Expertise

Public Law

Long seen as a regulatory tool, public law is now a key component of business life, accelerating growth and facilitating projects. Our experts advise public and semi-public bodies, companies, investment funds and banks in all areas of public law, both in France and abroad.

They support clients from the development of their strategy to the day-to-day management of their operations: organization and management of public entities, choice of contractual arrangements, launch of consultation procedures, negotiation and monitoring of contracts, management of public services, economic interventionism, digital and energy transition, pre-litigation and litigation before national and supranational bodies. Experienced and well-versed in market practices, our lawyers have a global vision of their clients' issues and a detailed knowledge of their environment, viewing the law is an instrument of economic development.

They work at the heart of the public sector and are key players in the fields of energy, infrastructure and construction. The strength of their practice lies in both their specialization and their ability to tap into the firm's complementary practice areas, particularly financing, tax and intellectual property. This approach enables them to offer integrated, customized and pragmatic solutions.

Our interventions

Public Contracts

The last few years have seen profound changes in the legal, economic and financial landscape of public procurement and the occupation of the public domain.

These changes have been accompanied by an increased complexity and financialization of public contracts.

Our clients—private operators, public entities, financial investors, or banking institutions—can rely on a team of specialists with proven and recognized expertise in public contracts, particularly in the field of public property occupation contracts and complex public contracts (CREM, partnership agreements, concessions, etc.).

Our lawyers take a comprehensive, cross-functional approach to projects:

Choice of project structure/legal and financial structuring
Drawing up a risk matrix
Drafting and negotiation of public contracts, industrial contracts and financing agreements
Contract monitoring/pre-litigation and litigation support

Today, public contracts must also integrate new dimensions imposed by European legislation, such as CSRD obligations or compliance, which transform public procurement into a different dimension.

The Public Procurement Code, rather than just being a binding tool, can also be seen as a virtuous instrument that can contribute to ecological transition. Public procurement has an impact on the economy and, therefore, can actively participate in the swift consideration of necessary changes to enable a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and better environmental protection.

Public-Sector Organization and Intervention

Our lawyers assist public bodies and economic operators in the following areas:
Inter-municipality:

Creation of public establishments for inter-municipal cooperation,
Transfers of authority.

Mergers, amendments to articles of association, dissolution Institutions:

Creation of and changes to partnership structures (public interest groups, associations, semi-public companies, local public companies),
Audits,
Relations with public bodies/entities,
Public structures (local government control, public institutions, etc.)

Public employees:

Status,
statutory positions,
End of contract,
Disciplinary measures,
Compensation system and treatment.

Public funding/aid:

Aid schemes,
Grants,
Assistance with audits by regional audit chambers.

Functioning of public bodies:

Governance, decision-making and delegation procedures, status of elected representatives, electoral law,
Management of public service activities,
Responsibility.

Public Litigation

Our lawyers are active throughout France in all types of public litigation before administrative and financial courts (public contract litigation, administrative liability, aid litigation, public employee litigation, etc.).

In addition to assisting and representing clients before the courts, our services include risk audits, pre-litigation management, amicable dispute resolution (mediation), and assistance with expert appraisals.

Our lawyers appear before the civil and criminal courts in disputes involving public law issues, in collaboration with the firm's other specialized departments. They also assist their clients with applications for priority rulings on issues of constitutionality (QPC).

Urban Planning and Development

Our lawyers work throughout France on behalf of major local authorities and large groups (public and private developers, investors, builders, retailers, etc.) in the following areas:

Drafting and auditing urban planning documents
Designing and implementing complex development or construction projects (PPP, authorization for temporary occupancy of public property, planning permission, joint development zone), auditing such projects, their structures and financing with respect to property development taxation
Acquisitions by mutual agreement, pre-emption or expropriation (administrative and judicial phases)
Litigation in urban planning and development matters, and construction permits constituting business licenses (PCVAEC)

Energy and Other Regulated Activities

The energy sector is undergoing major changes. Supporting the energy transition is one of the main objectives of our teams. Our lawyers offer a comprehensive range of legal and tax solutions for the energy sector:

Regulatory, both nationally and internationally (legistics, ensuring the legal security of projects, monitoring/training, anticipating regulatory shifts)
Support for the development of your public or private energy projects (renewable energy projects, energy efficiency operations, energy procurement, energy distribution concessions, etc.)
Advice on new uses of energy (energy flexibility, self-consumption, smart grids, etc.)