Corporate & Commercial Lawyers in Paris

Corporate lawyers in Paris advise a market that ranges from Station F startups to family groups and the French arms of international companies. Typical matters include forming an SAS or SARL, raising seed and venture funding, drafting shareholder agreements, buying or selling a business, and negotiating distribution, supply and services contracts under French law.

Company formalities now go through the single online business portal run by INPI, and companies are entered in the trade and companies register, the RCS. The SAS is the usual choice for startups because its articles are flexible, while the SARL suits smaller owner run businesses. A business lawyer in Paris will draft the statuts and pacte d'associés, organise capital increases, run due diligence and advise directors on their duties. Commercial disputes between companies are heard by the Tribunal des activités économiques de Paris, the former commercial court, whose judges are elected business people, and the city also hosts international chambers for cross border cases in English. Every avocat in Paris belongs to the Paris Bar, the Barreau de Paris, and can be checked in the national lawyer directory of the Conseil National des Barreaux.

A written fee agreement, the convention d'honoraires, is compulsory in France. Fees are usually hourly or fixed for formations and standard agreements. A fee based only on the result is banned, though a success fee on top of a base fee is allowed. Before hiring corporate lawyers in Paris, choose your legal form, list the founders and share split, prepare your business plan or term sheet and ask for a fee estimate per stage. Then compare the firms below and contact them directly.