As a criminal defence lawyer in Paris, the firm advises and defends clients in
white-collar criminal matters under French law, involving significant financial,
reputational and strategic stakes. The practice is rooted in core criminal defence while addressing
complex cases requiring technical analysis, large volumes of data and bespoke procedural strategies.
Financial & accounting offences
“Abus de biens sociaux” (misuse of corporate assets) •
“Présentation de comptabilité inexacte” (false accounting) •
“Banqueroute” (insolvency-related criminal offence)
Defence in cases involving “abus de biens sociaux”, false accounting and “banqueroute” under French law:
analysis of financial flows, accounting records and construction of a coherent evidentiary and procedural strategy.
The core issue is distinguishing poor management, debatable business decisions or corporate difficulties
from a legally constituted criminal offence. The defence focuses on chronology, supporting documentation
and the precise scope of individual responsibilities.
Defence in cases of “blanchiment” (money laundering under French law) and “recel de blanchiment”:
analysis of transactions, origin of funds, links with the predicate offence and challenge of shortcut reasoning.
The defence relies on chronological coherence, economic explanations, traceability and proof of knowledge,
in order to prevent a retrospective reconstruction turning a complex situation into an intentional offence.
“Abus de marché” (Market abuse)
“Fausse information” • “Délit d’initié” • “Manipulation de cours”
Defence in French “abus de marché” cases, including false information, insider dealing and market manipulation,
with a technical approach to intent and evidentiary standards.
Detailed analysis of communications, context, internal documents and operational constraints,
with particular attention to investigative acts and the evidentiary chain.
“Escroquerie” & “abus de confiance”
“Escroquerie” (fraud) • “Abus de confiance” (breach of trust) • “Recel”
Defence in cases of “escroquerie”, “abus de confiance” and related offences under French criminal law,
focusing on the alleged scheme, damage, causation and documentary evidence.
The strategy often aims to challenge criminal qualification where the dispute is primarily contractual,
restore context to exchanges and secure a robust defence from the investigation stage.
Defence and assistance in cases involving corruption, influence peddling, favouritism
and unlawful taking of interests, for both public and private actors.
Analysis of the alleged advantage, intent, link with decision-making and the actual functioning
of organisations (internal processes, delegations, approval circuits).
Public procurement (French law)
Public contracts • Criminal exposure • “Favoritisme”
Defence in public procurement matters, particularly where criminal allegations arise
(favouritism, probity offences, conflicts of interest).
Review of award procedures, reconstruction of decisions, role analysis and procedural strategy
depending on the stage of proceedings.
Cybercrime & crypto-assets
Fraud • Digital evidence • Traceability • Platforms & wallets
Defence in cybercrime and fraud cases, including those involving crypto-assets,
with analysis of digital traces, timelines and attribution reliability.
A strictly evidentiary approach: quality of forensic extractions, internal consistency of events
and articulation with investigative acts. Particular focus on understanding platforms,
wallets, conversions and available documentation.
Directors’ criminal liability
Corporate officers • Delegations of authority • Corporate criminal risk
Defence of corporate officers whose criminal liability is alleged
(financial offences, safety, environmental or labour-related offences),
and preventive work through delegations of authority and criminal risk audits.
The defence focuses on clarifying who was responsible for what, when and with which means,
to avoid automatic or indirect attribution of criminal liability.
Extensive experience in defending non-intentional offences under French law,
including involuntary manslaughter, involuntary injuries and environmental negligence offences.
French case law excludes liability based on mere “dusts of fault”.
Criminal law must not become an indirect substitute for civil liability.
Criminal seizure & asset recovery
Bank seizures • Business assets • Challenges & restitution
Challenges to criminal seizures and applications for restitution
(accounts, cash, vehicles, professional equipment), including for affected third parties.
Ensuring that seizure does not become an anticipatory punishment:
proportionality, link with the alleged offence, necessity of the measure
and operational impact on the business.
