Commercial litigation, arbitration and mediation, including enforcement of foreign judgments.
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English speaking law firm in Paris with corporate litigation real estate and more. Experienced attorneys.
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International law firm with strong Paris presence in corporate IP and real estate law. English-speaking team.
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Leading global law firm with strong Paris presence in corporate and finance law serving international clients.
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International law firm with Paris office specializing in corporate and finance law.
Global law firm with Paris office providing comprehensive legal services to international clients.
Premier international law firm with Paris office specializing in complex corporate and finance matters.
Law firm in Lyon with corporate law and litigation expertise for businesses.
English-speaking employment lawyer in Paris dealing with all aspects of employment law contentious and non-contentious particularly for UK and US businesses and individuals.
Arbitration is often faster, private, and internationally enforceable under the New York Convention. Your lawyer can advise which route is better for your dispute.
EU judgments are generally enforceable across member states. Non-EU judgments require a separate recognition process. A litigation lawyer can advise.
Browse our verified directory of law firms across France's major cities. All listed firms offer English-language legal services to expats and foreign nationals.
Find My Lawyer in 60 SecondsFrench civil litigation flows from Tribunal judiciaire (TJ) through the Cour d'appel (CA) to the Cour de cassation. Since loi n° 2019-222 (réforme judiciaire), many former tribunaux d'instance (TI) merged into the TJ, and mandatory conciliation was introduced for claims under €5,000 (CPC art. 750-1).
| Court | Claims / Jurisdiction | Avocat Required? | Court Fee | Avocat Fee (HT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tribunal judiciaire (TJ) — small claims | ≤€10,000 civil | Optional | €35 (contribution) | €500–2,000 |
| Tribunal judiciaire (TJ) — standard | >€10,000 civil, family, status | ✅ Mandatory | €35–165 | €2,000–8,000 |
| Tribunal de commerce (TC) | B2B commercial disputes; insolvency | Optional (avocat recommended) | €63–130 | €2,000–10,000 |
| Cour d'appel | All TJ/TC appeals | ✅ Mandatory | €225 | €3,000–12,000 |
| Cour de cassation | Law points only — no new facts | ✅ Avocat aux Conseils mandatory | €0 | €5,000–20,000 |
| Method | Legal Basis | Duration | Cost | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conciliation (TJ) | CPC art. 128 et seq. | 1–3 months | Free | Non-binding recommendation |
| Médiation judiciaire | CPC art. 131-1 | 3–6 months | €500–3,000 (split) | Homologated settlement = enforceable title |
| Médiation conventionnelle | Loi 95-125 art. 21 et seq. | 1–4 months | €1,500–5,000 | Binding if signed by parties |
| Arbitrage (CCI Paris) | Code civil art. 2059 / CPC art. 1442 | 12–24 months | €30,000–200,000+ | Final and binding; enforceable in 170+ countries |
| Procédure participative | Code civil art. 2062 et seq. | 1–6 months | Avocat fees only | Settlement homologated by court |
| Médiateur de la consommation | EU directive 2013/11/EU + code conso. | 3 months | Free for consumer | Recommendation (rarely binding) |
For undisputed debts (invoices, loans), the injonction de payer procedure (CPC art. 1405 et seq.) allows recovery without a full hearing. The creditor files with the TJ (or TC for commercial debts). Cost: €35 filing fee. If granted, the debtor has 1 month to oppose. If unopposed, the order is declared enforceable (exequatur) and can proceed directly to saisie-attribution (bank garnishment via commissaire de justice).
Avocat not required for claims under €10,000 — creditor can file themselves using Cerfa form 12948*05. Processing time: 2–6 weeks.
