Litigation

Since its creation, litigation has been part of Bruzzo Dubucq's DNA.

Our lawyers, each within their area of expertise, appear before all courts: commercial, civil, criminal and arbitral.

The multidisciplinary nature of the litigation team enables it to handle a wide range of business disputes.

Our lawyers thus assist their clients in disputes arising from contractual relationships, from restructuring transactions, from corporate malfunctions or from competition and financial regulations.

Innovative, strategic and tenacious, our lawyers have a command of all French procedures and will be able to devise bespoke solutions, innovate and win their case in both domestic and international disputes.

Every dispute is different, but each has a method of resolution that is more or less suited to it.

For most disputes, in every sector and wherever possible, we offer our clients a range of amicable solutions enabling them to deal with their difficulties efficiently and swiftly.

All our lawyers have the culture and practice of alternative dispute resolution.

Arbitration is also at the heart of our practice. Our lawyers advise parties to arbitration and sit on arbitral tribunals.
As the result of extensive work with several law professors, in spring 2022 the firm took part in founding the Aix-en-Provence International Arbitration Chamber (Chambre d'Arbitrage Internationale d'Aix-en-Provence), which specialises in disputes between members of the regulated professions.

Shareholder disputes cover all the litigation that may arise from relationships within a company. They can take many forms: unjustified exclusion, buy-back of shares at a questionable price, breach of a non-compete obligation, manifest disloyalty, etc.

The firm assists shareholders who are disappointed, wronged or accused.

They will find valuable advice and tailored support in enforcing their rights.

Running a company is an inexhaustible source of civil liability. A director may thus incur liability towards the company, its shareholders or third parties. In the worst case, the director may be removed from office.

The firm supports directors in facing all these risks and is committed to defending them against unjustified accusations and to obtaining compensation following a wrongful removal. It also offers to assist anyone dissatisfied with the conduct of their company's director.

Contractual litigation covers all disputes arising from a contractual transaction. The firm offers to assist debtors and creditors in all disputes that may arise from their relationship.

All contractual relationships are concerned, whether a business contract, a consumer contract or a contract between private individuals.

The debtor will find an attentive ear and effective support when faced with an extravagant interpretation of the contract or unjustified complaints from its creditor.

The creditor, for its part, will appreciate constant support in obtaining specific performance of the contract, holding a defaulting or bad-faith debtor liable and having the clauses interpreted in its favour. Skilful use of enforcement procedures will enable it to obtain satisfaction.

Our lawyers also offer their services in litigation concerning the nullity of contracts and support in restitution mechanisms.

In all cases, our lawyers will devise a bespoke strategy to win the case: amicably by preference, through litigation if necessary.

Unfair competition refers to making excessive use of one's freedom to conduct business, within the framework of lawful competition, by resorting to unfair practices. It gives rise to a claim for damages based on ordinary civil liability.

Unfair competition takes many forms: disparagement, confusion, disorganisation, free-riding (parasitisme), etc. In every case, the competitor has used a method contrary to commercial practice and professional honesty.

In every case, clients can count on lawyers specialising in competition law to assist them in bringing or defending a claim.

Tax litigation covers all the contentious procedures that enable taxpayers to challenge decisions of the tax authorities. These may be disputes concerning the tax base (calculation of the tax due), tax collection (enforced recovery procedures) or tax penalties applied by the authorities.

There are many grounds for dispute with the authorities: erroneous tax assessments or proposed adjustments; imposition of a tax penalty; refusal to grant a tax benefit.

At both the amicable and the judicial stage, the firm assists taxpayers whose tax situation is likely to give rise to a dispute.

Innovation is now governed by complex regulations derived from both national and international sources. The resulting disputes are resolved before national and European courts, but also before independent administrative authorities such as the Autorité des marchés financiers (French financial markets authority) or the Autorité de la concurrence (French competition authority).

One of the particular features of regulation is that it gives rise to compliance obligations, requiring companies to bring themselves into line with the rules laid down.

Companies must, for example, draw up a risk map under AML-CFT controls (Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing) or comply with the requirements of the MiCA Regulation on crypto-assets.

The complexity of regulatory litigation calls for expert support. Our specialists offer to assist companies in achieving compliance and to defend them where necessary.