 1881 Act is generally subject to a three-month period; non-public defamation has a distinct regime.

Criminal limitation periods cannot simply be derived from the five-year civil rule. Seek advice before expiry; negotiations do not necessarily stop the clock.