France

Officially known as the French Republic, France is comprised of the territory of metropolitan France and smaller overseas regions and territories; including, French Guiana in South America and smaller islands in the Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans, make up the French Republic.

The country has long been known as a global center of art, science, and philosophy. Today, over 83 million tourists visit the country annually, making it the most visited country in the world. The country has the fifth largest economy based on nominal GDP, and the ninth largest purchasing power parity (PPP). Health, education, human development, and life expectancy rates, are all areas which the country performs well in, on international rankings. France is also one of the five permanent members, with the power to veto, of United Nations Security Council, making it one of the great global-powers. It is also an official nuclear state.

France is a leading member of the European Union and Eurozone. It is a member of NATO, the WTO, Group of 7, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. France relies on civil legal systems to govern the country. The country is governed by statutes, and judges don’t make law, but simply enforce it in the country. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen strongly govern the country, with the belief that laws should be used to prohibit actions which are detrimental to society.

 

As a founding member of the United Nations, the country has strong diplomatic ties with many nations. The country is a major hub for international trade, and is the world headquarters for many headquarters for organizations including OECD, Interpol, and UNESCO. The country has close ties with reunified Germany; the country has also maintained the "Entente cordiale" with the United Kingdom. The French economy is strongly driven by its trade market. 31 of the the world’s 500 largest organizations are located in France, meaning the country is ranked fourth in the Fortune 500 worldwide. Financial services, the insurance sector, banking, and the Stock Exchange, are all major economic-drivers for the country. In 2007, Euronext (French Stock Exchange) merged with the NYSE in the US, making it a part of the world’s largest market.

Areas of French law addressed include: mergers and acquisitions; private equity; banking and finance; derivatives and market infrastructure; projects and infrastructure: restructuring and insolvency; real estate; environmental, nanotechnology, health and safety; pharma, tax; E.U. and French competition law; French public and administrative law; commercial litigation; global disputes; intellectual property; information technology, cybersecurity and data protection; supply chain; block chain;  employment law and benefits and other legal concerns.  Our French legal news includes matters of concern to a number of industries, including automotive, oil and gas, energy, tech companies, mining, chemicals, nanomaterials, pharma, financial services, telecommunications and many more.

The NLR covers legal news concerning:

  • the French Supreme Court;
  • International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID);
  • Euronext Paris;
  • CFIUS Filings;
  • EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR);
  • the French Data Protection Authority (CNIL);
  • the French Competition Authority;
  • the French National Drug and Health Product Agency  (ANSM);
  • the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR); 
  • the French Monetary and Financial Code; 
  • the French financial markets authority Autorité des marchés financiers; 
  • the French Minister of the Economy;
  • French Law relating to Transparency, the Fight against Corruption and Modernization of Economic Life, (Sapin II Law);
  • the Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de resolution;
  • the French Treasury and French supervisors (Banque de France, Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de resolution, and Autorité des marches financiers) and the interaction between French law and E.U., U.S.and other jurisdictions legal systems.
Date Title Organization
28
Sep
Pending CFIUS Filing: Renesas Electronics Corporation and Sequans Communications S.A. Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
13
Sep
Regulating Influencer Marketing: A Comparative Analysis of Laws Across the World Foley & Lardner LLP
7
Sep
France Reintroduces Bid to Ban Meat Names for Plant-Based Food Keller and Heckman LLP
7
Sep
France and UK Announce Roadmap to Boost Biodiversity Credit Market Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
7
Aug
California Judge Certifies Class in Bigelow Tea False Advertising Lawsuit Mintz
1
Aug
The French CNIL’s New Guidance on Whistleblowing Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
12
Jul
Vertical Agreements & Restriction of Competition by Object: What’s New in Europe? McDermott Will & Emery
30
Jun
French Insider Episode 23: M&A in the US: How French Businesses Can Find a Target & Seal the Deal Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
19
Jun
The After Effects of the Music Modernization Act in the Digital Streaming Sphere Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
13
Jun
France’s New Influencer Law Adopted June 1, 2023 Foley & Lardner LLP
4
Jun
French Insider Episode 22: French Investments in the U.S. Wine Industry with Jean Hoefliger of JH Wine Consulting [Podcast] Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
23
May
Is G7 Support for ISSB Climate Reporting Standards a Sign That Scope 3 Emission Disclosures Will Soon Be Required in U.S.? Barnes & Thornburg LLP
19
May
Competition and Employment – a Marriage that does not Allow for a Prenup … Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
16
May
CNIL Publishes Action Plan on AI Hunton Andrews Kurth
4
May
Foreign-Owned Companies Operating in The United States Must File a 5 Year Survey with The U.S. Department of Commerce by May 31, 2023 (for Paper Filings) and June 30, 2023 (for Electronic Filings) Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
22
Apr
France Extends Due Date for R-Nano Declarations to May 31, 2023 Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.
11
Apr
Increased Global Regulatory Focus on Mobile Apps: What Companies Should Know Greenberg Traurig, LLP
30
Mar
CNIL issues €125,000 Fine Against E-Scooter Rental Company Hunton Andrews Kurth
17
Mar
Priority Topics for French CNIL Investigations in 2023: “Smart” Cameras, Mobile Apps, Bank and Medical Records Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
1
Mar
To Benefit from Insurance Coverage in France Businesses Must File a Complaint Within 72 Hours of a Cyberattack Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
28
Feb
EC Appeals European General Court Decision Annulling the Harmonized Classification and Labeling of Titanium Dioxide Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.
28
Feb
French Insider Episode 20: Growing Your Business in America: The Story of Qobuz and Its Growth in Music Streaming with Dan Mackta [PODCAST] Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
16
Feb
France Appeals European General Court Decision Annulling the Harmonized Classification and Labeling of Titanium Dioxide Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.
8
Feb
Potential Impact on the French Legal System of the Draft EU Directive to Harmonise Insolvency Laws Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
7
Feb
CNIL Weighs in On GDPR Applicability to US Company Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
1
Feb
Whistleblowers Now Protected Under Workplace Nondiscrimination Law K&L Gates
30
Jan
PEOS–The European Perspective K&L Gates
23
Jan
CNIL Fines TikTok 5 Million Euros Over Cookie Infringements Hunton Andrews Kurth
23
Jan
Survey on the Economics on Personal Data on Mobile Apps Launched by France’s Privacy Watchdog K&L Gates
20
Jan
French NGO Claims Certain Everyday Products Contain Unlabeled Nanomaterials Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.
9
Jan
Highest French Administrative Court Lifts the Ban on CBD Flowers and Leaves Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
6
Jan
CNIL Fines Apple 8 Million Euros Over Personalized Ads Hunton Andrews Kurth
21
Dec
ANSES Applies Methodology to Assess Risks of Nanomaterials in Food to Titanium Dioxide Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.
16
Dec
French Podcast Series—The Employment of Ukrainian Workers in France Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
5
Dec
CNIL Reminds the Rules Applying to Purchase of Customers’ Lists for Marketing Use Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
1
Dec
Telephone Solicitation: New Rules Regarding Hours and Frequency Effective in 2023 in France Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
23
Nov
France Fines Discord under GDPR Robinson & Cole LLP
7
Nov
Central Banks Should Consider Climate and Biodiversity Shocks When Stress Testing Financial Institutions Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
1
Nov
French Insider Episode 17: The Ins and Outs of International Production and Entertainment with Tim Stephen [PODCAST] Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
25
Oct
When AI-powered Tools Bring (EU) Privacy Troubles – Biometric Templates Identify First Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
24
Oct
CNIL Fines Clearview AI 20 Million Euros for Unlawful Use of Facial Recognition Technology Hunton Andrews Kurth
1
Oct
Readout of Russian Elites, Proxies, and Oligarchs (REPO) Task Force Deputies Meeting The U.S. Department of Justice
29
Sep
European Commission Greenlights Second Important Project of Common European Interest in The Hydrogen Value Chain K&L Gates
28
Sep
Focus on French Labor Law Changes Coming Into Effect in the Second Half of 2022 K&L Gates
27
Sep
Unique Gun-Jumping Case Sanctioned by French Competition Authority McDermott Will & Emery
9
Sep
Guide to Whistleblowing France Proskauer Rose LLP
9
Sep
French Insider Podcast Episode 15: Villa Albertine and the French Embassy’s Role In Helping Artists Come to America [PODCAST] Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
19
Aug
BULLETIN CONCURRENCE IV McDermott Will & Emery
17
Aug
Influencers and Digital Advertising K&L Gates
17
Aug
CNIL Proposes 60 Million Euros Fine Against French AdTech Company For Non-Compliance with GDPR Hunton Andrews Kurth