Responsibility, Justice, Innovation: the cardinal values of a year of changes
On this 14th of July 2025, as France celebrates the founding values of the Republic — liberty, equality, fraternity — we take a moment to reflect on how these ideals resonate in our legal practice.
The past twelve months have seen an intensification in compliance requirements, enhanced cross-border cooperation in the fight against economic crime but also strong uncertainty on the scope of duty of vigilance requirements.
More than ever, companies are expected to combine performance with ethics, to anticipate legal risks while embracing their social responsibility, in the context of growing uncertainty.
Working alongside its clients, Navacelle has sought to tackle the challenges set by these trends in numerous fields including internal investigations, multijurisdictional criminal and regulatory proceedings, Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPA) negotiation, arbitration and the implementation of robust compliance programs.
We have witnessed the rise of a new generation of leaders and legal professionals who understand that transparency and integrity are no longer optional — they are levers of trust and sustainability.
Bastille Day also reminds us that liberty cannot exist without structure. Far from being a constraint, white-collar criminal law is a regulatory tool that serves a fairer economic order. It protects, it holds accountable, it sheds light.
Law is also a source of innovation. There are numerous projects to develop, improve, and enrich it. This year was marked by an ambitious project to modernize French arbitration law, proposing in particular the merger of domestic and international arbitration regimes and the adoption of an arbitration code.
As we look to the future, we reaffirm our commitment: to stand alongside those who, amid reforms and crises, choose rigor, trust, and excellence.
Happy Bastille Day to all!
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White Collar Crime
The fight against integrity-related offenses continues to advance in France, particularly on the judicial front, where criminal trials have become more frequent and high-profile. The same applies to anti-money laundering efforts, with national regulations becoming more robust and an increase in the number of suspicious transaction reports. More broadly, case law has recognized the concept of institutional moral harassment and has addressed other procedural issues within the framework of corporate criminal law proceedings.
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Overview of trends and rulings in France
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Judicial public interest agreements – Key to understanding French DPA
Environmental law & duty of vigilance
Environmental law and duty of vigilance, both seen as forward-looking topics expected to generate significant litigation, are currently following two distinct paths. While the duty of vigilance is being called into question for reasons related to economic competitiveness, the repression of environmental offenses is gaining strength.
Regulatory matters & investigations
While the EU Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism has been recently launched (and we will watch out!), French regulatory authorities have been very active this year again. Looking at the French Financial Market Authority (AMF), the Prudential and Resolution Control Authority (ACPR), the Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL, French authority overseeing, among others, data processing issues) activiy shows increasing number of investigations, massive fines and enhance cooperation among French and international authorities.
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The French prudential supervision and resolution authority activity (ACPR)
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The French financial markets authority activity (AMF)
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The French data protection authority activity (CNIL)
Ethics & Compliance
Eight years after the entry into force of Law No. 2016-1691 of December 9, 2016, on transparency, the fight against corruption, and the modernization of economic life—known as the ‘Sapin II Law’—the French Anti-Corruption Agency (AFA) continues its efforts to combat corruption and other breaches of integrity by consistently assessing the relevant stakeholders and multiplying publications and tools aimed at supporting them.
Arbitration
Over the past year, French arbitration case law has seen significant developments, particularly regarding the compliance of arbitral awards with international public policy in cases involving fraud, corruption, and international sanctions. In parallel, a major reform project was introduced by the working group on the modernization of arbitration law. Submitted to the Minister of Justice on 20 March 2025 and presented during Paris Arbitration Week, the report proposes, among other measures, the unification of domestic and international arbitration regimes and the adoption of a dedicated Arbitration Code.
In the Criminal Courtroom
A look at six criminal trials that have shaped the French judicial landscape over the past twelve months, due to their legal, political, social, or criminal significance.
A glimpse into History:
Navacelle team presents a selection of books, in both French and English, that shed light on the many facets of the French Revolution—from its origins to its consequences, through its key figures and founding myths.
