{"id":521,"date":"2024-11-19T14:26:13","date_gmt":"2024-11-19T14:26:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/azzi-legal.com\/?page_id=521"},"modified":"2025-01-07T21:26:03","modified_gmt":"2025-01-07T21:26:03","slug":"company-law","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/azzi-legal.com\/en\/our-expertise\/company-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Company law"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Company law<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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The firm assists you in setting up your company and managing your day-to-day and exceptional operations, ensuring that your interests are protected and that the decisions you take are in line with your development plans. We also act in the event of disputes between partners, favouring an amicable outcome where this is in the client's best interests.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Companies in difficulty (bankruptcy) <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Under French law, companies in difficulty are subject to a specific legal framework designed to prevent, manage or resolve their financial and economic difficulties, while preserving their activity, jobs and creditors' rights.<\/p>

Several procedures are available, depending on the seriousness of the situation: ad hoc mandate and conciliation (amicable procedures), or safeguard, reorganisation and judicial liquidation (collective procedures).<\/p>

Ad hoc mandates and conciliation allow negotiations with creditors under the aegis of a third party to restructure debts and find lasting solutions.<\/p>

The aim of receivership is to safeguard the business by reorganising its debts, while liquidation occurs when the cessation of business is inevitable.<\/p>

These procedures impose strict rules, such as prohibiting the company from settling certain debts before others (principle of equality of creditors), or placing assets under judicial supervision.<\/p>

A lawyer is essential to guide the company through each stage. They play a key role in analysing the financial situation, choosing the most appropriate procedure and defending the interests of the company's directors against creditors and potential liability claims. Lawyers also help negotiate restructuring agreements and ensure compliance with legal formalities. Thanks to their expertise, they help to maximise the chances of recovery and minimise the personal risks for managers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Disputes between shareholders and\/or investors <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Disputes between shareholders or with investors, such as subscribers to share warrants (BSA), are a frequent occurrence in the life of companies. These disputes may concern disagreements over the management of the company, compliance with shareholders' agreements, voting rights at general meetings, dilution of share capital, or the exercise and terms of financial instruments such as warrants.<\/p>

French company law offers effective legal and procedural levers for resolving certain difficulties, in particular through summary proceedings, which make it possible to obtain rapid interim measures, such as the appointment of an ad hoc representative or the suspension of contested decisions at a general meeting. These mechanisms are particularly useful in the event of an emergency or deadlock that has a serious impact on the company's governance or business. However, to limit the costs of litigation and prevent deadlock over the long term, the most strategic tool remains the shareholders' agreement. This contractual document, which is separate from the Articles of Association, provides a detailed framework for relations between shareholders or investors, setting out specific rules tailored to the needs of the company: pre-emption clauses, approval clauses, drag-along clauses and conflict management clauses. Properly drafted, the shareholders' agreement is a real safeguard, considerably reducing the risk of disputes by providing early solutions to potential differences.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Company formation <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Under French law, there are several types of company, each with its own specific characteristics. Among the most common are the SARL (soci\u00e9t\u00e9 \u00e0 responsabilit\u00e9 limit\u00e9e), for small family businesses, the SAS (soci\u00e9t\u00e9 par actions simplifi\u00e9e) for its organisational flexibility, and the SA (soci\u00e9t\u00e9 anonyme), for large-scale projects requiring substantial financing (or openness to public financing).<\/p>

There are other, more specific forms of company, such as the SNC (general partnership), SCS (limited partnership) and SCA (limited partnership with shares), or forms that are better suited to business start-ups, such as the EURL (one-man limited company) or the micro-entrepreneur status.<\/p>

These choices depend on a number of criteria: the level of responsibility of the partners, the amount of share capital, the tax regime (corporation tax or income tax), and the prospects for development, such as the entry of new investors. For example, the SAS is often preferred for its flexibility in drafting the articles of association and its ability to attract investors by issuing shares. The SARL, on the other hand, is more legally regulated but can offer better protection for small businesses.<\/p>

A lawyer is essential for optimising this crucial phase. He will help the founders choose the most appropriate legal form, draw up the Articles of Association, and complete the administrative formalities (registration, capital deposit, etc.). The lawyer can also anticipate risks by inserting specific clauses in the Articles of Association (exclusion of partners, approval, etc.) or by drafting a partnership agreement to structure relations between partners.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Current and exceptional operations <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Company management involves two types of transaction: routine transactions, which are part of day-to-day management, and exceptional transactions, which have a major impact on the company's structure or future.<\/p>

Routine operations concern the usual and regular activities required for the company to function, such as approving the annual accounts and holding ordinary general meetings. These actions require a certain amount of legal rigour in order to comply with legal obligations and avoid subsequent disputes, as irregularities may result in nullity.<\/p>

Exceptional transactions include capital increases or reductions, mergers, sales of shares or corporate units, or internal restructuring. These operations often involve lengthy procedures, legal audits and strategic decisions that require strict compliance with the rules of the French Commercial Code and, in some cases, specific authorisations. Any error or omission can expose the company to financial, tax or legal risks.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Drafting of a shareholders agreement <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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A shareholders' agreement is an essential contract governing relations between the shareholders or partners of a company. Although it is not binding, it allows specific rules to be laid down to supplement or clarify the Articles of Association, often depending on the strategic needs of the parties. This non-public document is particularly useful for avoiding conflicts and securing the long-term management of the company.<\/p>

The agreement may contain pre-emption clauses (giving priority to the other shareholders in the event of a share sale), approval clauses (controlling the arrival of new shareholders), joint exit clauses (drag-along), or clauses relating to the resolution of disputes or the day-to-day management of the company (e.g. the distribution of dividends).<\/p>

The lawyer helps to define the specific needs of the parties and to adapt the clauses according to the objectives of each partner (protection of minority shareholders, control of strategic decisions, etc.). He or she ensures that the clauses are legal, balanced and comply with the applicable rules. In the event of a dispute, a well-drafted partnership agreement can avoid legal proceedings by providing a clear framework and guidelines for resolving differences.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Le cabinet vous accompagne dans la cr\u00e9ation de votre soci\u00e9t\u00e9 et la gestion de vos op\u00e9rations courantes et exceptionnelles, en veillant \u00e0 assurer la protection de vos int\u00e9r\u00eats, et l\u2019ad\u00e9quation des d\u00e9cisions prises avec vos projets de d\u00e9veloppement. Il intervient \u00e9galement en cas de litige entre associ\u00e9s, en privil\u00e9giant une issue amiable lorsque cela est […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":13,"menu_order":6,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-521","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nDroit des soci\u00e9t\u00e9s - Azzi Avocat<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/azzi-legal.com\/en\/our-expertise\/company-law\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Droit des soci\u00e9t\u00e9s - Azzi Avocat\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Le cabinet vous accompagne dans la cr\u00e9ation de votre soci\u00e9t\u00e9 et la gestion de vos op\u00e9rations courantes et exceptionnelles, en veillant \u00e0 assurer la protection de vos int\u00e9r\u00eats, et l\u2019ad\u00e9quation des d\u00e9cisions prises avec vos projets de d\u00e9veloppement. 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