#Ethics & Compliance
Publication of the 2025 activity report of the French Anti-corruption Agency (AFA)
The 2025 Activity Report of the French Anti-Corruption Agency (AFA) reflects a significant strengthening of France’s national anti-corruption prevention policy. The year was primarily marked by the adoption of the 2025–2029 National Multiannual Anti-Corruption Plan, which the AFA will coordinate. The plan comprises thirty-six measures designed to provide a sustainable framework for public action against corruption. In addition, the report highlights the intensification of efforts to combat corruption linked to organized crime, notably in the prison and port sectors. Regarding the prison sector, the AFA has partnered with the prison administration in implementing an action plan aimed at preventing corruption within correctional facilities. At the same time, the Agency continues to expand its monitoring, advisory, and awareness-raising activities for public authorities and businesses, while further strengthening its European and international presence, particularly through its contribution to the development of the future European regulatory framework on anti-corruption. > Read the article.
#White collar crime
Following Marine Le Pen’s appeal to the Court of Cassation, the outstanding questions
The Paris Court of Appeal upheld Marine Le Pen’s guilty verdict in the case of the FN’s parliamentary assistants, sentencing her to three years in prison, including one year served under electronic bracelet, 100,000 euros fine, and a forty-five-month ineligibility period, thirty of which are suspended. Since she has already served the fifteen firm months after her first-instance conviction, she is now eligible to run for office. Marine Le Pen quickly announced her candidacy for the presidential election and her appeal to the Cour de cassation, resulting in the suspension of the sentence’s enforcement. If the Cour de cassation upholds the ruling, the installation of the electronic bracelet could be delayed until after the first round of voting and could even be suspended for the duration of her term should she be elected. > Read the article.
Judicial Public Interest Agreement between the French National Financial Prosecutor’s Office and SHAD SA
The Judicial Public Interest Agreement (Convention judiciaire d’intérêt public or “CJIP”) signed on 17 June between the French National Financial Prosecutor’s Office and SHAD SA has been approved by the president of the Paris court on 9 July. The investigation, launched following an audit by the French National Directorate for Tax Compliance (Direction nationale des verifications de situations fiscales) and focusing on the charge of aggravated tax fraud, had established that SHAD, although registered in Luxembourg, was in fact managed from France between 2015 and 2020. The company agreed to pay a public interest fine of 2 259 492 euros. This is the 32nd CJIP signed by the French National Financial Prosecutor’s Office. Subject to payment, validation of the CJIP extinguishes public prosecution against the company. > Read the article.
#Dispute resolution & regulatory investigations
Uber platform found liable for unfair competition after diverting Parisian taxis’ rooftop lights
In a judgment delivered on 3 July 2026, the Paris Economic Activities Court held Uber liable for unfair competition and economic free riding/ economic parasitism. The court found that Uber unlawfully capitalized on the reputation of the official rooftop taxi sign used by Parisian taxis by incorporating it into an advertising campaign promoting its Uber Taxi service. This practice was deemed to cause confusion between taxi services and private hire vehicle services, even though they are subject to separate legal framework. Thus, the court prohibited any further use of the disputed visual under a penalty of €50,000 per infringement and awarded damages to two professional unions. The ruling reaffirms the French courts’ commitment to protecting fair competition and preventing the unauthorized appropriation of the reputation and distinctive features of regulated professions. > Read the article.
#Financial Markets Authority (AMF) litigation
Vivendi’s split: appeals court rules in favour of Vincent Bolloré
On 8 July 2026, the Paris Court of Appeal ruled that no evidence established that Vincent Bolloré or the Bolloré group controlled Vivendi at the time of the split in late 2024, since they did not hold a majority of the voting rights exercised at shareholder meetings. This ruling follows the approach set out by the Cour de cassation, which had overturned an earlier Paris Court of Appeal decision issued in April 2025. All claims brought by investment fund CIAM, an ultra-minority Vivendi shareholder that had challenged the terms of the split and sought a buyout of minority shareholders, were dismissed. The fund has announced its appeal to the Cour de cassation. > Read the article.
#Arbitration & Mediation
The Balogun Case: How Far Can FIFA Go in Overturning a Refereeing Decision?
On 6 July 2026, following an intervention of President Donald Trump with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s disciplinary committee decided that United States player Folarin Balogun, who had received a red card that would normally trigger an automatic suspension for the following match, could nonetheless take the field against Belgium in the World Cup round of 16. FIFA regulations draw a distinction between the referee’s in-match decision to issue the red card, which is final, and the resulting disciplinary consequences—namely, the player’s suspension for the next match. However, the criteria for reaching such a decision are not clearly defined in FIFA’s Disciplinary Code. The United States were ultimately eliminated (Belgium 4-1 United States). > Read the article.
