We work in English, French and Russian.

Incorporation of companies and other business and non business entities, maintenance of company good standing, purchase, dissolution and liquidation.

We have experience in French corporate law and in particular:

• incorporation of companies in France by means of foreign investments, including the assistance on the choice of the suitable corporate structures; administration of companies;
• establishment of non-profit organizations (associations) governed by the law of 1901 and the foundations;
• legal audit of the companies’ activity;
• assistance to company board directors;
• assistance to the shareholders and their participation in general shareholder meetings;
• elaboration and implementation of company liquidation schemes.

Corporate secretarial services.

We provide a full range of corporate secretarial services, maintaining corporate books and records (on a multi-lingual basis, if requested) and attending to the various corporate and administrative formalities required by corporate law.

Regulatory matters.

The role of the French Government in many matters is of key importance, particularly where foreign investment in France and international payments are concerned. The relationships we have, and our long experience in dealing with French regulatory authorities, account for our outstanding record in obtaining authorizations and other administrative decisions.

Commercial — ongoing business (fonds de commerce).

We assist our clients in connection with all economic activities of their company, notably during the elaboration, negotiation and performance of commercial contracts (agreements of purchase or sale, general conditions of sale or purchase, contracts of services, contracts of transfer of know-how, contracts of sales agents etc.).

“Irina Sidorova” also advises on the many operations required for the purchase and sale of any business and, more generally, on a wide range of legal questions from ongoing business to management agreements (location-gérance).

Sales and purchases.

Purchase of apartments and offices (implementation of suitable corporate structures, drafting and negotiation of contracts and litigation).

Commercial, professional and civil leases, sub-leases.

Drafting of all agreements of license or transfer of intellectual property rights (trade mark license agreements, contracts of transfer of author’s rights, contracts of artist—interpreter within the framework of a broadcasting recording of a play, commission contract between an artist and an art gallery, model’s contract, contract of edition, etc.), advising on registration and protection of French and European Community trade marks and patents, etc.

Information and communication technologies (ICTs)

Advice on all matters relating to information technology and to Data Protection (personal data transfer, declarations to be made with the CNIL (the French National Commission for Data protection and the Liberties), importation of encryption technology etc.), negotiation and drafting of contracts in the ICTs field and representing our clients before the Courts.

We advise our clients on all contentious and non-contentious aspects of labour law and social protection, and notably as regards the drafting of employment agreements, status of company managers, individual or collective dismissals, negotiation of settlement agreements, matters relating to settlement and expatriation and obtaining work permits.

We can, as required, carry out employment law audits to ensure that problems are identified and resolved rapidly, whether on a proposed acquisition of a business or as part of a regular check-up.

Our law-firm assists accused persons, companies or individuals, as well as the victims of criminal affairs.

As to the general criminal law, we assist clients in all stages of the procedure (arrest, interrogation, appearance in Court). We also have expertise in assisting clients who are the victims of thefts or agressions, starting with lodging a complaint and ending with the hearing for compensation.

As for white-collar criminal law, we have extensive experience of work on cases related to money-laundering, misuse of company assets and corruption—for accused persons and for plaintiffs.

We attach a particular importance to the amicable settlement of disputes and have particular experience in the field of pre-trial negotiation.

We also represent our clients before the French civil courts and play an important role in the formulation of litigation strategy.

We have a varied and wide experience before commercial, civil and labour courts. We help our clients to enforce, in France, foreign judgments and arbitration awards and debt collection. We have also a wide experience, as counsel, in international commercial arbitrations, including those organized under the rules of the Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce.

“Irina Sidorova” is specialized in French private law and we are increasingly being asked to handle issues in connection with private international law for our international clients.

In particular, we provide advice and assistance to our clients in the area of international family law (determination of the applicable law, choice of the competent court, etc.).

We also work with clients who have interests outside of France, and, in particular, in Russia and in CIS countries.