The Firm specializes in criminal law, white collar crime, cyber-crime and the defense of American citizens in France. 

Since the admission of Alice OUAKNINE to the California State Bar (USA), the firm has developed a dedicated practice in the criminal defense of American citizens and English-speaking foreigners, suspected or prosecuted by the French authorities, or victims of crimes in France.

The firm offers its clients the opportunity to be accompanied by a bilingual lawyer, in all its practice areas, and at every stage of the French criminal justice process:

During the preliminary investigation, we assist individuals held and questioned in police custody. We also assist victims in pressing charges by drafting and filing criminal complaints with the Public Prosecutor. Preliminary investigations can lead directly to trial, or to a pre-trial phase, called “Instruction”.

During the pre-trial phase, or “Instruction”, the firm aids its clients preparing for, or avoiding, trial. The “Instruction” is a discovery phase carried out by an investigating judge, who conducts investigations necessary to establish the truth. We act as an intermediary between the judge and the client, by requesting investigation acts, preparing for questioning and taking all the necessary steps to avoid or limit pre-trial detention.

During the trial phase, we represent our clients at all hearings before French courts, including the “Tribunal de Police”, “Tribunal Correctionnel” and “Cour d’assises”. The firm can also assist clients in appealing their verdicts and is qualified to represent them before the Court of appeal. Additionally, the firm can aid its clients in guilty pleas proceedings.

After the verdict, we intervene to reduce criminal sentences, to delete criminal records and to collect damages.

The firm provides its English-speaking clients with a perfect understanding of the French criminal procedure and criminal law.

We offer our clients the opportunity to be accompanied by a member of both the Paris and the California State Bar, who will assist them in apprehending the legal and cultural differences that exist between the civil law heritage of French law and the common law heritage of American law.

The firm liaises with the client's foreign counsel and, where appropriate, with consular authorities, and addresses the consequences that French proceedings may carry abroad, in particular as regards entry requirements and professional reporting obligations.

sentence reduction and record expungement

Defense of American citizens and foreigners 

Expertise

The firm defends its individual and corporate clients who are involved in criminal proceedings.

We advise and defend both accused persons and victims, at every stage of the criminal justice process.

During the preliminary investigation, the firm can aid you in pressing charges by drafting and filing a complaint. The firm also assists clients held and questioned in police custody.

Applications to set aside procedural acts are subject to strict time limits, which is why the firm becomes involved from the first hours of the case.

We additionally aid our clients during pre-trial investigations, a discovery phase led by an investigating judge.

We also represent our clients before the trial courts, in guilty and non-guilty pleas, and after the verdict is reached to appeal the decision or reduce their criminal sentences. 

The firm regularly deals with misdemeanors and felony cases, in matters of crimes against persons and against property. 

Criminal law 

The firm defends French and foreign companies, together with their directors and employees, in criminal proceedings arising from the company's business.

We assist our clients, both accused and victims, at all stages of the proceedings : during the preliminary investigation (pressing charges by drafting and filing a complaint, assisting in police custody), during the pre-trial phase and technical or financial expertise, as well as before the trial courts. We also intervene in the enforcement of court decisions.

Additionally, the firm acts in stock market criminal law, at all stages of the proceedings initiated by the “Autorité des Marchés Financiers” (AMF) and under the direction of the “Parquet National Financier” (PNF).

The firm ensures that the defense of the company and that of its directors are properly articulated, their interests being liable to diverge as the proceedings unfold.

We work in close partnership with legal departments of our clients as well as their business lawyers.

regulatory and prosecutorial investigations

White-collar crime 

The firm conducts, on behalf of companies, associations and institutions, internal investigations opened following a whistleblowing report or the discovery of facts that may give rise to criminal or disciplinary charges.

Together with its client, the firm defines the scope of the investigation, the timetable and the advisability of interim protective measures. It carries out interviews within a fair framework disclosed to the persons interviewed, and analyses documents and data in compliance with applicable personal data regulations. These precautions determine the evidentiary value of the report before the courts.

The firm delivers a written report distinguishing established facts, unestablished facts and unverifiable elements, together with their legal characterisation, and then assists the organisation with the ensuing disciplinary, criminal or organisational measures.

Internal investigations

The firm has developed both legal and technical skills in order to advise its clients in all aspects of cyber-crime.

Since the outcome of these proceedings turns on digital evidence, the firm's first concern is its preservation and the precision of the requests addressed to operators and hosting providers, connection data being retained only for a limited period.

The firm intervenes at all stages of the proceedings: during the preliminary investigations carried out by the specialized police services, during the technical expertise and the computer findings, as well as during the pre-trial phase and before the trial courts.

Alongside the criminal proceedings, the firm also handles content removal and delisting requests, where protecting the client's reputation calls for action that the pace of the courts cannot provide.

Cyber-crime 

The firm acts in press and internet law, a field governed by the Act of 29 July 1881 on the freedom of the press.

In this context, we offer our clients a personalized handling of their cases, taking into account their profile, their possible notoriety, and their needs.

The firm helps its clients resolve issues from defamation statements made in websites, including internet chatrooms, emails, newspaper and magazine articles, television and radio broadcasts, as well as in advertising material.

This is a field governed by form, and the initial pleading is decisive. Prosecution is time-barred after three months under Article 65 of the Act of 29 July 1881, a period extended to one year for the offenses listed in Article 65-3. The complaint or summons must further set out and legally characterize each of the statements complained of, failing which it is void.

glorification of crimes against humanity and terrorism

infringement of the presumption of innocence

Press and media law    

The Firm assists companies, their managers and employees in criminal proceedings resulting from the violation of the French Labor Code.

We intervene at all stages of the proceedings initiated by the Labor Inspectorate or the Public Prosecutor's Office.

The Firm also assists its clients in the day-to-day management of criminal risks, for example by assisting them in drafting delegations of authority and by organizing training sessions within their companies.

We work in close partnership with lawyers specialized in labor law.

Criminal employment law 

Expertise 

The Firm assists its clients in proceedings conducted by the French General Directorate for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF).

We act in this context at all stages of the criminal proceedings: during the investigation, during the judicial inquiry, and before the trial courts.

Competition criminal law and consumer affairs 

The firm assists companies and individuals in criminal proceedings resulting from the violation of provisions of the Public Health Code and the Consumer Code.

In this respect, we act both before the criminal courts and before the disciplinary courts of the professional bodies, namely the disciplinary chambers of the Ordre des médecins and of the Ordre des pharmaciens.

Criminal law and public health 

The firm focuses on criminal litigation and the defense of fundamental freedoms in an international context.

The firm acts in matters of international mutual legal assistance, letters rogatory, and the freezing and confiscation of assets abroad.

We act before French and European courts in international cases or cases with foreign elements.

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White-collar crime