Paris office, headquarters of Arst Avocats
Business law firm in Paris, headquarters of Arst Avocats
Arst Avocats is a business law firm headquartered in the 15th arrondissement of Paris. When your case involves multiple areas of law, a lawyer from the firm coordinates the work of the relevant teams. We advise executives, partners, investors, and legal departments, both in an advisory and litigation capacity.
Arst Avocats, headquarters
8 villa Poirier
75015 Paris
Phone : 01 44 56 04 36
How to choose a business law firm in Paris?
A business case rarely has a single subject matter
A significant unpaid debt becomes a dispute. The dispute creates a cash flow problem. The cash flow problem soon becomes a social issue. A conflict between partners affects the partnership agreement, governance, and sometimes the value of the company.
The primary selection criterion is therefore not the firm's address. It is a lawyer's ability to manage the entire case.
Our position: the client does not coordinate their advice
When a case involves contracts, company law, and legal proceedings, only one person needs to understand the overall economics. At Arst Avocats, the relevant teams work together on the same case, under the coordination of a lawyer when the case requires it.
This system has its limitations. It offers no benefit when the case is straightforward. An unpaid and undisputed invoice doesn't necessarily warrant a lawyer from day one.
Things you can check before choosing
Consider which lawyer you would be dealing with and what areas of law they actually practice. Also, check who signs the content published by the firm.
Finally, ask for details on how the fees are calculated. The lawyer must provide them to you as soon as they are retained.
Which court has jurisdiction over a company headquartered in Paris?
The Paris Economic Activities Court
Since January 1, 2025, the Paris Commercial Court has become the Economic Activities Court, or TAE. It is one of the 12 commercial courts involved in a four-year experiment, as provided for in Article 26 of the law of November 20, 2023.
This court handles both amicable and collective proceedings for all professionals, regardless of their status or activity. Regulated legal professions remain outside this system. For agricultural businesses, the court appoints a conciliator. The Service-Public Entreprendre fact sheet on economic activity courts provides further details on these rules.
Where is what being discussed?
For a company headquartered in Paris, the breakdown is as follows.
| Situation | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Amicable procedure, such as an ad hoc mandate or conciliation | Paris Economic Activities Court |
| Safeguarding, reorganization or judicial liquidation | Paris Economic Activities Court |
| Action on a commercial lease arising from insolvency proceedings, with a sufficient connection to it | Paris Economic Activities Court |
| Another dispute over a commercial lease | Judicial court |
What this changes for you
For a company, the competent court is that of the jurisdiction where its registered office is located (Article R. 600-1 of the French Commercial Code). If the registered office has changed within the six months preceding the referral to the court, the court of the former registered office retains sole jurisdiction.
Moving the registered office on the eve of legal proceedings does not change the jurisdiction. This point must be verified before any such decision is made.
In what situations should you call a lawyer immediately?
Situations that cannot be resolved by letter
Certain events warrant immediate legal advice:
- A summons, injunction, or formal notice has just arrived;
- Your outstanding debts exceed what your cash flow allows you to pay;
- a partner blocks a decision or announces that he wants to leave;
- An inspection by the Urssaf (French social security agency) is announced;
- An offer to buy, sell or take over is on the table.
For a simple unpaid invoice, a formal notice can be drafted without a lawyer. Our article , "Should you have a lawyer draft a formal notice?", distinguishes between the two cases.
The 45-day period must not be allowed to run
When a company can no longer pay its debts as they fall due with its available assets, it is insolvent .The manager must then request the opening of a receivership or liquidation procedure within 45 days (articles L. 631-4 and L. 640-4 of the Commercial Code).
A request for conciliation made within this timeframe constitutes an exception. Exceeding the timeframe may lead to a ban on managing a business in the event of willful omission (Article L. 653-8).
The director may also be held personally liable for some of the company's debts in the event of mismanagement (Article L. 651-2). These penalties are not automatic. Our article " Failure to declare cessation of payments: what are the risks for the director?" details the conditions.
Amicable or judicial procedure: how we arbitrate
The choice depends on three points : the date of cessation of payments, the number of creditors and the need for discretion.
A conciliation hearing remains confidential. However, it requires that the cessation of payments has not lasted for more than 45 days. Beyond that point, conciliation is no longer possible and other options must be explored.
Our pages on judicial reorganization and on ad hoc mandate and conciliation detail each option.
Let's take an example. A Parisian executive receives a letter from his bank and a summons from a supplier on the same morning. The two cases seem separate. They are not, because the response to one often determines the position taken in the other.
Have you received a summons or a formal notice? Write to us or call 01 44 56 04 36.The firm will get back to you within 48 hours.
What happens during a first appointment at the office?
What we ask you to prepare
A few documents are sufficient for an initial analysis:
- the contract or the letter at the heart of the matter;
- the latest accounts and an up-to-date cash flow statement;
- the list of deadlines and contacts, such as the bank, the landlord or the partners;
- the procedural documents received, with their dates.
An incomplete application will not prevent you from getting an appointment. However, the dates must be known: they determine what is still possible.
What you get in return
You leave with a clear understanding of your situation, the available options, and the timeline to follow. The lawyer also explains how their fees are calculated before starting.
What you disclose to the lawyer is protected by attorney-client privilege. Detailed answers regarding cost and confidentiality can be found in the frequently asked questions below.
The partner lawyers of the firm
Morgan Jamet,Founding Partner, Paris Bar
Romain Picard,Partner Attorney, Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate Law, Admitted to the Paris and New York Bars
Chaouki Gaddada, Partner, Director of the Social Law Department, Paris Bar
Bruno Questel,Partner, Public Law, Paris Bar
The materials we process from Paris
The headquarters is the gateway to all of the firm's areas of expertise. Find them all on the Expertise.
When the company is going through difficulties
Our distressed companies and restructuring is listed in the "Essential" category of 2026 Décideurs ranking for occasional and regular restructuring consultants. It advises executives, shareholders, creditors, and potential buyers.
A commercial lease often carries significant weight in these cases: see our page on commercial leases and insolvency proceedings. The social consequences fall under the purview of employment law. For information on a court-ordered takeover, read our article " Taking Over a Company in Reorganization or Liquidation."
When it comes to forming a partnership, transferring ownership, or entering into a contract
Corporate law and corporate M&A cover governance, capital transactions, and mergers and acquisitions. A shareholders' agreement governs the relationship between founders and investors.
A partner announces their departure. The manager's first thought is the value of their shares. The lawyer first looks at the articles of association and the shareholders' agreement, as these determine the exit rights.
For the sale of a business, the page on commercial law and business assets presents the general framework. Contracts, distribution and franchising form a separate area, as do real estate law and commercial leases.
When a dispute arises
Business litigation covers disputes between companies, between partners, and with directors. To recover a debt, see our page on debt collection and payment orders . For a business relationship terminated without sufficient notice, see the page on abrupt termination of business relationships .
Two other areas often come into play in these cases: white-collar crime and disciplinary law , and insurance law. Our article " Business Law Litigation: How to Organize Dispute Management in the Company?" provides guidance on best practices.
Other materials
The firm also practices in intellectual property, digital law and GDPR, taxation and banking and financial law.
Four other pages complete the overview: public law, consumer law, social security law and the law of persons, family and inheritance.
Headquarters in Paris, offices and locations elsewhere
Offices in France
The firm has four offices in France: Paris, Courbevoie, Aix-en-Provence and Lesparre-Médoc, in Gironde.
Casablanca, Guyana and the Aliant network
Arst Avocats also has a presence in Casablanca, Morocco, where Romain Picard heads the office, and in French Guiana, where Morgan Jamet develops the firm's practice. For other countries, the firm relies on the Aliant network.
Frequently asked questions about business law firms in Paris
How much does a business lawyer cost in Paris?
The fee depends on the case, its urgency, and the anticipated workload. Fees are agreed upon with you in a written fee agreement, which is generally mandatory under Article 10 of the Law of December 31, 1971. This agreement specifies the amount or the method of calculation. A fixed fee may be agreed upon for a specific task. The lawyer will inform you of these terms upon initial consultation.
Is my initial conversation with the lawyer confidential?
Yes. Professional secrecy covers consultations, correspondence with your lawyer, and interview notes (Article 66-5 of the Law of December 31, 1971). It applies both when you are providing advice and when you are defending yourself. This secrecy protects your communications with your lawyer. It does not cover what you write yourself to the opposing party. You can therefore present your entire situation from the very first meeting.
Which court has jurisdiction over a Parisian company?
For a company, the competent court is the one in the jurisdiction of its registered office (Article R. 600-1 of the French Commercial Code). In Paris, this is the Economic Activities Court. It has handled both amicable and collective insolvency proceedings since January 1, 2025, as part of a four-year trial period. A change of registered office within the six months preceding the filing of the claim does not change the court.
What are the risks for a manager who delays declaring insolvency?
Unless a conciliation agreement is requested, the company director must file for receivership or liquidation proceedings. The deadline for doing so is 45 days from the date of cessation of payments (Articles L. 631-4 and L. 640-4 of the French Commercial Code).
A delay can lead to a ban on holding a management position in the event of willful omission (Article L. 653-8). The manager may also be held liable for a portion of the company's debts in the event of mismanagement (Article L. 651-2). These sanctions are not automatic: the court examines each situation individually.
How long does it take for a lawyer to reply to me?
After you send us a message on the contact page, the firm will get back to you within 48 hours. If the deadline is approaching or if you have received a summons, please call the head office directly at +33 1 44 56 04 36. State the deadline. The deadline will determine what remains possible.
Does the firm operate outside of Paris?
Yes. In addition to its Paris headquarters, the firm has offices in Courbevoie, Aix-en-Provence, and Lesparre-Médoc. It also operates in Casablanca and French Guiana, and relies on the Aliant network for international cases. The lawyer coordinating your case will work with you to select the appropriate expertise, wherever it may be located.
Content prepared by the Paris office of Arst Avocats. Lead lawyer: Morgan Jamet, founding partner, Paris Bar. Rules verified on service-public.gouv.fr and in the cited texts. Updated October 2026.