#Ethics & Compliance
[Report] Promoting internal investigations in France: advocating against overly strict legislative oversight
On 17 June 2025, the Internal Investigations Commission of the Club des Juristes published a report aimed at encouraging the use of internal investigations in France. In an interview with Village Justice, the report’s co-authors – Raphaël Gauvain, lawyer and former member of parliament, and Stéphane de Navacelle, lawyer at the Paris and New York bars, discussed its key findings. The report sets out seven proposals. Rather than advocating for overly rigid legislation, the Commission calls for greater corporate accountability through the promotion of best practices, while preserving a degree of flexibility in how companies conduct internal investigations – particularly when handled by lawyers, whose work is protected by legal privilege. That said, the Commission recommends giving legal recognition to internal investigations and setting clear parameters when they run alongside criminal proceedings. Finally, it sees no justification for creating a new profession ad hoc representatives, nor for prohibiting lawyers from acting both as internal investigators and as defense counsel on the same matter. > Read article
#White collar crime:
[UK] Government commits to crackdown on fraud, bribery and corruption with further investment
The UK government has announced an investment of over £8 million over three years for the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), aimed at strengthening the fight against fraud and economic crime. This funding will help enhance the agency’s intelligence capabilities to better detect and combat these offenses. Attorney General Lors Hermer KC emphasized that fraud and economic crimes have serious consequences, devastating victims’ finances and damaging their reputation. > Read article
François Fillon sentenced to four years in prison with a suspended sentence following the reexamination of his sentence for embezzlement of public funds
On 17 June 2025, the Paris Court of Appeal sentenced François Fillon to four years of suspended prison time, a €375,000 fine, and five years of ineligibility during the reconsideration of his sentence in the case concerning the fictious jobs of his wife. The court found that no proof had been provided to demonstrate that Penelope Fillon performed actual paid work. In 2022, he had initially been sentenced to one year of imprisonment, the same fine, and ten years of ineligibility, but the Court of Cassation overturned that decision due to insufficient reasoning. Additionally, the Court of Appeal upheld the order for François Fillon to pay €126,167 in damages to the National Assembly. The sentences of the other defendants, Penelope Fillon and Marc Joulaud, were definitively confirmed. > Read article
“Our Russians”: a group of talented young hackers behind an extraordinary scam after hacking Adecco
The trial related to the hacking of the Adecco temporary employment agency opened at the Lyon judicial court, involving fourteen defendants, including 22-year-old Timothée L., identified as the main organizer of the fraud. Accused of organized fraud, they are suspected of infiltrating Adecco’s database to steal personal information of millions of temporary workers, which was then sold on the darknet. The investigation revealed internal collusion: an intern allegedly provided his login credentials to Timothée L. in exchange for a promised payment that was never made. The financial damage is estimated at several million euros and affects more than 72,000 victims. Lawyers emphasize the irreversible consequences of identity theft on the victims, whose personal data will remain exploitable for life. > Read article
#Financial Markets Authority (AMF) litigation
H20 Scandal: The Council of State Upholds AMF’s Record Fine
The French Council of State has upheld the record €93 million fine imposed in 2023 by the AMF (Financial Markets Authority) on the asset management firm H20, following serious breaches of its professional obligations. The sanctions commission criticized H20 for the liquidity in certain investments, their non-compliance with the funds’ investment policies, and the insufficient reliable for making appropriate decisions, which caused harm to thousands of investors. The Council of State also confirmed the liability of the two executives, Bruno Crastes and Vincent Chailley, deeming the sanction proportionate to the violations found. Meanwhile, several lawsuits initiated by investors are still ongoing. > Read article
