#White collar Crime

The Altrad Group is the subject of an investigation into tax fraud; its premises have been raided

The National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (Parquet national financier – PNF) has opened a preliminary investigation targeting the Altrad Group on suspicion of aggravated tax fraud and laundering of aggravated tax fraud committed by an organized group, following a complaint filed by the tax authorities. Searches were carried out at several locations in France, including the group’s headquarters in Montpellier, without any individuals being taken into custody, as interviews were conducted under the voluntary hearing regime. The suspicions reportedly concern a scheme involving foreign subsidiaries and a hub based in Dubai, which may have enabled part of the group’s profit margin to be diverted and thereby escape taxation. > Read the article.

Ary Chalus, President of the Guadeloupe region, on trial for embezzlement of public funds

The former Member of Parliament, now serving as President of the Guadeloupe region, is appearing before the Paris Criminal Court on charges of misappropriation of public funds, in a case concerning the alleged improper use of parliamentary expense allowances. The PNF accuses him of having incurred approximately €96,000 in non-compliant expenditures, in particular for the benefit of private individuals, associations, or for personal expenses. The investigation concerns suspicions of fictitious or partially fictitious employment allegedly granted to close associates, as well as purportedly undue reimbursements by a municipality for invoices already paid through parliamentary allowances. > Read the article.

#Arbitration and Mediation

PCA releases annual report and welcomes Japanese emperor

The Permanent Court of Arbitration has published its 2025 annual report, recording 251 administered cases, including 53 new proceedings. These included inter-state arbitrations, investor-state arbitrations based on treaties or investment law, and contractual disputes involving states, international organisations or state-owned entities. The report highlights the diversity of disputes administered by the PCA, including matters relating to energy, infrastructure, natural resources and the law of the sea. Marking its 125th anniversary, the institution welcomed new contracting parties and expanded its international presence. Emperor Naruhito’s visit to the Peace Palace also underscored Japan’s historic connection with the PCA, as one of its founding states at the First Hague Peace Conference. > Read the article.

#Duty of Vigilance and Human Rights

TotalEnergies case: the court affirms a duty of climate vigilance

The Paris Judicial Court has recognised climate change as falling within the scope of the corporate duty of vigilance, in the dispute opposing TotalEnergies to several environmental associations and local authorities. It found that the group’s vigilance plan was incomplete, as it failed to account for certain emissions, notably those resulting from the use of the fossil fuel products it markets. Accordingly, the court orders TotalEnergies to amend its plan within six months in order to include these emissions and the associated risks. However, it declined to substitute its own judgment for that of the company in defining its climate strategy or to mandate the cessation of new fossil fuel projects. The ruling thus establishes judicial oversight of vigilance plans, without extending to direct control over corporate strategy. >Read the article.

Event

The ICC Arbitration Rules Observatory to host a breakfast discussion on the new 2026 Rules

The Observatory on the Practice of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Arbitration Rules will host a breakfast meeting on 2 July 2026 at the law firm Navacelle, focusing on the new ICC Arbitration Rules, which came into force on 1 June 2026. The event will bring together, amongst others, Alexander Fessas, Secretary-General of the ICC International Court of Arbitration; Carole Malinvaud, partner at Gide and Vice-President of the Court; and Yann Schneller, founding partner of DARCI. The discussion will focus on the main changes to the Rules, in particular the removal of the terms of reference, the enhanced role of the conference on the conduct of the proceedings, the reform of expedited arbitration, the introduction of a highly expedited procedure, and the identification of related entities. These changes could affect the parties’ procedural strategy, the drafting of initial submissions and the role of the arbitrators. > Read the article.