Press Review - Week of 30 April 2026

Press Review – Week of 30 April 2026

This week’s press review covers the sanction imposed by the French Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution (ACPR) on MoneyGram for breaches of its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing obligations; the dawn raids conducted by the French Competition Authority at the premises of the Big Four, raising issues relating to the professional secrecy of statutory auditors; the indictments in several “cryptorapt” cases revealing the existence of structured criminal networks; the referral to the criminal court of two officials of the works council of the Grand Port Maritime of Marseille for breach of trust as well as the key trends in the international arbitration market based on the 2024-2025 institutional statistics.

#Dispute resolution & regulatory investigations

The ACPR sanctions payment institution MoneyGram for AML/CFT compliance failures

On 15 April 2026, the Sanctions Committee of the French Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution (ACPR) sanctioned payment institution MoneyGram with a reprimand and a financial penalty of EUR 1.3 million, following an on-site inspection conducted between February and September 2023. It found that cash transfer activities and international flows to sensitive jurisdictions present a high risk of money laundering and terrorist financing (AML/CFT). Eight charges were upheld, relating to the institution’s overall AML/CFT framework, including customer due diligence, transaction monitoring, alert handling, and internal controls. While taking into account the remedial measures implemented by the institution, the Committee found a mismatch between the activity’s risk profile and the robustness of the compliance framework in place. >Read the article.

The Competition Authority’s search and seizure operations at the Big Four revive the debate on professional secrecy

In a press release published in January 2026, the French Autorité de la concurrence announced that it had carried out an unannounced inspection and seizure operation (OVS) at companies suspected of engaging in anti-competitive practices, namely KPMG, EY, PwC, and Deloitte, the Big Four. During these operations, the regulator seized many documents, including the emails of statutory auditors responsible for auditing the targeted companies. However, like lawyers, statutory auditors are bound by professional secrecy (Article L821-35 of the French Commercial Code). While the law provides for certain exceptions allowing specific authorities (such as the French Financial Market Authority – AMF, banking supervisors, and public prosecutors) to lift this confidentiality, the French Competition Authority is not among them. It is therefore now up to the judges of the specialized chamber of the Court of Appeal to determine whether the Competition Authority infringed the confidentiality of statutory auditors during its searches. > Read the article.

#White collar crime

Cryptorapt in France: 88 suspects have been indicted, including more than 10 minors, in ongoing investigations

In a press release dated 24 April 2026, the French Public Prosecutor of the National Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime (PNACO), Vanessa Perrée, stated that investigations, conducted in connection with 12 cases related to cryptorapt, had led to the indictment of 88 individuals (including more than 10 minors) and the placement of 75 of them in pretrial detention. This significant volume is attributable to the coordination of proceedings facilitated by the Central Office for the Fight Against Organized Crime (OCLO) and the National Judicial Police Unit (UNPJ) and reveals the existence of structured networks. Furthermore, the charges brought (kidnapping, false imprisonment, and extortion by an organized gang) reflect a high level of violence and call for increased vigilance, particularly on social media. It is also worth noting that criminals are posing as investigators to obtain sensitive data. > Read the article.

Marseille Port: two CGT employee committee representatives on trial for “breach of trust”

On 28 April 2026, a current official and a former official of the Social and Economic Committee (CSE) of the Grand Port Maritime of Marseille appeared before the Marseille Criminal Court on charges of breach of trust. The proceedings follow a February 2020 report by the French Cour des comptes, which questioned the CSE’s financial management between 2014 and 2018. The financial watchdog notably identified a “lack of transparency” in the use of “generous and insufficiently supervised resources,” as well as “a profusion of gifts offered to elected officials.” The report also pointed to several benefits for which the accounting records did not always make it possible to identify the beneficiaries.>Read the article.

#Arbitration and Mediation

Where the Arbitration Market Is Heading: Key Patterns From 2024-2025 Institutional Statistics

Statistics published for the 2024–2025 period by leading arbitral institutions confirm an increased reliance on international arbitration, marked by a significant rise in both the volume and value of disputes, particularly under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). The analysis highlights several structural developments: a geographic rebalancing in favor of emerging seats in Asia, the Middle East and Latin America, intensified competition among institutions based on procedural efficiency and cost control, and sectoral diversification, with a growing share of technology-related disputes. In addition, the use of artificial intelligence is progressively transforming arbitral practice. The rise in disputes linked to geopolitical tensions is also contributing to arbitral activity. Finally, progress in terms of diversity in arbitrator appointments remains limited, particularly with regard to party-appointed arbitrators. >Read the article.