- Company (formation and acquisition of companies)
- Commercial and Contract
- Criminal business
- Employment
- Family
- International Private Law
- Litigation and arbitration
In all our areas of activity, we take a practical approach. From a business perspective we try to find solutions where all parties are happy in order to create long term relationships. In litigation, if it is in the interest of our clients we try to see if negotiation or mediation is possible prior to entering into the litigation process. In many of our cases we consider the relevant elements of European law.
Some of the typical types of cases and transactions in which we have worked
Company
- Setting up companies/subsidiaries of French companies in England and of English companies in France
- Setting up a charity for the former alumni of a large Indian management school
- In the negotiation of a joint venture to be set up in Vietnam
- Acting for the French owners in a creditors’ application for the winding up of their company
Commercial
- Acted for a large French telecommunications company for the negotiation of the telecom part of a pipeline project governed by French law.
- Acted for an English oil company in a project for oil exploration in Africa; governed by French law
Litigation
- Advised on an application for an injunction for harassment under French law
- Acted for various French companies in commercial litigation at the High Court in London.
- Claim for damages brought by a French pharmaceuticals company against an American company at the High Court (with a preliminary mediation) for breach of an English law contract relating to distribution of pharmaceuticals in Italy (value £80 million);
- Enforcement of French judgments in England through the English courts and seizure of goods
- Application for imprisonment in England for contempt of court.
- Private English criminal prosecution for the infringement of trademarks owned by a French company,
- Claim for damages at the English High Court for breach of an English law distribution contract brought by a French company against an English company;
- Advising on libel
- Application for injunction for harassment
- Advising a government of a European country on breach of an English law contract for the supply and transfer of technology of Defence equipment (value £12 billion);
- Acted for 230 French nationals who were defrauded (£45 million); advising on questions of jurisdiction between French and English Courts.
Arbitration
- Acted for a large Indian multinational company in GAFTA arbitration in London under English law.
- Acted for a large multinational company in Maritime arbitration in London under English law.
Family
- Acting in English divorce proceedings where one or both of the parties are French; there is often an element of urgency in these matters as both parties may not choose the same jurisdiction. Liaising with the French authorities with respect to pension and other rights of the couple.