Merger Control: The European Commission further cuts red tape for merging businesses

Florence Grangerat, Esq.

On April 20, 2023, the European Commission adopted a new merger control simplification package to further simplify its procedures for reviewing mergers.

This package is expected to bring significant benefits for businesses and advisers in terms of preparatory work and related costs.

The new rules will apply as from September 1, 2023.

The Paris Judicial Court approved two new French-style Deferred Prosecution Agreements on May 17, 2023

Claire Filliatre, Esq.

Two new Conventions Judiciaires d’Intérêt Public (French-style Deferred Prosecution Agreements, hereinafter “CJIPs”) have been published on the website of the Ministry of Justice, following their approval by the Paris Judicial Court on May 17, 2023.

These two CJIPs concern legal entities accused of having committed acts that could be classified as influence peddling for the first CJIP, and of having participated in irregularities in public procurement for the second CJIP.

The employment contract may include a clause providing for partial reimbursement of the welcome bonus in case of resignation

Matthieu Blaschczyk, Esq.

In a ruling issued on May 11, 2023, the Cour de Cassation (French Supreme Court) held that an employment contract may impose on an employee the obligation to repay part of his/her “welcome bonus” if he/she resigns before the date on which full payment of the bonus is due.

Overview of the French legal framework applicable to private protection officers

Victor Trouttet, Esq.

Who are private protection officers, commonly known as “bodyguards”, and above all how is their action legally regulated?

These are two questions that this article will try to answer quickly through a brief overview of the legal and regulatory provisions applicable to individuals who, on a professional basis, carry out activities aimed at protecting the physical integrity of people.

"WLG | regional Stuttgart '23" conference

Our Counsels Laure Marolleau and Claire Filliatre attended in the “WLG | regional Stuttgart '23” conference which took place on May 11 and 12 in Stuttgart, Germany.

This conference brought together lawyers from EMEA member firms of the World Law Group, a non-exclusive international network of leading independent law firms.

The conference focused on ESG.

Claire participated in the panel discussion on “Managing ESG Risks in the Supply Chain”.

International Perspective - Meta Fined EUR 1.2 Billion for Violating GDPR

This month, we are pleased to feature a contribution entitled Meta Fined EUR 1.2 Billion for Violating GDPR authored by Huw Beverley-Smith, Charlotte H N Perowne and Jeanine E Leahy from the London office of Faegre Drinker, a full-service international law firm.

On 22 May 2023, the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) issued Meta Platforms Ireland Limited (Meta Ireland) with a EUR 1.2 billion (approximately 1.3 billion U.S. dollar) fine for breaches of the GDPR with respect to EU-U.S. personal data transfers associated with its Facebook service.

Meta Ireland has also been ordered to suspend all Facebook-related personal data transfers from the EU to the U.S., and to bring the processing of any previously transferred data into compliance.

This decision will likely have implications for other international businesses that transfer personal data outside the EU/EEA based on standard contractual clauses.